photo: VR FleetCare/Illustrative photo
UPM Forest has ordered more than 150 roundwood wagons from VR FleetCare. The wagons will be built in Pieksämäki and delivered between 2026 and 2028.
The rail fleet maintenance company and wagon manufacturer VR FleetCare and UPM Forest have agreed on the delivery of more than 150 roundwood wagons. The first wagons will enter service by the end of 2026, with the full fleet delivered by 2028.
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The project is significant for Finnish wagon manufacturing, as it marks the first delivery of roundwood wagons to a customer outside the VR Group. UPM will replace its foreign wagon capacity for wood transport by purchasing SNPS roundwood wagons manufactured in Pieksämäki by VR FleetCare. The agreement also includes maintenance services, covering the full lifecycle of the fleet and enabling ongoing servicing and modification work by the manufacturer.
Domestic Production and Supply Security
"We are proud that UPM has chosen us as the supplier," said Otso Ikonen, Senior Vice President of Maintenance at VR. He noted that the Pieksämäki workshop has long experience in producing wagons compliant with EU standards, adding that domestic manufacturing supports supply security and strengthens Finland’s competitiveness while promoting rail transport.
UPM Shifts a Third of Roundwood Transport to Rail
The new fleet will carry around one third of UPM Forest’s roundwood transports by rail, gradually replacing foreign wagons that have been used in Finland since 2023.
Ville Parkkinen, Director of Operations at UPM Forest, said the investment would strengthen domestic logistics, create jobs and income in Finland, and support the development of a competitive and resilient roundwood supply chain.
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Pieksämäki Workshop Expansion
The roundwood wagon order further strengthens operations at the Pieksämäki workshop, alongside previously announced heavy freight wagon projects. Over its history, VR FleetCare has manufactured nearly 50,000 wagons for the Finnish industry. The site currently has a production capacity of around 300 freight wagons per year, with the ability to scale output depending on customer demand.
In addition to roundwood wagons, the Pieksämäki facility produces heavy transport and tank wagons. Domestically built wagons are designed for Finnish operating conditions and have demonstrated reliable performance across different wood transport requirements.
Source: VR FleetCare Press Release