With the launch of services under the Öresundståg and Norrtåg brands in mid-December 2025, the Finnish-owned operator has become Sweden’s second-largest train operator by traffic volume.
Operations under the new agreements were transferred to VR on 14 December. Services are operated by VR Sverige, the group’s Swedish subsidiary. The Öresundståg network covers cross-border regional traffic between southern Sweden and Denmark, while Norrtåg services extend rail operations in northern Sweden as far as Haparanda.
The Öresundståg contract has a duration of five years and includes both traffic operations and maintenance responsibilities. Under this agreement, VR assumed responsibility for the maintenance of 111 trains used in the network. Around 700 employees transferred from the previous operator as part of the contract handover. The Norrtåg contract runs for ten years and resulted in the transfer of approximately 200 employees to VR.
VR entered Sweden’s publicly funded passenger rail market in 2022 and has since expanded its presence through participation in regional competitive tenders. Prior to the start of the Öresundståg and Norrtåg contracts, VR was already operating regional passenger services in the Stockholm area, southern and eastern Sweden, as well as the Bergslagen region in central Sweden. The company has also secured the contract for Mälartåg services, covering routes in the Stockholm and Mälaren regions.
In parallel with publicly procured services, VR is active in commercial passenger transport in Sweden. The company operates market-based long-distance services between Stockholm and Göteborg under the VR Snabbtåg brand.