Stadler receives follow-up order for 21 FLIRT trains in Finland
Article Summary
Source-based30 October 2026, Finland — According to a Rail Market report, state-owned rolling stock holder RailStock Finland has placed a follow-up order with Stadler for 21 additional FLIRT electric multiple units, expanding a programme that began with a 20-unit order in November 2022. The new procurement would bring the total FLIRT fleet associated with the programme to 41 trainsets. The trains are four‑car EMUs built for Finland’s 1,524 mm broad gauge, rated for 160 km/h, with an approximate capacity of 800 passengers including 356 seats, and adapted for severe winter conditions. RailMarket reports the original 20-unit contract was placed by VR Group and that the Sm7 fleet is manufactured at Stadler’s Siedlce plant in Poland.
RailStock Finland (Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy) was transferred to direct Finnish state ownership in November 2025, and in March 2026 acquired rolling stock from VR in an asset transfer reported at approximately EUR 250 million. RailStock’s remit is to own and lease trains for publicly funded passenger services ahead of Finland’s planned market reform, with the current government–VR contract expiring at end‑2030 and competitive tendering expected from 2031. RailMarket is the reporting source; first‑party confirmations from Stadler or RailStock are not provided in the cited article.
RailZoom Intelligence Brief
Original synthesisLead
30 October 2026, Finland — Rail Market reported that RailStock Finland has placed a follow‑up order with Stadler for 21 additional FLIRT electric multiple units, extending a programme that began with a 20‑unit order in November 2022. The combined programme would total 41 four‑car FLIRT trainsets aimed at regional and commuter services in southern Finland. The report names Stadler as the supplier and identifies Stadler’s Siedlce plant in Poland as the manufacturing location for the Sm7 FLIRT family.
Project facts
Project name: FLIRT follow‑up order (21 units) — Not publicly disclosed as a formal project title.
Location: Finland (intended operation on southern Finland regional and commuter routes) — source: Rail Market.
Owner: RailStock Finland (Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy) — source: Rail Market.
Timing: Reported 30 October 2026; programme expansion follows a November 2022 order; Sm7 introduction scheduled between 2026 and early 2028; asset transfer to state ownership occurred November 2025; rolling stock acquisition from VR reported March 2026. Source: Rail Market.
Scope: 21 additional four‑car electric multiple units, expanding the earlier 20‑unit order to a reported total of 41 trainsets. Source: Rail Market.
Technical parameters: Four‑car configuration; maximum speed 160 km/h; approximate capacity ~800 passengers including 356 seats; adapted for Finland’s 1,524 mm gauge and severe winter conditions. Source: Rail Market.
Value and financing: Value of this 21‑unit follow‑up order — Not publicly disclosed. The March 2026 asset transfer of rolling stock from VR to RailStock was reported at approximately EUR 250 million. Source: Rail Market.
Participants and responsibilities
Owner: RailStock Finland (Suomen Ostoliikennekalusto Oy) — established as state‑owned rolling stock company, responsible for fleet investments and leasing trains to operators; transfer to direct state ownership reported November 2025; acquired rolling stock from VR in March 2026 (asset transfer reported at approximately EUR 250 million). Source basis: Rail Market (secondary media reporting).
Supplier / Manufacturer: Stadler — identified as supplier of the FLIRT trains and manufacturer at the Siedlce plant in Poland for the Sm7 units. Scope: supply and manufacture of four‑car FLIRT EMUs. Source basis: Rail Market (secondary media reporting).
Initial contracting party (original order): VR Group — reported to have ordered 20 four‑car EMUs in November 2022 with options for another 50; those 20 were the initial part of the programme. Source basis: Rail Market (secondary media reporting).
Operator: VR Group — reported as intended initial operator of the Sm7 FLIRT trains on regional and commuter services in southern Finland. Source basis: Rail Market (secondary media reporting).
Note: The cited article does not disclose detailed contract values, financing providers, or additional contractors, designers, systems suppliers or consultants. Where absent, items are recorded as Not publicly disclosed.
Contractor overview
Stadler — role: rolling stock supplier and manufacturer; scope: manufacture of Sm7 four‑car FLIRT EMUs for Finland at Siedlce plant, Poland; reported product attributes include 160 km/h top speed, ~800 passenger capacity, 356 seats, broad‑gauge adaptation and winterisation. Value for the 21‑unit follow‑up order is Not publicly disclosed. Source confidence: secondary media (Rail Market).
VR Group — role: original contracting operator for the November 2022 20‑unit order and intended initial operator of Sm7 units on southern Finland routes; scope: operator planning and earlier procurement (20 units plus options). Source confidence: secondary media (Rail Market).
RailStock Finland — role: state‑owned rolling stock owner and lessor; scope: owning, investing and leasing trains for publicly funded services following transfer to state ownership; asset acquisition from VR reported at ~EUR 250 million. Source confidence: secondary media (Rail Market).
Commercial context
The report frames the RailStock purchase as part of Finland’s separation of rolling stock ownership from train operations ahead of a planned passenger market reform. RailStock’s establishment and its acquisition of rolling stock from VR are presented as preparatory steps to enable competitive tendering of publicly funded services after the current government–VR contract expires at the end of 2030 and competitive tendering is expected from 2031. The follow‑up order with Stadler increases the fleet available for leasing, which the report suggests supports the intended access of competing operators to suitable vehicles in Finland’s broad‑gauge market. Specific procurement procedures, contract values for the 21 units, financing arrangements and supplier subcontractors are Not publicly disclosed in the cited article.
Sources
https://railmarket.com/news/rolling-stock/65612-stadler-receives-follow-up-order-for-21-flirt-trains-in-finland — Rail Market.
Disclosure
This RailZoom Intelligence Brief is an original synthesis based on the cited public source. Details not confirmed by a first-party announcement are identified as reported information. For overseas project development or industry intelligence cooperation, contact RailZoom.