Finland orders €250 million fleet of new commuter trains for Helsinki region

Finland’s state-owned rolling stock company Railstock has purchased a new fleet of Sm7 commuter trains for €250 million, with the first units set to enter service in late summer 2026, public broadcaster Yle reports.

The Swiss-built four-car electric trains, manufactured by Stadler in Poland, will operate on routes D (Helsinki–Hämeenlinna), R (Helsinki–Tampere–Nokia), T (Helsinki–Riihimäki), Z (Helsinki–Lahti), and M (Toijala–Tampere–Nokia). Each train can carry up to 700 passengers—50 percent more than older models—with 340 seats in winter and 320 in summer, when space is allocated for bicycles.

The trains feature modular interiors adaptable for different passenger needs, including dedicated workspaces with fold-out tables, Wi-Fi, power outlets, and USB ports at every seat row. Accessibility includes two toilets (one fully accessible) and low-floor boarding throughout.

VR, Finland’s national rail operator, will lease and run the trains until at least 2030. The initial order covers five units, with one additional train added monthly until early 2028, replacing aging Sm4 stock. A further 50 units may be ordered under an existing option.

The first Sm7 arrived in Finland from Poland in May 2025 and has undergone testing, including brake trials in Lapland. Final type approval from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) is expected this summer.