SWEDISH regional transport authority Mälardalstrafik has selected Finnish national rail operator VR for an initial eight-year contract to operate Mälartåg train services in the Stockholm and Mälaren region.
The new agreement, due to begin in December 2026, includes an option for an extension and covers all aspects of operations, from train personnel and traffic management to maintenance and incident response.
The Mälartåg network serves Sweden’s most populous region, home to over 40% of the country’s population. The network’s five routes across more than 1000km of track and 44 stations carries more than 15 million passengers annually with a fleet of 62 trains.
Mälardalstrafik confirmed in August that leasing company AB Transitio was exercising an option for an additional 13 Stadler Kiss four-car double-deck trains to boost capacity on the network, and taking the total Kiss fleet to 53 vehicles. Deliveries will commence in spring 2028. Nine Bombardier Regina EMUs makes up the remainder of the fleet.
Transdev is currently operating Mälartåg services under a short-term contract that commenced with Mälardalstrafik in June 2024. The contract was awarded following the termination of MTR Nordic’s contract that commenced in December 2021.
VR’s winning bid was recognised for its focus on service quality and customer-oriented development. The company said the victory supports its long-term strategy of achieving profitable growth and strengthening its experience in competitive rail markets.
“The Swedish market is an important place for us to grow and learn,” says VR’s chief executive, Elisa Markula. “Mälartåg’s victory is a testament to trust in our quality and proof that Finnish VR is a strong player in Sweden as well.”
VR entered the Swedish market in 2022 and has expanded to become the country’s second-largest train operator after SJ. It operates both light rail and suburban services in the Stockholm area, along with southern and eastern Sweden, and the Bergslagen region. It also operates the former MTR open-access service between Stockholm and Gothenburg under the VR Snabbtåg brand, and by late 2025, will take over Norrtåg in northern Sweden and Øresund services linking Sweden and Denmark.
The Mälartåg decision will take effect once the appeal period has expired.
