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VR-Group Plc

VR Group

VR Group is a passenger, logistics and maintenance service company owned by the Finnish state which operates in Finland and Sweden.Our business units are VR Long-distance Traffic, VR City Traffic and VR Transpoint (logistics).

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Eero Heinäluoma (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Oct 2025 · Junaliikenteen ajankohtaisasiat

Response to Taxonomy Delegated Acts – amendments to make reporting simpler and more cost-effective for companies

26 Mar 2025

CCM 6.3 Urban and suburban transport, road passenger transport. Suggestion to remove energy class criteria from the DNSH Pollution criteria related to urban bus tyres. Urban buses invariably use side-reinforced tyres. This causes rolling resistance, which in turn reduces energy efficiency. However, side-reinforcement is needed because the tyres are constantly rubbed against the curbstones of the stops. A tyre without side-reinforcement wears and breaks down very quickly from contact with curbstones. Side-reinforced tyres therefore have longer lifecycle and support circular economy. Of course, the use of a rougher surface in tyres also has an effect in the energy efficiency of the tyre. A rougher surface is only used on the drive shaft, when it improves tyre performance. According to a tyre supplier, there are no tyres available that are suitable for Nordic conditions and fulfill the energy class criteria, even without the side-reinforcements. When these products are not available, this creates an unrealistic picture of the companys real aspirations. Based on this, we suggest to remove the energy class criteria from this taxonomy activity. Urban buses are driven at very low average speeds (17-25 km/h), which means that the impact of rolling resistance on overall energy efficiency is much smaller than that of road traffic. CCM 3.19 Manufacture of rail rolling stock constituents. Clarification on the DNSH Pollution criteria. Currently, it is very burdensome and almost impossible to try to clarify whether the whole fleet unit complies with the requirement in case where only certain part is refurbished. Especially when it comes to the restricted substances (lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium and cadmium), some small concentrations may be found in for example light fixtures, which may not be part of the refurbishing scope. Based on this, we suggest clarification to the requirement and using part-specific compliance, meaning that in case of refurbising/retrofitting only a specific part of the rail fleet, it is sufficient that the part meets the hazardous substances limits. The entire fleet/wagon does not have to meet this requirement if only a certain part has been refurbished. Partial alignment. Supporting the proposed addition of Partial alignment. Partial alignment allows companies to report partial alignment in situations where some, but not all, of the technical screening criteria of an economic activity are fulfilled, thereby allowing companies to document a transition towards taxonomy-alignment. This enables them to demonstrate their existing efforts and progress towards full alignment and receive recognition for their commitment to sustainability. We support adopting of the partial alignment method and recommend to clarify which criteria needs to be fulfilled (e.g. substantial contribution, DNSH (in total or partly), minimum safeguards (in total or partly)).
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Meeting with Grzegorz Radziejewski (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen), Juho Romakkaniemi (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen) and Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies

16 Nov 2016 · Investment plan / railways

Meeting with Henrik Hololei (Director-General Mobility and Transport)

14 Oct 2016 · EU rail policy, 4th Railroad Package, TSI

Meeting with Juho Romakkaniemi (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen) and Videokuvatalo

11 Nov 2015 · 4th Railway Package

Meeting with Heidi Jern (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen)

13 Jul 2015 · Transport policy

Meeting with Juho Romakkaniemi (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen)

6 Feb 2015 · Presentation of the work of the Commission