Finland’s VR Transpoint said it resumed “eastern” freight traffic as of Wednesday, March 30.
‘We previously announced that we would be suspending VR Transpoint’s eastern freight traffic on 27 March 2022 as a result of the UK’s sanctions against Russian Railways (RZD). However, according to the clarification we have received from the UK authorities, these sanctions do not apply to the VR Group’s contracts,’ the company said in a statement.
‘”Since the decision last week, we have continued to discuss with the UK authorities and banks how binding the sanctions are for our company. The specific interpretation of the British authorities and banks is that the sanctions do not apply to our operations. Therefore, we can continue with the important railway export, import and transit traffic while keeping the Finnish export industry running. Sanctions are often imposed on persons and, through that, on consigners or owners of goods, and we will not transport anything that falls under the sanctions. Possible sanctions and additional restrictions are decided by the authorities and we always act according to their instructions,’ Lauri Sipponen, President and CEO of VR Group, said.
VR Transpoint’s services are focused on the export industry’s product and raw material transports. VR Transpoint’s railway transport volume in 2021 was approximately 37 mn tolns, freight between Finland and Russia making about a third of the total.