Volker Rail and Yara collaborate for the environment
Yara’s transport operations have also been made more efficient, as there is no longer any need to change the locomotive in Iisalmi or Ylivieska from electronically driven to to diesel driven or vice versa. Most of the locomotives are Vectron electric locomotives, which is the most powerful type VR uses. The emissions and noise impacts caused by rail transport will also decrease as a result of the change. In the future, the efficiency of transport will also be enhanced by increasing train sizes.
“Electrification of the railway line improves both operational reliability and the efficiency of rail logistics. The railway connection between Siilinjärvi and Kokkola has become increasingly important for Yara’s Siilinjärvi plant since the Saimaa canal was discontinued, says Tuomas Girsén, Plant Manager, Yara Siilinjärvi.
VR’s aim is to further increase the share of electrically driven traffic. However, reaching this goal requires continuing the electrification of the railway network.
“Important electrification sites for freight traffic include the Kolari railway line, and the railway sections between Joensuu and Kontiomäki and Pieksämäki and Varkaus. The more goods are transported by rail, the more effectively we are able to reduce the total emissions from traffic. By making rail transport more popular, we can reduce the emissions of our customers and Finland as a whole,” Lehtonen says.
Facts:
- Approximately 22% of land transport in Finland is carried out by train.
- Rail traffic accounts for only 1% of all transport emissions in Finland.
- 80% of our freight trains and 95% of our passenger trains run on electricity with zero emissions.
- About 60% of the railway network owned by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency has been electrified.