VR Group publishes a separate sustainability report that you can download from this website. Download the full report as a PDF-file from here:

Responsibility themes

Responsibility in VR Group covers five different themes. Responsibility means ensuring customer satisfaction, safety, well-being at work, environmental friendliness and transparent operations.

1. Customer focus

VR Group developed interaction and cooperation in all three business operations.  

Cooperating with its partners, VR Transpoint has created new comprehensive logistics solutions, which combine rail and road transport with port operations and other logistics services in accordance with customers’ needs. 

VR Track developed interactive stakeholder communications, especially in social media channels, and launched www.attracktive.fi for external stakeholders. The online publication is intended to activate discussion among infrastructure engineering actors.  

VR Passenger Services started updating its ticket sales channels with the aim of making the service experience easier and smoother. In June 2016, a large number of routes was made faster in different parts of Finland and new direct connections were introduced.  

VR Group also makes every effort to ensure that its services are equally accessible to all customers. VR Group has made train travel easier for passengers with disabilities by introducing new rolling stock and new services. VR Group has increased cooperation with passengers with disabilities, and in autumn 2016 it conducted its first customer satisfaction survey among this group of passengers. The survey will be carried out each year. A new free of charge service number for passengers with disabilities was introduced at the start of 2017.  

2. Safety

There were no serious rail accidents during 2016. The most dangerous situation occurred in August, when a freight train collided into empty freight wagons at the Oulu shunting yard. The most probable and dangerous risks in rail traffic are connected with the coordination of rail traffic and track work and with level crossings. A special action programme was drawn up at the end of 2016 for the development of railway safety. This programme will extend into 2017.

VR Group achieved the accident rate target that it had set for the year. The target was a maximum of 15.5 accidents per million hours worked and the rate during 2016 was 13.0.

3. Personnel matters

VR Group has made substantial inputs into the development of supervisory work over the past few years, and there have been improvements in many areas of supervisory work. According to personnel, supervisors give feedback and treat all employees fairly. They also tackle problems better than before, communicate on work-related matters and pay attention to occupational safety. During 2016, supervisors were provided with thematic and online training in which the aim was to ensure that supervisors can cope with their responsibilities and duties.

In spring, all VR Group employees were urged to join the Matkakumppani (travel partner) programme and to encourage discussion both inside and outside the Group. Travel partners are highly motivated VR Group staff members working in different tasks that are keen on using their own networks to communicate on their job and other topical issues concerning the company.

4. Environment

Of the objectives laid out in the environmental pledges that last until 2020, the share of renewable energy in VR Group's energy consumption and the share of landfill waste have already been achieved. There were no major leaks in the transport of dangerous goods during the year.

The environmental programme drawn up for implementing the environmental pledges was updated in 2016. The measures required of all units during the period 2017-2020 were entered in the programme.

5. Transparent operations

VR Group has its own ethical guidelines. The main principles concerning the guidelines have been communicated to all staff members. Each employee must also undergo training in the application of the guidelines.  The Group also has separate anti-corruption guidelines and key persons are provided with training on the application of these guidelines. VR Group requires that its partners approve the ethical guidelines when concluding contracts with the Group. Under the guidelines, the partners are also expected to contribute to anti-corruption efforts.