Finland: The four-car low-floor Sm7-series unit was presented at Helsinki Central station. The first trains of this type are expected to enter service on the Finnish capital’s commuter routes in late summer.
The unit is said to carry up to 700 passengers, with seating in a 3+2 layout. The ends of the head cars offer premium seating in a 2+2 arrangement with armrests and folding tables. Of the 340 seats, 20 can be removed to create additional space for bicycles. The train has two toilets, one of which is accessible to passengers with reduced mobility.
The Sm7 can reach 160 km/h and is adapted to Finland’s operating and climatic conditions. The equipment and saloon have additional protection against snow and low temperatures, while the entrance areas feature underfloor heating and air curtains. The train is fitted with traction equipment from Switzerland’s ABB and air-conditioning units from Germany’s Liebherr running on a propane refrigerant.
In 2022 national operator VR ordered 20 of these trains from the Swiss manufacturer for €250 mln, with an option on a further 50. The first was built at the plant in Siedlce, Poland in 2025, a year behind schedule owing to supply chain disruption and flooding in Europe. The new rolling stock is to replace the Sm4- and Sm2-series EMUs built by Alstom in 1998–2005 and Finland’s Valmet in 1975–1981.
