VR said Friday that it will begin talks aimed at cutting up to 570 jobs in an effort to save 50 million euros. The negotiations will involve roughly 2,800 employees in the company’s passenger traffic, train maintenance and rail services units as well as from its catering service Avecra.
The employer-employee talks are expected to focus on improving customer service and could lead to the end of ticket sales at some rail stations. VR added that new rolling stock and business changes will reduce the need for maintenance service as well as engine drivers.
The company said that negotiations are expected to last three months at most, and that payroll reductions and other changes are to be implemented during this year and in 2016.
As a result of the cuts, rail schedules, routes and ticket prices will undergo changes in the coming months.
The restructuring will not affect local rail traffic, group management, rail systems subsidiary VR Track, the freight and logistics company VR Transpoint or the bus and haulage company Pohjolan Liikenne