The train is wrecked. Vy retains control over Eastern Norway. Completely contrary to what the Norwegian Railways Directorate recommended half a year ago.
It is Vy who will drive the state’s trains in Eastern Norway for the next ten years. This was confirmed by the Directorate of Railways on Friday.
With that, a months-long bitter dispute between Vy and Flytoget has reached its provisional end. For Flytoget, everything indicates that there will be a full stop for the entire operation.
Today’s decision from the Directorate of Railways is completely contrary to what they recommended just over six months ago. Then the directorate’s clear recommendation was to split the train service in Eastern Norway into two.
Vy would then be allowed to offer the first package, mostly consisting of local traffic around Oslo. Flytoget was the preferred negotiating party on the second package, where there are mostly regional trains.
Then the Ministry of Transport announced at the twelfth hour that Vy would nevertheless be allowed to make an offer for both packages together. This is the offer they have now won with.
Means the end for Flytoget in five years
The choice may mean that Flytoget is coming to an end as a separate service. At least if the plans Vy has come up with are to be believed.
In the route plans, they have planned for a number of new routes and departures in the train traffic. But one thing has been taken away: the flight train.
In the plans, Vy has taken over the lines Flytoget currently has a contract for. They have done so even though Flytoget’s contract lasts until 2028.
In a press release, Flytoget writes that it is likely that the offer will be discontinued in five years.
Flytoget: Did not get the opportunity
Flytoget states in a press release that they are disappointed by the directorate’s decision.
– We are very surprised and disappointed by this. We believe that both the state and the train travelers are now missing out on a long-awaited boost for the Norwegian railways, says Acting Managing Director of Flytoget, Nicolai Bryde.
Unlike Vy, Flytoget has not been given the opportunity to bid on both train routes. It has been decisive, believes Bryde.
– Had Flytoget also been given the opportunity to bid for Eastern Norway together, we are convinced that Flytoget would have made an offer that was at least as advantageous financially and with a clearly better route offer than Vy has offered. We didn’t get the opportunity to do that, he says.
Vy: Great benefits for customers and society
Where Flytoget soothes, Vy is very pleased. In a press release, they promise a better train offer for passengers – and a cheaper one for the state.
Taking over Flytoget’s lines from 2028 is part of what will make the offer better. This is emphasized by Vy’s executive vice president for trains, Erik Røhne.
– The opening to see both our and Flytoget’s routes together from 2028 offers completely new opportunities. Our route proposal provides both a better train offer and a better operating plan than is possible today, he says.
LO: «Full togseier»
LO writes in a press release that they consider the decision a “complete train victory”.
– This is good news, which means a lot to both the employees and all those who depend on a good train service every day, says LO leader Peggy Hessen Følsvik.
Aftenposten has written that LO and the trade unions have worked towards splitting up the train service. In meetings with Transport Minister Jon Ivar Nygård, both the Norwegian Railways Association and the Norwegian Locomotives Association have been clear that Vy should retain control, Nygård told Aftenposten.
The Norwegian Locomotives Association has told Aftenposten that they believe Flytoget should also be given the opportunity to submit offers for both train packages.
Settle long-running dispute
Flytoget and Vy have been arguing about running trains in Eastern Norway for several months. It has developed into a bitter dispute between two state-owned companies.
Last year, the Directorate of Railways wanted to divide the run into two and give one part to each. Vy was to make an offer on the first package, Østlandet 1.
The second package, Østlandet 2, was to be negotiated by Flytoget. It should make the train service better for passengers and cheaper for the state.
But Vy did not want to lose control over Eastern Norway. They therefore sent a sketch to the Ministry of Transport to stop the division and show that Vy could deliver a better offer than today.
In January, the Directorate of Railways was told from above to accept an offer from Vy for both packages. The flight train did not get the same opportunity.