From Old to Like-New | Modernization of SJ’s Bistro Cars Extends Service Life and Enhances Passenger Comfort
SJ’s (Swedish State Railway) ten BFS9 bistro cars are being modernized at VR FleetCare’s workshop in Pieksämäki. The modernization project extends the service life of the cars, originally built in the 1980s, by up to 10 years — in a sustainable and cost-effective way. .
As part of the modernization project, Lumikko is supplying the cars with new, tailor-made refrigeration equipment.
“We designed refrigeration equipment to fit the cars’ original structures, providing space for six cold serving units in total”, explains Ville Saikkonen, Lumikko’s Director of Technology and Product Development.
The installations are carried out by Lumikko Huoltopalvelut, which also services the cars’ air conditioning systems, ventilation ducts, kitchen equipment, and heating systems. In addition, the service team is equipping the existing convection heaters with overheating protection switches, improving safety and significantly reducing fire risk. High-quality solutions and careful workmanship ensure comfortable conditions for passengers in the years to come.
“Our service team worked flexibly in Pieksämäki during 2023–2025. It has been a pleasure to be part of this extensive renovation project”, says Jukka Lappalainen, Chief Operating Officer at Lumikko Huoltopalvelut.
Seamless collaboration and open communication
VR FleetCare’s Project Manager, Jarmo Koskenkorva, has been pleased with the cooperation with Lumikko Huoltopalvelut.
“The work has been carried out as agreed, the schedule has been kept, and any challenges have been resolved through discussion. Communication has worked well, and the cooperation has been excellent in every respect.”
In the collaboration, Koskenkorva has especially appreciated the responsible approach and open communication.
Koskenkorva has particularly valued the responsible approach and open communication throughout the collaboration.
Sustainable fleet utilization and enhanced passenger comfort
Refurbishing older cars supports sustainable development by reducing the need to build new ones and the emissions associated with it. Lumikko’s refrigeration systems are designed to be energy-efficient and long-lasting, providing concrete support for the customer’s environmental goals. The BFS9 cars were originally built as A7 and B7 cars and were partly converted into BFS9 bistro cars in the 1990s. The refurbishment project began in 2023, and the last refurbished car will return to Sweden in autumn 2025.
”From SJ’s perspective, the main goal of the project is to deliver the cars exactly as ordered — and on time. That is what we are aiming for. ,” Koskenkorva summarizes.
Read more about the subject:
- Read more in VR FleetCare’s news: From Old to Like-New – Modernizing SJ’s Bistro Cars in Pieksämäki | VR FleetCare
- Explore Lumikko’s history in rail transport: Air conditioning for trains and trams – read about Lumikko’s rail story
- Learn more about Lumikko’s service offering for rail transport: Rail Transport – Lumikko