VR Class Dm11

---

title: "VR Class Dm11" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["multiple-units-of-finland", "alstom-multiple-units", "train-related-introductions-in-1997"] description: "Class of Cuban diesel multiple unit originally used in Finland" topic_path: "general/multiple-units-of-finland" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VR_Class_Dm11" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Class of Cuban diesel multiple unit originally used in Finland ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox Train"]

Field	Value
name	VR Class Dm11
imagesize	300px
service	1997
manufacturer	GEC-Alsthom
numberbuilt	6
formation	1 car
fleetnumbers	4401–4406
operator	VR Group
numberservice	0
carlength	23600 mm
width	3300 mm
height	3900 mm
doors	3 + 3
maxspeed	120 km/h
weight	46 t
capacity	145 passengers
enginetype	Diesel engine
poweroutput	410 kW
gauge
::

| name = VR Class Dm11 | image = | imagesize = 300px | caption = | interiorimage = | interiorcaption = | service = 1997 | manufacturer = GEC-Alsthom | factory = | family = | numberbuilt = 6 | refurbishment = | replaced = | formation = 1 car | fleetnumbers = 4401–4406 | operator = VR Group | depots = | lines = | yearconstruction = | yearservice = | yearscrapped = | numberconstruction = | numberservice = 0 | numberscrapped = | carbody = | carlength = 23600 mm | width = 3300 mm | height = 3900 mm | floorheight = | platformheight = | entrylevelorstep = | art-sections = | doors = 3 + 3 | maxspeed = 120 km/h | weight = 46 t | capacity = 145 passengers | acceleration = | deceleration = | traction = | engine = | enginetype = Diesel engine | poweroutput = 410 kW | transmission = | aux = | powersupply = | gauge = | electricsystem = | brakes = | safety =

The Dm11 was a diesel multiple unit built by GEC-Alsthom in Spain for VR Group. A total of 16 units were ordered in 1995, with an option of 16 more, at a price of 80 million Finnish marks. The first units arrived in Finland in February 1997 and testing started in Central Finland a month later. However, VR cancelled the deal at the end of the same year. By that time, six units had been delivered. The trains left Finland in 1999. One of the units was later seen in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2000 before they were sold to Cuba. The train was unofficially called the Mandolino, which rhymed with the then-new Pendolino.

VR did not accept the Dm11 in regular traffic for multiple reasons. It was claimed to weigh 37.7 t during ordering, but the final units were 9 t overweight. This caused a problem, as the units were expected to run on lower quality tracks. The noise level in the passenger compartments was also measured to be 12 dB louder than expected. Furthermore, the windows of the train froze during winter service. The black ends of the train were seen as a hazard for drivers, and yellow was added to the nose of unit 4401 to increase visibility.

VR started a new tender in December 1997, asking for 12–20 trains and a maximum of 20 options. However, the winner of the bid could not deliver trains that fitted the specifications, which meant that VR had to start from scratch once again at the end of the year 1998. Only three bids were entered, none of which interested the company. It started a new tender at the end of the year 1999 with the same requirements. Finally, CKD Vagonka (later Škoda Vagonka) won the bid in 2001 with a DMU that was to be called the Dm12. The unit numbers of the Dm11 (4401 to 4406) were reused on Dm12 trains.

References

References

1. (10 November 1997). "VR purki miljoonien kiskobussikaupan". Mtv3.fi.
2. Cajander, Riku. (28 September 1997). "Espanjalaisten kiskobussien käyttöönotto kangertelee". [[YLE]].
3. (14 February 1997). "VR tuo kiskobussin Keski-Suomeen". Mtv3.fi.
4. Rauhala, Jorma. (27 January 1999). "Dv15 1985 ja Dm11:t.". Vaunut.org.
5. Roosma, Andrus. (9 June 2000). "Railbus from Spain".
6. Kutvonen, Juha. (31 December 1997). "Lätän jälkeistä elämää 3...". Vaunut.org.
7. Rauhala, Jorma. (20 March 1997). "Dm11 4401.". Vaunut.org.
8. Rauhala, Jorma. (10 September 1997). "Dm11 4401.". Vaunut.org.
9. (11 December 1997). "VR:n kiskobusseista uusi tarjouskilpailu". MTV3.
10. (22 December 1998). "VR:n kiskobussikauppa epäonnistui taas". Museorautatieyhdistys ry, Suomen Rautatiehistoriallinen Seura ry.
11. (16 November 1999). "VR järjestää taas tarjouskilpailun kiskobusseista". Museorautatieyhdistys ry, Suomen Rautatiehistoriallinen Seura ry.
12. (30 August 2001). "VR tilaa kiskobussit Tsekistä". Museorautatieyhdistys ry, Suomen Rautatiehistoriallinen Seura ry.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::