\u201cOperating in someone else\u2019s premises always involves the risk of having to leave unexpectedly, and in addition, the facilities were not entirely practical for our operations,\u201d Lehtonen explains.
\u201cOn top of this, one of our drivers had mentioned our potential need for a depot to the construction company Vepeso, which ultimately led to a joint construction project on Vepeso\u2019s property. The site now provides operational facilities for both companies, and today the property company also accommodates several other businesses,\u201d she adds.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Fast and Persuasive Building<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The actual construction project progressed quickly and smoothly. \u201cWhen the first contact was made in January 2025, the plans were already completed by March\u2013April, and groundwork began in May,\u201d Lehtonen explains. \u201cThe move itself then took place in stages in November. Some finishing touches were still carried out in January, but the facility is largely complete. Now that the building has been in use for some time, we will certainly notice a few things that could not be fully anticipated during the planning phase, but these can be adjusted later as needed. Overall, the project moved forward very efficiently and stayed well on schedule. The cost estimate did deviate somewhat from the original plan, but we would have gone ahead with the project regardless, even if the final cost had been known already at the decision-making stage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Space For Every Need<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Both staff and fleet have been carefully considered in the design of the new facilities. Lehtonen explains that the building includes two heated maintenance halls, a wash bay, as well as social and rest facilities within the main building. In addition, the yard features ten bus parking spaces equipped with heating posts, along with a temporary additional rest area for drivers located in a comfortable modular building. \u201cThe facilities are well sized for the needs of our Rovaniemi operation, and the movable temporary spaces add valuable flexibility,\u201d Lehtonen says with satisfaction. \u201cUnder normal conditions, we operate around seven to eight buses and drivers in Rovaniemi, but during the peak season driven by our growing international customer base, the number increases to around 30 buses and drivers. During these busy periods, we receive additional support from Pohjolan Matka\u2019s other locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Rovaniemi depot has turned out very much in line with what Pohjolan Matka envisioned during the planning phase. Johanna Lehtonen notes that drivers may have wished for different solutions in certain details, but she believes they are ultimately very satisfied. November 2025 marked an exciting new chapter on Pulkamontie in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":17493,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pgc_sgb_lightbox_settings":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[246,247],"tags":[227,228,229,230,231,232,233,234],"class_list":["post-17565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-press-release","tag-kansainvaliset-asiakkaat","tag-kansainvalisyys","tag-lappi","tag-matkailu","tag-rovaniemi","tag-tilausajot","tag-toimitilat","tag-turismi"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pohjolanmatka.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20251126-WA0006.jpg\")
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The New Building Brings Significant Benefits and Improvements\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe building truly reflects who we are \u2013 it feels and looks like us,\u201d Lehtonen says with enthusiasm.
\u201cHaving our own depot helps us deliver successful and safe experiences for both domestic and international travelers. We can defrost our buses during the winter, wash them using environmentally friendly products, and provide our drivers with a calm and comfortable environment for their mandatory rest periods. We believe that Rovaniemi and tourism in Lapland will bring us increased business in both charter services and group travel. This gives us a strong foundation to continue building even more robust growth in the northern region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pohjolanmatka.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20251218-WA0006-1700x1275.jpg\")
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