"Infrastructure must not become an obstacle to the green transition"

The Swedish Transport Administration will be tasked with seeing whether it is possible to speed up the Malmbanan and Norrbothniabanan lines. This was announced by Minister of Infrastructure Andreas Carlson during the Järnvägsforum Norr in Luleå.

The theme for this year's Railway Forum North, which was held at Kulturens hus in Luleå on March 30–31, was How does the new world situation affect Sweden's infrastructure policy?

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Andreas Carlson had good news with him. A political decision the day before means that the Swedish Transport Administration will be tasked with reviewing the infrastructure plan. The Swedish Transport Administration will see what measures can speed up work on several important infrastructure projects that are related to the green transition in northern Sweden.

– The government will take an active, comprehensive approach to coordinating new industrialization in northern Sweden. This is needed to ensure processes go as quickly as possible.

– The government decision has been taken to identify shortcomings and bottlenecks, to analyze the measures that are already in the planning and what can be done collectively to quickly move forward. Time is critical. Given the developments we are seeing in new industrialization, we need to ensure that transportation and infrastructure do not become an obstacle to the green transition, said Andreas Carlson.

The Swedish Transport Administration has six months to analyze and describe the status of the ongoing projects. The assignment includes consultation and dialogue with the region, municipality and green actors. Andreas Carlson emphasized how urgent the green transition is, partly from a climate perspective, and partly in view of the geopolitical situation in the world.

– We are in an uncertain situation where infrastructure and military mobility are even more urgent given our country's importance when we join NATO. But also given the green transition, which not only benefits our country but the entire EU. It is actually a prerequisite for the entire EU to be able to succeed with the climate transitions.

Impressed by Sweden and Finland

Also present was Pat Cox, European coordinator for the EU's Scandinavia-Mediterranean core network corridor. Cox said he did not need to be convinced of the importance of the green transition taking place in northern Sweden. He stressed that he was impressed by the work that both Sweden and Finland, despite their peripheral geographical location, have done to raise awareness of their issues in the EU Parliament.

Despite this, he points out that Sweden cannot expect to receive financial support from the EU in the volumes needed to complete, among other things, the Norrbothnia Line.

– We all agree on what needs to be done with the East Coast Line and the North Bothnia Line. You have an industrial powerhouse here in the north of Sweden that has managed to mobilize a thousand billion kronor in capital. The EU will be with you, but if you want it to happen quickly, you need to have a debate about finding new accelerators.

Pat Cox mentions solutions such as long-term green Eurobonds and a forty-year loan with preferential loan terms from the European Investment Bank.

– If new models, new organization, new partnerships are needed, then just do it. Because if you do it the old way and wait for EU money, it will take years, maybe even decades. If you want transformative change in your infrastructure, you have to find ways to free yourself to deliver what you need. I believe you can do it. I want you to do it and my message is: do it.

The Northern Railway Forum was arranged by Region Norrbotten in collaboration with six other regions.

Text and photo: Yours