Railway problems a threat to the green transition
Sweden's green transition and industrial growth depend on an efficient railway. During the Rail Forum North, it became clear that the infrastructure that once powered our economy is once again crucial. Without a functioning railway, we can neither meet climate goals nor increase growth.
The railway is an indispensable part of the infrastructure required for Sweden to function and develop.
- We in Norrbotten have long been a driving force for the country's exports and industry, but to continue to be such a driving force we need modern, efficient transport solutions. Then old financing models will no longer be enough. The Norrbotten Line and double tracks on the Malmbanan are not just investments in infrastructure – they are investments in Sweden's industrial future, says Anders Öberg, Chairman of the Regional Board of Region Norrbotten.
The challenges in a European perspective
Johan Danielsson (S), MEP, emphasized that the EU has very ambitious goals for the railways. A significant part of freight traffic is to be moved to rail.
- For Sweden, the importance of railways is even more tangible than for the rest of Europe. We are an export-dependent country, and for our industry to grow and develop, we must have functioning transport solutions that can reach Europe without obstacles. This is especially true when it comes to heavy and voluminous transports that require special infrastructure, says Danielsson.
MEP Johan Danielsson (S) visited the Railway Forum in Umeå.
The EU's goal is for the railway's share of freight transport to increase to 30 percent by 2030. But development is far behind the goals, as Danielsson pointed out. To achieve the goals, we not only need more physical infrastructure. We also need a railway that can compete with other modes of transport, such as road and shipping. Sweden also needs to make more efficient use of the capacity we already have. Better coordination and a better system for allocating railway capacity are needed.
The industry's perspective shows great need
Hitachi Energy manufactures equipment that enables the transmission of energy over long distances. The company is a key player in renewable energy, but is struggling to get its heavy components, weighing between 400 and 700 tons, transported to northern Sweden. This is causing both logistical obstacles and delays.
Anna Karin Larsdotter, Transport and Heavy Lift Manager at the company, described that it is easier to transport their products to Continental Europe than to northern Sweden. From Ludvika and north, the railway is not even an option.
- For us, the railway is a lifeline to reach customers, but we also depend on the infrastructure being developed enough to handle the heavy transport required. In some cases, when the weight of the components exceeds 400 tonnes, they cannot be transported via railway, which means we have to use road transport. This causes delays and increased costs, said Anna Karin Larsdotter.
For Hitachi Energy's growth journey, northern Sweden's infrastructure is not enough.
Hitachi Energy is part of the transition to renewable energy. The climate target for 2050 is that 50 percent of all energy should come from electricity. But if this is to become a reality in Sweden, an infrastructure that can support heavy transport is needed. In addition to Hitachi Energy, Polarbröd and Volvo Lastvagnar participated as speakers at Järnvägsforum Norr. All of them highlighted the challenges for their companies when the infrastructure is lacking.
Text: The Bothnian Corridor with adaptations by Sara Stylbäck Vesa
