Sweden unveils 1.2 trillion kronor infrastructure plan

The Swedish government has presented its national infrastructure plan for 2026–2037, a comprehensive investment package totaling about 1,200 billion SEK for roads and railways. According to Region Värmland, the plan includes a double-track railway between Karlstad and Kil, which is Sweden's busiest single-track railway. The double-track project will be implemented during the plan period 2026–2037, the region said. The railway line between Karlstad and Kil is one of the most delay-prone in Sweden; in 2024, six out of ten trains were late, with an average delay of 26 minutes, according to multiple reports. The double-track is a key part of efforts to reduce travel time between Oslo and Stockholm, driven by the company Oslo-Sthlm 2.55, in which Region Värmland is a co-owner, an official said. Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson (KD) said the government will actively seek co-financing from the EU for the Karlstad–Kil project. The minister also noted that the Karlstad–Kil double track is important for total defence, as the Oslo–Stockholm corridor passes through several parts of Swedish defence industry. "The decision is vital for national preparedness and Nordic cooperation," Carlson said at a press conference. Landsbygdsminister Peter Kullgren (KD) described the stretch as "Sweden's most trafficked single-track line and a vulnerability in the link between Oslo and Stockholm." Stina Höök, vice chair of the regional development committee (M), said in a press release: "The government's announcement confirms that the investment is needed for the development of Värmland and Sweden." The total investments in Värmland between 2026 and 2037 are estimated at about 1.6 billion SEK, according to multiple reports. There will also be capacity enhancements in the form of passing loops on the Värmland line between Kil and Charlottenberg, Region Värmland said. The full decision on the national plan will be presented shortly, with more details on costs, timelines, and other priorities for Värmland, the region added.

Region Norrbotten welcomed the government's decision to give the green light for construction start of the Norrbotniabanan section between Dåva and Skellefteå. Skellefteå is Sweden's largest city without a rail connection, according to research. The Norrbotniabanan is a planned railway stretching 27 mil (270 km) between Umeå and Luleå, research shows. 17.7 billion kronor has been allocated for the Dåva–Skellefteå section, and construction is expected to take ten years, placing completion around 2035, according to research. The railway will halve travel times and improve connections with Europe, and will increase safety and offer environmental benefits by shifting transport from road to rail, research indicates. Trafikverket sent a request for a start decision for the Dåva–Skellefteå section on August 23, 2024, and 160 hectares of forest have been cleared so far, corresponding to 40% of planned clearing in the first contract, according to research. The Umeå–Dåva section is approaching traffic start, with breakthrough in the Ersmarksberget tunnel in October, research shows. Planning continues for the northern part of the line, with a new station location decided in Norrfjärden. In northern Skellefteå, a line that minimizes mass movement has been favored to keep costs down, and work on railway plans for the Skellefteå–Luleå section will continue in 2026, according to research. Anders Öberg, chair of the regional council in Region Norrbotten, said in a press release: "The investments on Malmbanan are positive but do not match the investments actually required for the entire Luleå–Kiruna–Narvik line."

Among other major projects, the government has made several building start decisions, the largest being the Tvärförbindelse Södertörn, a motor traffic link connecting E4 with road 73 towards Nynäshamn, according to multiple reports. The Tvärförbindelse Södertörn is approximately 2 miles long, including 6 kilometers in tunnel, and has been planned by Trafikverket for twelve years, reports said. The cost was estimated at 10 billion SEK in 2017, but after government-required savings, it is now set at just over 20 billion SEK, according to multiple reports. The project costs 20.6 billion SEK and will pass through six nature reserves, receiving strong criticism, reports said. The E4/E20 Hallunda–Vårby section will be expanded from three to four lanes in each direction between Hallunda and Vårby backe, according to multiple reports. Road 26/47, section Mullsjö–Slättäng, will become a 2+1 road with a median barrier, costing about half a billion SEK, reports said. The E45 Säffle–Valnäs, section Hammar–Valnäs, will become a 2+1 road. The new national plan also includes double track between Kubikenborg and Dingersjö south of Sundsvall and a new double track Gävle–Kringlan, albeit in a reduced version, according to multiple reports. The government's decision also includes several extensions of meeting stations along the Malmbanan, according to multiple reports. The government has given the green light for several projects in Skåne, including E65 Svedala–Börringe, Malmö C, Malmö godsbangård, and Blekinge kustbana, reports said. The building start decision means Trafikverket can now begin procuring contractors, not that construction starts immediately, according to multiple reports. The projects that received start decisions on Friday total just over 50 billion SEK, reports said.

Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M) stated that 30 billion SEK of the funds for total defence upgrades are earmarked for infrastructure, including an upgrade of the Inland Railway. The government will present how the 1,171 billion SEK for roads and railways over the next twelve years will be distributed, according to major media reports. However, the total budget is also reported as about 1,200 billion SEK, with the difference of about 29 billion SEK possibly reflecting rounding or inclusion of different funding sources. The Markarydsbanan project will be delayed several years, according to multiple reports, while trains can stop in Knäred as early as next year, reports said. The exact total cost of the Karlstad–Kil double-track project has not been disclosed, nor has the specific timeline for construction start. The specific EU co-financing being sought for the Karlstad–Kil project remains unclear, as do the specific costs and timelines for the Skåne projects.