Infrastructure and Housing Minister Andreas Carlson (KD).
Earlier this winter, Norran reported that the completion of the stage between Dåva and Skellefteå of the Norrbotniabanan line, which is expected to be completed by 2030, is at risk of being delayed due to appeals against the railway plans. These appeals mean that construction cannot commence until the plans have been approved by the government.
This week, Dagens industri reported that the Swedish government has instructed the Swedish Transport Administration to review the national infrastructure plan and explore options to accelerate the projects, with a special focus on the expansion in the north, including the Norrbotniabanan railway. The assignment must be completed by September 15th.
Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson (KD) stated, "All stages of the Norrbotnia Railway are part of the national plan, and it is also part of this assignment to the Swedish Transport Administration to see what measures can be taken to speed up the earlier installation."
The appeals against the railway plans have been filed by the municipality of Skellefteå and other organizations. One of the concerns is that the railway will cause damage to the local nature and wildlife. However, according to Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson, the government is committed to addressing these concerns and ensuring that the construction of the Norrbotniabanan line moves forward as planned.
– We are taking the concerns that have been raised seriously, and we are working to ensure that the railway is built in a way that minimizes any negative impact on the local environment, Carlson told Di.
The Norrbotniabanan line is an important infrastructure project that will connect northern Sweden to the rest of the country, and is expected to boost economic growth and create jobs in the region. The government has allocated billions of kronor to the project, and is committed to seeing it through to completion.
The estimated cost of the Norrbotnia line is 40 billion kronor, but only 20 billion kronor has been allocated in the current traffic plan for the section between Umeå and Skellefteå. Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson stated that the remaining funding will be addressed during the revision of the national plan, and the Swedish Transport Administration's assignment will be an important tool in that regard.
The stretch between Dåva and Skellefteå is expected to be completed in 2030.
Meanwhile, the construction of the Norrbothnia railway faces a billion-dollar setback due to an unexpected discovery of twice as much sulphide soil as previously estimated, according to TV4 Nyheterna.
Although this type of soil is common along the Norrland coast, handling and transporting it can be costly. The Swedish Transport Administration estimates that it could cost at least 1.6 billion kronor to transport the soil away.
–That's a huge amount of money. It will be a real problem, says Richard Österbacka, head of unit at Norrbotniabanan, to TV4.
The Swedish Transport Administration now wants the Environmental Code to be changed so that the handling of soil masses is simplified.
–With the support of politicians, we could better facilitate this handling, says Jonas Jonsson, function manager for the environment at Norrbotniabanan.