Public transport issues

Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)

Mr. Speaker! We are debating tonight - it has indeed become evening - TU5 Public Transport Issues.

Public transport is close to people. It is used in different ways through all phases of life. The ultimate responsibility lies with municipalities and regions. But here, we can create the conditions to facilitate and develop the possibility of using collective transport for climate-smart journeys that contribute to the climate transition.

During the pandemic, we saw how travel patterns changed, such that collective travel decreased. Now we are in a new situation where certain work patterns have changed, with experiences and new ways of working that the pandemic has contributed to. It will therefore be an extra challenge for public transport as a whole to reach previous levels again.

The objective is now primarily to be the obvious, attractive alternative to the car in terms of both prices as well as availability, reliability, and the experience of the journey itself. One can, in a traffic-safe manner, also use the travel time to log in and start work or studies, or even for rest and reflection.

With the traveler at the center, municipalities and regions create conditions for labor market regions much larger than before, with a well-functioning and reliable public transport. This is also done through collaborations across regional and national borders. People's everyday lives should not be hindered by municipal borders, regional borders, or national borders. The life puzzle should work for the high school student Lovisa, who should be able to rely on arriving on time for her first lesson when she travels across the county border for her studies. Parents of small children should both arrive at work on time and be secure in the knowledge that they can come home and pick up the children from preschool and after-school care in the afternoon.

Public transport also opens up for excursions that add a golden edge to life. When Maja, five years old, fantasizes about taking the train to "Modevärlden," it is with a measure of anticipation and delight that the train actually takes Maja and her mother exactly where they want to go—and a small measure of reality. The same applies when Olle can leave the car at the commuter parking lot, take the train into the city, and see his beloved Hammarby fight out another derby.

Mr. Speaker! For me as a Moderate, a well-functioning public transport system is more important than high-speed trains. Having tracks that hold up, are maintained, developed, and have the conditions to withstand Swedish weather conditions creates the conditions for climate-smart choices in everyday life every day.

With regional commuting and train connections, we are creating ever larger labor market regions and giving more people the opportunity to discover fantastic residential municipalities, which can also play a major role in the overall sense of quality of life.

Think of stepping off the train at one of Sweden's most beautiful station communities, Gnesta, with Frösjön shimmering on one side of the track and the center welcoming on the other! In just over 30 minutes from the city's hustle and bustle, you step straight into this safe, association-dense and entrepreneur-strong small municipality which - very much thanks to a functioning public transport - offers fantastic qualities in life for people who appreciate having everything nearby.

Here is public transport, when it functions as it should, a strong alternative to the car. It is half the travel time, station stops that take me where I want to go, and a well-developed commuter parking for those who need to take the car part of the way or arrive by bus during peak hours.

Municipalities and regions in cooperation in Mälardalen are at the forefront when it comes to the common ticketing system Movingo. It makes the journey just as smooth and flexible as it should be to be the attractive alternative. Everything is conveniently available in the app, from A to B, and it is easy to book and easy to travel across county borders. Aviation has effectively succeeded in gathering everything so that with just a few simple button presses, you can access all the world's flights, and we welcome the same taking place in collective travel on the ground.

To make public transport more efficient and accessible, innovative solutions and new knowledge are needed, and there digitalization, sharing services, and combined mobility are crucial tools for us to be able to reduce the need for private car transport. Above all, less densely populated parts of the country need innovative solutions that help to facilitate expanded public transport when empty buses are devastating, but such simple things as on-demand transport can contribute to the supply when the need exists.

We can take Alice and Ebba's school bus as an example. The girls easily follow the bus's journey from the start to exactly their stop, directly in the phone via the app – and all this from our kitchen table while they drink hot chocolate and plan the day. It is safe travel, with clear expectation and clear information. With more money for road maintenance, the bus's now somewhat bumpy journey will become much more pleasant and the trip will go somewhat faster. Then the bus also becomes an attractive means of transport.

Mr. Speaker! When the train runs as it should – an expression that should more often be reclaimed – the share of climate-smart travel among completed journeys can increase. With robustness in the system and guaranteed train positions even for study and work commuting regionally, it can be part of the transition required for us to reach the climate goals. To reach there, training opportunities are required that ensure the competence is available and remove the obstacle of public transport being cancelled due to a lack of staff.

Within public transport, people work who, through their efforts and with a service mindset at their fingertips, make public transport function smoothly every day. A safe working environment is an incredibly important issue. It is essential that employees in all parts of public transport can perform their work tasks under safe and secure conditions, regardless of the time of day.

Thus, the environment in all parts of public transport must be safe for all of us who use it. It can be about lighting in tunnels and areas on the way to and from commuter parking lots, safety wardens on board trains at certain times of the day, cameras that make it clear when an accident occurs, and connections between different units to assist each other when so required.

Public transport shall be for everyone. The stroller shall be able to travel on the bus or the train and the wheelchair likewise. In other cases, special transport is a decisive factor for people with disabilities to be able to participate in society and live an active and independent life. We therefore emphasize that special transport is a democratic issue that concerns both rights and living conditions.

Mr. Speaker! Gotland has a unique situation that is not found in the rest of the country. Nowhere else do you see your highway – or road for that matter, for that part – closed for a large part of the day in the same way as the Gotlanders' road to the mainland is. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the number of departures at attractive times is secured, and furthermore at reasonable prices. Both freight and residents and tourists shall be able to travel in a fast, smooth, climate-smart and cost-effective way.

Unstable prices and strange departure times risk seriously damaging regional development. A great responsibility lies with Trafikverket right now in the work with the procurement of ferry traffic for the upcoming contract period. The residents of Gotland, the business owners, and the holidaymakers shall be assured of a well-functioning transport system. This is something we will follow closely.

I therefore conclude by requesting approval of the committee's proposal in its entirety.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Adrian Magnusson (S)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage for the speech. There were many things there that even I, as a Social Democrat, could agree with, for example that public transport should be for everyone. It was very well expressed. Also, this that public transport involves climate-smart journeys is obviously important to include in this discussion.

The Chairman mentioned at one point that public transport should be the obvious and attractive choice compared to the car. It is, of course, important that we ensure as many people as possible travel by public transport and do not get into large cars and travel one by one. Therefore, I am a little curious about one thing.

The chairman is certainly well aware that in many Moderate-led regions around the country, significant price increases in public transport are currently being implemented. In Sörmland, price increases are being implemented, though not as significant. Significant price increases are being implemented in, for example, Östergötland and Skåne – up to 10 percent.

The member herself raised the prices as part of creating an attractive election. I am therefore curious about how the member views the fact that that attractiveness is damaged when regional governments where her own party is leading raise the fees within public transport.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question. I think it is very important that we look at the different modes of transport precisely from an economic perspective.

When I follow ticket prices around the country, I see that one still gets quite a lot of traffic for the money. In my home region, for example, one can travel unlimited between stations for 2,000 kronor a month, and it is still very many miles one gets to travel for that money. I would say that is far much more attractive than the use of the car if we look at how many miles one would have had to fuel. We see, unfortunately, that fuel prices are going up and that very much in our society right now is becoming more expensive than we have been used to.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Adrian Magnusson (S)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the answer. The member is right on the point that is pertinent here, namely that the entire society is in a cost crisis. May it be that one can get a lot of traffic for the money, but for a pressured student or a pressured family with children, the price increase becomes quite noticeable in everyday life. Every single krona is important for these families, students, pensioners and other wage earners who are currently being pressured hard. I think this is an important thing to keep in mind.

I also want to ask a bit about Gotlandstrafiken. The Member of Parliament mentioned in their speech that Gotlandstrafiken is important and that something must be done regarding the development we are seeing within Gotlandstrafiken, partly for the residents of Gotland, who have received substantial price increases but have a discount, and partly for others who travel to Gotland, such as relatives and tourists.

This has been discussed here in the chamber before, and my view is that the government has been quite dismissive of new proposals beyond what is in the state budget. I am curious if there is anything new in the works from the government regarding Gotlandstrafiken or if it is the same line that applies. Do the allocated funds remain?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)

Madam Speaker! I also thank you for this important issue.

Gotlandstrafiken is incredibly important. It is a unique situation. Just as I said in my speech, there are no other places in the country where the motorway, or the road for that part, is completely closed for a large part of the day. Therefore, Gotlandstrafiken is important for regional development, so that the people of Gotland can receive visits from grandmother and grandfather and so that goods can be transported both to and from the island.

It is incredibly important that prices are kept at a level that ensures regional development continues to benefit and that the island continues to be attractive as a destination for all of us who do not live there permanently. Providing additional funds was part of the construction we have regarding the distribution, where the state contributes extra for the increased fuel prices.

I would wish that the Gotland traffic will be able to be conducted with at least the same amount of trips, preferably at even more attractive times during the day and at a lower price than what we have seen now, hopefully through improved energy use.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Daniel Helldén (MP)

Madam Speaker! When Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage mentioned Gnesta and Frösjön, I could not help but take the floor, as I myself have stepped off the commuter train there thousands of times on my journey to and from Stockholm.

I was reflecting on something in this context. We want public transport to function, and the commuter trains to Gnesta are a great example of public transport that is needed and that makes the town grow and also expands the labor market regions. Then came the regional trains, which halved the travel time, which is fantastic for both Gnesta, Flen and other towns further out in Sörmland. One prerequisite for this was, among other things, that the Grödingebanan was built, where we can travel at 250 kilometers per hour, and that the Citybanan was built, which ensured that it did not become so congested here in Stockholm.

My question to Member Lifvenhage is why the Moderates do not grant people in southern Sweden along the Södra stambanan the same privilege to travel in a good and smooth way with public transport, which is what it is about. They now risk, as the trains from the continent increase, to be left stuck there. We should surely not only think from the perspective of Stockholm and Mälardalen?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member Helldén, for the question!

It is a bit sad that the member chose to leave an absolutely fantastic residential municipality that truly offers that little extra for everyone.

I and the Moderates consider it important to have public transport throughout the country. Public transport does not need to look exactly the same, as we have different conditions in different parts, but one should be able to travel within an hour, which is what is usually considered okay for a journey between work and home. There we have seen an opportunity for the large cities to ease the housing pressure, while the surrounding municipalities can be the lifeblood and ensure that there are high-quality living environments within a travel distance of one hour.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Daniel Helldén (MP)

Madam Speaker! But it is also needed in southern Sweden, and one can link the regions together. This means that they too can grow. When we have good public transport in Mälardalen, it means that Mälardalen and the towns that are outside grow. Gnesta is a fantastic place to live, and those of you who have not done so can try it, as I have.

It is not only there that this is needed, but it is also needed in southern Sweden. When we talk about new main lines, it is about Jönköping, Borås and so on, but it is also about the existing towns that are located along the Södra stambanan. They need good public transport, and with the expansion that will take place, I see it as problematic that the Moderaterna and the government are making a sharp brake when it comes to new main lines.

It shouldn't just be Mälardalen that grows, should it?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)

Madam Speaker! No, of course collective travel is equally important across the entire country, but we also have different ways of traveling in different parts of the country.

When it comes to new main lines for high-speed trains, I respect that we have different views, but I see that the money released when high-speed trains are not built will be able to contribute in a more effective way to regional commuting. This makes me see positively that we will be able to have a public transport system worthy of the name throughout the country.

More station stops mean that more people have the opportunity to both get on and get off on their way to work. It would not have been possible if we had instead used the money for trips from A to Ö. There, I believe more in A to B or perhaps A to D.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ulrika Heie (C)

Madam Speaker! Public transport is important for it to be possible to live, reside, travel and work in all of Sweden.

I believe that many of us have recently seen what opportunities there are for public transport to transition in a green direction. Some of us made an exciting study visit to the boat company Candela here in Stockholm. They are looking at how one can travel in Stockholm in half the travel time using electric ferries.

It is clear that it is incredibly important that public transport is developed and exists throughout all of Sweden and does not just become a densifying factor in large cities. For the Center Party, it is important to work to ensure that this happens. This happens through technological development and by us digitalizing in various ways. There are many services that we can link to public transport that benefit from digitalization, whether it is Wi-Fi connection possibilities, common ticketing systems, or something else.

Madam Speaker! For the Centre Party, it is important to push for Sweden to reach the goal of a fossil-independent vehicle fleet and emission reductions of 70 percent by 2030 for our domestic transport. I think it is good that it states in the committee's texts that it is precisely this goal that is to be reached, so there we have a consensus in the entire transport committee.

In this work, as I previously said, public transport plays an important role, partly because we travel climate-smart together. There are great opportunities to combine travel with the help of research and new technology.

In this context, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight K2, a national knowledge center for public transport that conducts research on public transport solutions in close cooperation with public transport actors. The research projects can, for example, be about public transport and carpooling in rural areas, about digital travel support in public transport for travelers with varying needs, and about realizing new mobility and so much more. But it is not only K2 that works with research in this area. VTI also does, which conducts exciting and important research.

Madam Speaker! The politicians and the public transport actors are all working to reach the goal that the share of passenger transport by public transport, bicycle, and walking in Sweden shall be at least 25 percent in 2025, expressed in person-kilometers. But as previous speakers have also touched upon, public transport passengers were lost in many ways during the pandemic, down to 20 percent. And now we have two years to really consider how we are to strengthen the conditions for public transport to grow and reach the goal.

Madam Speaker! Another important part when we talk about public transport concerns equal conditions. Unfortunately, only during the last few days have we been able to see how equality is moving backwards in a very tedious way. It was noted the other day that the wage gap between men and women is increasing again after having been closed for 15 years, and that is obviously alarming in many ways.

An important factor for an equal working life is that we have a functioning public transport system. We know that women's labor market regions are many times smaller than men's labor market regions. And here I think we have a special responsibility to see how, with the help of public transport used by more women, we can actually see that the labor market regions can increase.

I will not take up the train issue once again, as we did so in the previous debate. But investments in new main lines would have given women in, for example, Jönköping opportunities to expand their labor market region in a completely different way compared to today's situation.

We must have better conditions for work, studies, picking up from preschool, and so on. And I also see that the committee majority welcomes what the previous government wrote in the infrastructure bill, namely that an important starting point in the development of the transport infrastructure is to consider gender equality perspectives in all parts of the process. So there is, therefore, a large and broad majority for this as well in the committee.

Madam Speaker! A situation that has been highlighted throughout the autumn, but also now in our spring, is what the former member from Moderaterna pointed out, namely the situation for people on Gotland where the ferry traffic is part of the public transport. It is clear that the cost increase that has been seen and that is being referred to is extremely difficult to live with. It is about youth teams being able to travel to the mainland to compete, it is about families being able to see each other with some regularity, and so on.

Member of the Board Lifvenhage said in his speech that there was great hope for Trafikverket's upcoming procurement. But I hope and know that initiatives are being taken in different ways, and I hope that before this procurement is completed, we also see initiatives from the current government within the near future.

Madam Speaker! In addition to these questions, we are raising questions regarding cross-border public transport. We want to see a review of the transport service act to make it possible for persons with disabilities, who cannot use public transport, to travel in a safe way from door to door.

We have six reservations on this area and naturally stand behind all of them. But for the sake of time, I move for approval of only reservation 9, which concerns equal public transport.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Magnus Oscarsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Tonight we are debating the Committee on Transport's report on public transport. And I would like to begin by moving for the approval of the committee's proposal in its entirety.

Many of us probably use public transport daily all around the country. With for example buses, commuter trains, the subway, boats and trams, we get to work, school or leisure activities. For many of us, it is a given to move around in this way. But for some, this option does not exist. Unfortunately, we see that many lines have been discontinued in different parts of Sweden, and public transport then becomes no option.

But sometimes it goes in a different direction, as at home in my native province Östergötland, where the new political leadership in the region both restores and opens a new bus line for rural transport outside Norrköping. It is, of course, very pleasing and positive for the residents. But it is also an important signal to all of us who live in the countryside that it is possible to rethink when it comes to public transport.

Madam Speaker! It is important to emphasize that public transport is primarily a matter for the region and for municipal considerations. It is important for us in the Riksdag and in the government to promote public transport through, for example, the national plan for transport infrastructure and investments in railways and bus lanes.

I am therefore pleased that we have a government that is allocating 1 billion to improve the road network where buses travel daily. With these funds, we can fill the large hole we have in the maintenance debt which has been built up over many years. Money will go to pavement maintenance, line painting, bridge repairs, and so on, so that our roads will become safer to travel on.

I also want to take the opportunity to say something about the Gotland traffic. The Gotland traffic is a lifeline between Gotland and the mainland. We know that the ticket prices have been raised significantly due to the high fuel costs, which are rooted in Russia's war in Ukraine.

That there is a good connection is extremely important, not only for the people of Gotland but also for us on the mainland. For example, many of the foods we eat on the mainland are produced precisely on Gotland. For us on the mainland who really need to increase our food security, the lifeline is just as important as it is for the people of Gotland. It is therefore important that the government has provided funds to Gotlandstrafiken for the increased fuel costs.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Adrian Magnusson (S)

Madam Speaker! I naturally stand behind all the reservations from the Social Democrats, but for the sake of time, I move for approval of only reservation 1.

For us Social Democrats, public transport is fundamental to meeting our time's great societal challenge, the climate, as well as to creating an efficient and sustainable transport system. People shall have the opportunity to travel to work, to leisure activities, and to friends. Public transport is an important instrument for giving people one of the most instrumental values we have - freedom.

The overall goal of transport policy is to ensure a socio-economically efficient and long-term sustainable transport supply for the citizens and the business community throughout the country. In order to be able to meet this goal, it is important that public transport is well-developed. It is important that we ensure that people, in as many cases as possible, choose to board, for example, the bus, the train, or the tram to complete their journey.

We need to ensure that public transport becomes the natural choice for everyone who is going to travel. It is a highly political task. It is highly a task for us in this chamber. And it is highly a task for every elected official in this country.

For us Social Democrats, it is important that more people choose to travel by public transport. There is a goal that by 2025, 25 percent of all trips shall be carried out by walking, cycling and public transport; it is the so-called GCK-goal. In order for this to be achieved, public transport is required to be accessible, affordable and attractive.

Public transport needs to be accessible in such a way that it actually exists - in cities and in the countryside, at inconvenient working hours, on weekends and nights - and not least that everyone, regardless of physical and mental conditions, can use it.

Public transport needs to be affordable in such a way that the fees are not so high that people choose to opt out of it. Passengers should not be hit with a sticker shock when they pay for their journey.

Public transport needs to be attractive in such a way that these factors make it a natural alternative for traveling. It must, as said, exist throughout the entire country, not just in the large cities, and also at times when there is no traditional so-called rush hour. Furthermore, it is important that the main focus of public transport is not just to be where it can operate with a profit, but also in other places in the country.

Madam Speaker! Public transport is an excellent example of how we can collectively solve societal challenges. When people travel by public transport, more space is created on roads and railways for other transports, for example, freight. One also makes a collective effort to reduce climate impact and contributes to ensuring this planet's survival. We are probably all aware that it is collectively, together, that we can solve some of our time's great societal challenges - not each one individually.

I want to take this opportunity to mention that for us Social Democrats, it is obvious that public transport is important from an equality perspective. It is primarily women, not infrequently in welfare professions, who travel by public transport. Investments in public transport are therefore also investments in equality and in making it possible for more women to travel. That is also an important perspective to include.

Madam Speaker! Public transport is primarily a regional and municipal responsibility. That is where the design is determined and the prices are set. However, the previous Social Democratic government took several initiatives to give the regions and municipalities the opportunity to expand public transport. In this context, the urban environment agreements deserve to be highlighted in particular. The urban environment agreements enable the country's municipalities to apply for funds to develop public transport. In the national infrastructure plan adopted by the Riksdag this summer, 1 billion kronor is allocated annually to the urban environment agreements. These are funds that will enable expanded public transport throughout the country.

Madam Speaker! Several regions are currently implementing significant price increases in public transport. It is a regrettable development that risks harming the goal that more people should travel by foot, bicycle, and train, and the goal that Sweden should be emission-neutral by 2045.

We Social Democrats had, in our budget proposal, allocated more money to the country's municipalities and regions than the government did, and we also wanted to see free travel in public transport for young people and students during the summer. That would have meant that more people could have traveled and thus traveled by public transport.

Madam Speaker! I want to draw special attention to the Social Democrats' ambition that all young people and students should have been able to travel free of charge on public transport during the summer. It would have been an important reform, not least in these times of cost crisis. It would have given young people and students, who are being pressed hard by skyrocketing costs, a welcome respite. Already today, students in Lund, Stockholm, Uppsala and several other student cities are spending thousands of kronor every month. If one wants to secure the supply of skills and education in the future, one cannot let young people and students suffer in the ongoing cost crisis.

Enabling young people and students to travel free of charge on public transport during the summer would obviously have had many other and more long-term effects than helping hard-pressed students here and now. It would have given young people opportunities to live freer lives and created early habits of traveling by public transport. It would have been good for the climate and for the transport system. We Social Democrats are simply convinced that this is an important reform that would have provided great social benefit.

Madam Speaker! I also want to take the opportunity to say a few words about the Gotland traffic. Gotland is a part of Sweden. It is therefore important that it is possible for people from the rest of Sweden to travel to Gotland but, above all, for the people of Gotland to travel to and from the mainland.

The residents of Gotland are currently being pressured hard by skyrocketing costs for ticket prices to and from the island. In almost a year, Gotlandstrafiken has seen a price increase of over 50 percent. The dynamic pricing system means that in the middle of the week in February, it can cost 2,800 kronor for a single person to cross the municipal border. Those who live on the mainland but have relatives and friends on Gotland are pressured particularly hard by all these cost increases. For this group, the journeys are even more expensive.

We Social Democrats want to emphasize the importance of Gotland transport functioning and that it is possible for people to travel to and from Gotland at a reasonable cost. Everything else risks damaging the image of Gotland as a natural part of Sweden.

It can already be noticed how the people of Gotland experience great frustration in this matter, not least through the petition being conducted due to the skyrocketing costs for the people of Gotland and those who wish to travel to Gotland. In this context, I also, just like previous speakers, want to take the opportunity to say that special attention must be directed towards the procurement that will soon be carried out by Gotlandstrafiken. It will be extremely important for the development of Gotlandstrafiken and Gotland.

Madam Speaker! In conclusion, I would like to say a few words about the transport service. There is a worrying development where certain regions, in order to save money, are significantly hindering access to transport services for the people who need it. For us Social Democrats, it is clear that all people, regardless of functional variation, should have the opportunity to travel. Freedom cannot and must not be limited to the extent that it does not include people who, for example, lack sight or have impaired mobility. It is an important task for us as politicians.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Helena Gellerman (L)

Madam Speaker! Today we are going to debate public transport issues. Public transport plays a very important role in enabling people to manage their daily lives. Approximately 20 percent of all domestic trips are made by public transport. A well-functioning public transport system is a prerequisite for the entire transport system in Sweden to function.

Public transport connects and cooperates with transport on roads and railways and with shipping and aviation. Traveling by bus, tram, metro, commuter train or boat also reduces emissions and congestion on the roads around cities and larger urban areas. Public transport therefore needs to continue to be expanded throughout the country.

From a climate perspective, public transport in its current state is the most important reason why we have such low emissions as we do in Sweden. If the climate goal for 2030 is to be reached, public transport will also play a very important role in the future. It is very positive that the majority of public transport is fossil-free today. But the work with fossil-free status must continue, and therefore the Liberals want all public transport on roads and rails to be powered by electricity or fossil-free fuels by 2030 at the latest. We also want to accelerate the transition to fossil-free public transport by having the energy tax on electric buses equated with that on other public transport.

Madam Speaker! The Liberals want to see an increased focus on the entire transport, that is, how long it takes to travel from door to door. It is that time that counts for a person. We have earlier today spoken about new trunk lines. Billions are being spent to shorten the time spent on trains by perhaps 30 minutes.

One can take as an example the person who takes an hour to travel to work - that is approximately what people consider acceptable. A quarter hour is, at best, the time it takes to get to the train station and from there to work. This means that a train journey of approximately 30 minutes is what one can manage.

If one is to reduce the total door-to-door time, a greater focus must therefore be placed on all situations where one moves from one mode of transport to another. In addition to the obvious with timed schedules, we Liberals want to see more and better planned park-and-ride facilities, better equipped stops, and smoother transitions at ports and airports. One also needs to focus on the experience and traffic safety for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities during transfers.

Therefore, it is pleasing that, for example, the planned train connection out to Landvetter Airport is now underway in connection with the railway construction between Göteborg and Borås. At the same time, expanded public transport to Arlanda is needed - all to reduce the dependence on the car.

Madam Speaker! Public transport to Gotland in the form of the Gotland ferries is a prerequisite for Gotland to function in a good way. Work is currently underway on a new procurement of Gotlandstrafiken, where the needs of the residents and the business community should primarily be taken into account.

And with the war in Ukraine, the importance of Gotland and Gotlandstrafik for the total defense has also increased. The consequences of the war have strongly affected fuel prices in Sweden. This has clearly shown itself, not least when it comes to Gotlandstrafik. Transport at a reasonable price is a prerequisite for Gotland to continue to function and be able to develop.

Madam Speaker! The Liberals safeguard the right and the possibility of travel services. However, the number of granted applications for travel services has decreased in recent years. We need to monitor the development of case law for all travel service permits, but in particular for permits for the visually impaired.

More and more municipalities and regions are denying permits on the grounds that persons who have severe visual impairments or are blind should learn the distance to public transport by heart. Because they can walk, they are considered not to need special transport, even though they cannot see. It is therefore positive that Trafikanalys is now investigating how municipalities grant permits for special transport, with a particular focus on the visually impaired. The assignment is to be presented on March 31 this year, so we will see what they come up with.

Madam Speaker! Regarding transport services, I can also state that the Nordic countries have different national systems for transport services for persons with disabilities. This means that, unfortunately, there is currently no possibility for persons residing in the border areas to travel across national borders with transport services. I therefore believe that the right to transport services across national borders for persons residing in the border areas should be ensured in cooperation between the Nordic countries.

Public transport needs to be developed throughout the country. The Transport Committee's group for research and future issues produced a research overview on mobility in rural areas during the previous parliamentary term. New forms of public transport, car sharing, combined transport, and electric cars can increase accessibility in rural areas in the short term. In the slightly longer term, drones, electric aircraft, and self-driving minibuses can contribute to increased accessibility. It is important to spread knowledge about which mobility solutions work in different contexts.

Madam Speaker! We need to accommodate technological development. With expanded broadband, digital services can give us the opportunity to make climate-smart choices in transport. Today we simultaneously have car-sharing, electric scooters, electric bicycles, and mopeds, and in the future we will have self-driving cars. I believe we need to investigate how public transport can enable these new means of transport to be included. This should also include the sharing economy's new concepts for taxis. The regulations need to be reviewed so that we can realize the opportunities that technological development provides.

Finally, Madam Speaker, I want to say that Swedish public transport went through a very difficult time during the pandemic. There were demands to maintain the traffic so that people could get to work, while at the same time there were very few passengers. This created great economic concerns for both regions and companies, which public transport still suffers from today.

Sveriges Bussföretag, Tågföretagen and Svensk Kollektivtrafik took an initiative during 2022 for a new start for public transport in Sweden. There is a long series of proposals here that we should consider, so that public transport can remain attractive for people all around our country.

I vote in favor of the committee's proposal for a decision.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Daniel Helldén (MP)

Madam Speaker! Public transport is the backbone of a sustainable transport system. Public transport is the base of a modern society. It is the foundation for equal and egalitarian travel.

We sometimes take public transport for granted, but it must be protected and constantly developed. In these times of crises - economic and climatic - public transport must be given sufficient development opportunities and resources. It is about the right physical infrastructure, a place in the transport system, and economic resources. We must work together to ensure that public transport functions as smoothly and efficiently as possible. The state, the regions, and the municipalities must coordinate their efforts.

A well-functioning and accessible public transport constitutes, in my opinion, a basic prerequisite for meeting both work and leisure travel in a sustainable way. For a significantly increased share of public transport passengers, public transport must receive both increased capacity and better quality. Therefore, Miljöpartiet believes that powerful measures are needed to support the regional public transport authorities and to win back the passengers and the confidence in public transport.

During the pandemic, workplaces' routines changed and thus the passengers' travel patterns. Fewer people travel, and travel looks different. This places demands on new thinking within public transport. The need for supply remains, but revenues are decreasing. This is a challenge that we must overcome.

It should be safe and convenient to travel by public transport. It contributes to expanding labor market regions and improving the conditions for jobs and growth.

For expanded labor market regions, good regional transport is required, and in large parts of the country, this therefore requires expanded rail transport. In the south, we have a worrying development as the government has shut down or reconsidered the construction of new tracks and new main lines. This does not promote sustainable development. The congestion on the tracks must be resolved.

We need to create a smooth national ticketing system that provides travelers with a seamless journey. We need a system that rewards regular travel across regional borders. It is not necessary for the system to be state-run; instead, this can practically be resolved within Samtrafiken and the already established clearing systems that exist there. The technical development of the card systems also helps here.

The government removed the funds for a national ticketing system from the budget this autumn, which is regrettable. Development funds were needed.

For the cities and the development that is needed there, a state commitment is required. The urban environment agreement, which among other things has gone towards the necessary sustainable expansion of public transport, should be strengthened. But even here we have seen a reduction in budget funds. If we are to be able to achieve an increased share of public transport passengers, which is a goal we need to hold to in order to manage to maintain a smooth transport system, reduce congestion in the cities and create a system that stays within the limits of what natural resources and the climate can tolerate, funds and coordination are needed.

Our Infrastructure Minister has, however, sent signals that go in the exact opposite direction. "Plan for more cars in the cities," says the minister. "Plan the cities for more cars!" It really feels as if we have been moved back to the Swedish 50s and the enthusiasm for the car, the parking garages, and the wide, multi-lane highway-like scars that were taken into our urban environments. This is alarming.

Public transport is resource-efficient, climate-smart, and crucial for us to succeed in the climate transition. I therefore believe that the government should return to the Riksdag with a proposal for an action plan on how the goal of doubled market share for public transport can be achieved.

In two of the three metropolitan regions, Stockholm and Västra Götaland, we see how public transport prices are frozen or, as in Västra Götaland, lowered. Miljöpartiet is part of both boards. In Region Skåne, where the same constellation as in the government rules, M, KD and the Liberals with support from SD, they are raising prices by up to 10 percent. This is problematic. We cannot raise the price of public transport. We must find systems that strengthen travel and hold back ticket prices within public transport so that we get more people traveling sustainably, equitably and equally.

One of the best reforms that saw the light of day was the transport-mode-neutral travel deduction. This system was intended to reward precisely those who took public transport to work, but it was scrapped by the government. Instead, they significantly increased the support for car travel and fossil fuels. We see a clear pattern: the governing parties are lowering instead of strengthening public transport.

Madam Speaker! We need to safeguard and develop public transport - the bus, the tram, the metro, the commuter trains and the regional trains - but the new government is instead steering with reckless courage away from a sustainable development.

Madam Speaker! In the interest of time, I choose not to move for approval of any of the Green Party's reservations.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Patrik Jönsson (SD)

Madam Speaker! I stand behind all our reservations but move for approval only of reservation 16 regarding transport services.

Madam Speaker! Many find it difficult to make the puzzle of life fit together. Perhaps one lives a bit outside the city and is dependent on a car to drop off and pick up children, shop, transport to leisure activities, and so on. Others live a more quiet life, live centrally and have access to public transport directly outside the home and travel by public transport to their workplace. Many factors determine which transport one chooses. I myself do not like to drive a car and perhaps only drive 300-400 miles a year. I absolutely prefer to travel by public transport.

Needs can also change over time. When you are small and go to school, you walk or cycle, if you do not get a ride. As a bit older, you can use public transport. When you get a job and move out from home, you might end up in a place with less public transport. When the family is then expanded, you need to perform more transports. Then it can be difficult to choose public transport. Time is not sufficient for everything, and you do not want to leave the children at daycare at 6 and pick them up at 18 because it becomes far too long days for the children. Therefore, you are dependent on the car.

In a country with a growing population and for those who cannot drive, a good public transport offer must exist. But that there are differences in the country is natural, for example between Åsele and Stockholm. To increase the possibility of choosing public transport, we want more safe and secure commuter parking lots to be built. Then one can take the car there and then smoothly switch to public transport.

Madam Speaker! One should not have to be a civil engineer to buy a ticket in public transport. For those who travel regularly with a monthly pass, it is rarely a problem, but for infrequent travelers, the elderly, and people with disabilities, it is more difficult. We believe that the ticketing systems should be adapted as much as possible so that persons with different disabilities can book and buy tickets themselves. These systems should be designed in consultation with user organizations so that they suit as many people as possible.

It can also become a problem if one needs to travel across county borders because the systems are different. It does not facilitate travel. The Sweden Democrats welcome an investment in a common ticketing system for the country that makes it easier to travel by public transport throughout Sweden.

Madam Speaker! The transport service is a part of public transport. Sometimes it is decisive for users to have a bearable life. But unfortunately, it does not function the same in all municipalities. In some municipalities it works well, in others less well. We believe that the transport service should be a good, equal, and flexible social service. Persons with disabilities should be able to work, be parents, and have a meaningful leisure time. Therefore, a review of the transport service act must be made to strengthen the same and make it more equitable so that it does not constitute a barrier for certain persons with disabilities.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Adrian Magnusson (S)

Madam Speaker! Patrik Jönsson raised the issue of a national ticketing system. It was removed from the government's budget, and when I asked a question about it to the responsible minister during a question period, it became clear that it will not be implemented and that the government is prioritizing other things.

The Sweden Democrats have a decisive and almost dominant influence on the government, so why has the national ticketing system been cut from the budget if the Sweden Democrats are passionate about it?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Patrik Jönsson (SD)

Madam Speaker! I actually cannot answer that. I have no idea, because I was not part of those negotiations. We have that, but it is a give and take. There might be a natural explanation.

I can think that the cost should be borne by the regions. It is, after all, in the regions that the systems are used, so it is not a state issue but a regional or municipal issue. I therefore have no problem with the financing taking place that way. The taxpaying collective will receive the same cost regardless of whether the state, the regions, or the municipalities pay for it.

But as I have said, I have no insight into this.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Adrian Magnusson (S)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for an honest answer.

It has been in the state budget before, and we Social Democrats have historically championed this issue. I share the view that it would have been a major boost for public transport with a national ticketing system. We shall have to see if it can be implemented in another way, through SKR or so. I do, however, think it would be natural for the state to take responsibility for a national ticketing system and for the government to drive this issue.

I hope that the member, with his direct access to the Government Offices, drives this issue in the contexts where he operates. It cannot be the case that one says one thing before entering the chamber, one thing when in the chamber, and one thing when outside the chamber.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Patrik Jönsson (SD)

Madam Speaker! I do not have the direct entry, I actually do not, but I can absolutely drive it in our group.

I was actually enlightened here about something I didn't know, which is why I of course take the question with me. It is an important question. Then we shall see where it lands.

It is perhaps not a huge number who commute or travel so frequently that one needs to have buses in Skåne and in Stockholm. But for those who do, it is quite convenient and important.

It is, first of all, a cost issue. I mean that one should not have to have monthly passes in Skåne and Stockholm and pay in full for it if the travel is not fully proportional. I believe that is something we could cooperate on in this system so that one gets a more reasonable price. So, that is when you cooperate between different regions and across regional borders – then there are tickets. Movingo is an example of such a ticket where one can get a better price than if one had bought separate journeys in each region.

I will take this with me for my own part. We should look at it. Then is the question, as said, whether the region, the municipality, or the taxpayers pay for the kingdom, so to speak. We might have been able to get a greater forward momentum in the issue. I really hope that it gets resolved.

I can also wonder why SKR has not taken care of this earlier. I can agree that it is an organization that should have done it. But we can look at SKR and how long that organization has existed. In 2023, there is not even a common patient record system for all of Sweden. That says quite a lot about SKR's ability to act, I might think, and it is distressing.

I thank the member Adrian Magnusson for the question, and I hope that we can review and resolve this issue.

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(A decision was to be made on March 8.)

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