Response to interpellation 2023/24:209 on strong railways for increased defense capability
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns how a strong railway can increase defense capability and promote regional development. KD argues that the government is analyzing needs for the total defense 1 and emphasizes the importance of robustness and redundancy in the infrastructure 2. KD believes that there are synergies between freight, passenger, and military transport 2 3 and that infrastructure is a necessary enabler for defense efforts 3. KD also believes that the transport infrastructure should enable military mobility and host nation support 4. S argues that investments in specific tracks benefit defense, regional development, and climate work 5. S emphasizes that infrastructure in Dalarna is crucial for military readiness and economic sustainability 6 7. S believes that a strong railway increases security and military capability together with Norway and Nato 7. S argues that it improves public transport for the tourism industry as well as provides positive effects for industry and exports in Dalarna 7.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Lars Isacsson has asked me if I and the government will prioritize the upgrading of the line from Mora to Älvdalen and further to increase Sweden's military capability, and if I and the government will prioritize the railway corridor in Västerdalarna so that it is possible to reach both industry, Sälenfjällen, and important military areas by train.
We now see a serious security situation in Sweden's immediate vicinity as well as an upcoming Swedish membership in Nato. The question of what new needs we see for the total defense regarding transport infrastructure has been addressed, among other places, in the Defense Committee's report in June 2023 in the report Allvarstid and by the Armed Forces in a basis for the government in November 2023. In the Government Offices, work is ongoing to analyze needs in connection with an upcoming Nato membership. Exactly what the need will look like cannot be answered today, but an analysis must be made at a later stage when all facts are available.
When it comes to railways in Dalarna, the government is awaiting, among other things, the Defense Preparation's partial report at the end of this year as well as the final report in April 2024 as one of the bases for the government's prioritization of infrastructure measures. The government has also initiated the work on a new national plan for 2026-2037 by, in a first step, commissioning Trafikverket to produce a directional basis.
The assignment specifies that Trafikverket, in the long-term planning for the development of the transport system and in the planning to strengthen the authority's operational capabilities during the maintenance of the transport infrastructure, shall take into account the requirements of the total defense in accordance with what is specified in the Ordinance on the Preparedness of Government Agencies. Trafikverket shall submit the basis for the direction no later than 15 January 2024.
Lars Isacsson (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank Minister Andreas Carlson for the answer.
With Sweden's new security policy situation and the challenges that climate change brings, it is clear that our country's defense and climate work have common interests. A concrete measure in this regard is investments in railway infrastructure especially for military purposes, that is, transport of heavy military materiel, which would not only benefit the defense but also contribute to a more sustainable transport sector.
Today we face new security challenges and environmental threats that require well-thought-out solutions. My question to the Minister for Infrastructure highlights the need to invest in the Älvdalsbanan, Västerdalsbanan, and Särnabanan, not only as part of our defense strategy but also as a catalyst for regional development. This particularly concerns the accessibility to Sälenfjällen and Idrefjällen as well as support for the local industry.
I thank the Minister for the answer, but I would like to have more clarity on how the government intends to balance the defense needs against the civilian ones, especially considering these tracks' potential for regional economic growth and more environmentally friendly transport alternatives.
Last week, this interpellation became burning relevant through the new defense agreement with the USA. One of the more strategic locations identified in the agreement is the shooting and training ground Trängslet in Älvdalen, strategically located between Sweden and Norway. It is a large area, Sweden's second-largest training ground. Here, countries in Europe coexist, and here Sweden raises its defense capability. Trängslet is environmentally tested and approved for shooting 190 days a year. Here, all of the army's branches can train. The training ground even has an approved target area for combat aircraft. Where would Sweden or Nato find such an area today? Sweden must invest in the infrastructure around the field.
In his response, the Minister states that "Trafikverket, in the long-term planning for the development of the transport system and in the planning to strengthen the authority's operational capabilities in the maintenance of the transport infrastructure, shall take into account the requirements of the total defense in accordance with what is specified in the Ordinance on the Preparedness of Government Agencies" and that "Trafikverket shall report the basis for the direction no later than January 15, 2024".
It is a good and important mission, but it requires that both Trafikverket and the Försvarsmakten also prioritize civil defense in the total defense with better passenger transport and freight transport for our important industry. There is a golden opportunity now to truly strengthen both civil defense and military defense. It is a golden opportunity for the Minister for Infrastructure to secure funds for infrastructure investments, not least in those parts of the country where we do not live as densely, where we have much industry and which many want to visit.
Madam Speaker! My question to the Minister for Infrastructure is: How does the government plan to concretely prioritize and harmonize these different interests in its infrastructure planning?
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I appreciate Lars Isacsson's commitment to these issues. I have on several occasions pointed out the importance of robustness and redundancy in the infrastructure. It is not enough to emphasize the importance of transport for a functioning society and a functioning defense. This applies to both the military part and civil defense. That is also why it is described as precisely total defense in the orientation basis that Trafikverket is now working to produce. Work is also being done on an investigation mandate regarding precisely high readiness, and it will provide a basis for the next national plan.
The government is working as purposefully as Isacsson knows toward Sweden becoming a full member of Nato. Sweden stands ready to contribute to Nato's deterrence and defense. This includes host nation support. Swedish territory is central for the defense of northern Europe and for enabling reinforcements from, for example, North America. There, the Defence Preparedness Board points out that there is a need to reinforce in a west-east direction, not least from Norwegian ports across Sweden further to Finland.
I have, as I mentioned in my response to the interpellation, Madam Speaker, taken part in the Armed Forces' needs analysis. I cannot, of course, go into it in all its parts, but it is a very important part for me and for the entire government in the work of developing the new national plan.
We have already taken further measures to strengthen our preparedness regarding infrastructure. This involves ensuring the maintenance of the train ferry connection Trelleborg-Germany, strengthening the competitiveness of maritime transport, and investigating reserve port capacity in Visby harbor on Gotland. Just as I mentioned earlier, Trafikverket shall propose measures to strengthen crisis preparedness and civil defense as well as increase the capacity during high alert and, ultimately, in war.
Regarding the stretches and routes that the member mentions, I believe the member understands very well that at this stage I cannot comment on which stretches will be prioritized in the work with the national plan, as Trafikverket now has the assignment that I described, both the directional basis and that which concerns crisis preparedness.
The Västerdalsbanan runs between Repbäcken in Borlänge and Malungsfors. The final stage, from Rågsveden to Malungsfors, was reopened in 2019 after Trafikverket invested 48 million kronor in upgrading the track between Rågsveden and Malung. The Älvdalsbanan is a 38-kilometer-long railway line that begins in Mora and ends in Märbäck in Älvdalen Municipality. From Märbäck, it is approximately 3 kilometers to Älvdalen and barely 40 kilometers to Trängslet, as the member of parliament mentions.
I say this to inform the member that we, of course, have full control over this. However, we have no information regarding individual infrastructure projects at this stage. That is not how infrastructure planning works. On the other hand, we will get back to you, and in a first step, Trafikverket will get back to us.
I also want to answer the question of how we should balance the civil purposes against the military ones. There are synergies even for freight transport and passenger transport. All of this will, of course, be part of the Swedish Transport Administration's mandate to provide a basis for when it is reported. I will return to that question.
Lars Isacsson (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank Minister Andreas Carlson for the contribution. It was more substantial than the interpellation answer, which I appreciate.
NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg says in an interview with SVT that northern Sweden is of particular importance. He argues that an analysis is now required of what infrastructure is needed to move troops and military supply lines. Instead of north-south, the perspective must largely become west-east, he states, and this was also confirmed by the Minister for Infrastructure. Jens Stoltenberg says: We see in the war in Ukraine how extremely important it is to get ammunition, fuel, and forces to the front in crisis or war. That means we must review ports and railways so that the infrastructure is in place, Stoltenberg emphasizes.
The challenge, in short, is about ensuring efficient transport of soldiers and heavy equipment. A main battle tank weighs up to 70 tons, and it is about adaptations of roads and railways that must be made well in advance. The background is also that the USA has for a long time stored large amounts of war materiel in Norway. It concerns combat vehicles and ammunition that, in the event of a military conflict in Scandinavia or the surrounding area, may need to be transported to Finland or Sweden.
My interpellation specifically concerns northwestern Dalarna but obviously applies to the entire inland's critical importance at the border between Sweden and Norway. This region is crucial not only for the Nordic countries but also for our upcoming NATO membership. A well-developed infrastructure here would significantly improve our military readiness and defense capability. It is therefore vital that we recognize the potential in investing in this part of the country. These investments would not only strengthen our security but also create a foundation for continued economic and environmental sustainability.
Madam Speaker! Minister Andreas Carlson touched upon this, but I would like him to elaborate more on how the government intends to coordinate these infrastructure projects with our NATO partners, especially given Norway's geographical proximity and strategic importance.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Let me first state that it is very much true that northern Sweden is of particular importance. I hope that I quoted the member correctly, who in turn quoted Stoltenberg. I have also conveyed this at all levels where I move, not least to the EU Commissioner given the support funds that can be applied for within CEF for military mobility.
When we become members of Nato, we will of course be very active in presenting the reinforcements that we see as a basis for obtaining funding via NSIP, Nato's infrastructure fund. This will of course be important.
It does not automatically mean more money for infrastructure because one has pressing needs of a total defense character, but it will, as always, involve important prioritizations regarding all the infrastructure needs that we see in large parts of our country for various reasons.
As I pointed out in my previous post, Madam Speaker, there are also useful synergies in this. Things that are reinforced for freight traffic can also be such things that facilitate military mobility. We are not yet members of Nato, which I do not think anyone has missed, but we are working very actively to become so. Only then will we also have full insight into Nato's regional plans.
The question of exactly how we will proceed is not raised too early, but the answer would be premature. I do not wish to criticize the member for asking the question, Madam Speaker. But in this situation, I cannot answer it in a more detailed way than I already have.
It is not that we are sitting and waiting for the regional plans to settle down. Just as I said in my first answer, we have the Defense Preparation Committee's previous report, Allvarstid, on the table. We will receive a partial report at the end of this year and a final report in April. It will, of course, become an important basis for infrastructure planning in addition to what we will gain access to when we become members of Nato.
In addition, we have an intensified Nordic cooperation on transport infrastructure where I have a close and frequent dialogue with my Norwegian colleague, my Finnish colleague, and my Danish colleague regarding these types of issues.
In the Government Offices and in the government, we are working more closely with the Ministry of Defence than before. The Minister for Defence and I have a very close cooperation given that, just as I said, the transport infrastructure is a necessary enabler for the other investments being made in the defence in this very tough time for Sweden and for our surroundings of a security policy character.
It will be a heavy part of the priorities ahead. We will, of course, return with more answers to this type of questions. This is a debate, a discussion and a dialogue that I intend to keep close to the members of the Riksdag and the Riksdag. This applies in particular when we present the infrastructure bill later next year according to the planning we have.
Lars Isacsson (S)
Madam Speaker! I do not expect to receive any clear answers here from the Minister. But I want to raise the issue as early as possible and highlight regional synergies and gains. This is particularly relevant when Sweden finds itself in a new security policy situation.
Sweden also faces great challenges as the climate changes. That defense and climate work have common interests is obvious. In Dalarna lies one of Sweden's and perhaps Europe's most important training grounds for the military, Älvdalens skjutfält.
The Armed Forces want to review whether the railway that existed previously, Älvdalsbanan, could be used for heavy transport of vehicles and materiel. Last week, an agreement was signed with the USA where Älvdalens skjutfält is designated as strategically important. With an extension of Älvdalsbanan, Särnabanan and Västerdalsbanan, redundancy in the system and other major gains are also achieved.
First of all, it would increase security and provide better conditions for our defense of the country together with Norway and Nato, and it would increase our military capability.
Secondly, it would increase the opportunities for the tourism industry through better public transport. For the so important tourism industry for Dalarna in general and for Sälenfjällen and Idrefjällen in particular, it could be the next big boost.
Thirdly, Dalarna is an export county and an industrial county. Large amounts of goods are handled, and new industrialization increases the need for good transport by rail. An investment in the infrastructure for the railway will have large positive effects for industry and exports.
Madam Speaker! I would like to thank the Minister for the debate. My hope and urge is that the Minister for Infrastructure takes this with him now when the plans are to be realized. I wish a great deal of luck in the negotiations with both the EU and Nato regarding funds for infrastructure for total defense.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I would like to thank Lars Isacsson for that and for the commitment which is clearly important in the very difficult security policy situation that Sweden is in. We are not alone in it, but stand together with others in it.
The agreement that has been signed with the USA, which Lars Isacsson highlights, is something very positive. But it is also of course important that the transport infrastructure enables the content of it. Therefore, it will be an important part to ensure and enable military mobility and host nation support in the transport infrastructure plan that we are working to develop and for which Trafikverket, above all, has the mandate to develop the first steps for.
Madam Speaker! I look forward to continued dialogue. I thank you for the conversation we have had in the evening session here in the chamber tonight. Let me also say that this is something that is important for the entire government. I mentioned to the Minister for Defence, and also the Minister for Civil Defence can and understands the terrain very well in Dalarna. I thank you for and take with me the messages that the member has given in the chamber here tonight.
I want to emphasize that it is, of course, something that we are well aware of. It will now continue to be considered in the ongoing work with the national plan moving forward.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.