Response to interpellation 2024/25:196 on the railway connection in Ystad harbor
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the railway connection in Ystad harbor and its importance for redundancy in freight transport. KD considers it of great importance to secure the connection to strengthen the supply readiness 1. KD argues that there are infrastructural prerequisites for traffic to Poland 2 and that the government prioritizes train ferry connections as diversion routes 2 3. KD considers Poland to be an important strategic partner 3. S considers that the redundancy for freight transport to the continent needs to be strengthened 4. S argues that it is wise to include Ystad harbor in redundancy options 4 and that one should be self-critical as freight traffic via rail has decreased 5. S considers it wise to safeguard the relations with Poland 6.
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! Adrian Magnusson has asked me why I and the government are not prepared to take any measures to strengthen future freight transport and increase redundancy possibilities by securing the railway connection in Ystad harbor.
Being able to ensure redundant connections between Sweden and other parts of Europe is of great importance for both the Swedish supply preparedness and the ability to give and receive military support, including the ability to quickly move military units, both allied and our own, as well as large volumes of military materiel. I am convinced that we have a consensus regarding the importance of this redundancy for different types of freight transport.
Just as Adrian Magnusson writes in his interpellation, I answered a parliamentary question in June this year regarding the same issue that we are going to discuss here and now. In that answer, I emphasized that the government in June 2023 commissioned Trafikverket to propose measures to ensure the maintenance of the train ferry connection between Trelleborg and Germany. Proposals for measures would concern the ferry operator and the port in Trelleborg. Trafikverket was also to analyze what other long-term redundancy options, with or without train ferries, can be created for freight transport by rail between Sweden and the continent.
Trafikverket reported the assignment at the end of February this year, and preparation is currently taking place within the Government Offices.
Adrian Magnusson (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer. When I prepared this debate yesterday and read my question again, I realized that I may have been a bit polemical and conflict-seeking in the phrasing of the question. I am happy to seek conflict in issues where different interests arise between myself and the Minister and where there are clear ideological differences. But as the Minister believes, I think we are actually quite in agreement on this issue; the redundancy regarding the transport of goods by rail to the continent needs to be strengthened.
There are, despite that, some questions that should be clarified. That is why I have written this interpellation.
The Minister refers in his answer to the report made by Trafikverket regarding Trelleborg harbor and its railway connection. I want to be very clear on one point initially: My intention with this interpellation is not to set Trelleborg harbor against Ystad harbor. I welcome that an investigation has been conducted on whether the state should take greater responsibility to secure Trelleborg's railway connection. I believe that it strengthens the redundancy for freight transport, not just for southern Skåne but for all of Sweden.
Madam Speaker! What has, however, drawn attention is how Trafikverket treats Ystad harbor in this investigation. As the Minister was touching upon in another sentence in the investigation's mandate: "In addition to this, the mandate has included analyzing and reporting other long-term redundancy options, with or without train ferries, as well as analyzing the need for a support." It is therefore about looking at other alternatives besides the Rostock-Trelleborg train ferry connection. It states in the investigation that Ystad's railway connection is decommissioned, but that is simply not true. I have seen it myself countless times and know that it is used. For example, trains to Poland are transported for renovation, including X2000 trains. I know that Polish shipping companies are interested in being able to use the railway connection for freight transport in the future. It is therefore anything but decommissioned.
Trafikverket's investigation therefore creates several question marks which in turn create confusion and concern. If one wants to strengthen the redundancy for freight transport on the railway, I believe it is both wise and appropriate to include Ystad harbor in such an assessment, and then with correct prerequisites. Otherwise, there is a risk of a situation arising where one puts the eggs in two baskets when one could have put them in three – or perhaps even more, but today it is Ystad we are talking about.
I know that the Minister has received a fairly detailed letter from Ystad harbor where these questions are raised. I do not know if the Minister for Infrastructure has been in contact with Ystad harbor, but my hope is that it happens in the near future if it has not already occurred.
Madam Speaker! We need to strengthen the redundancy for freight transport to the continent. We have established several times here today that we agree on this. I hope that the government, despite these inaccuracies in Trafikverket's report, can include Ystad harbor in the reasoning presented moving forward. We shall see in the future whether one will base it on Trafikverket's report or give other government assignments to Trafikverket. I believe for several reasons that it would be beneficial to take an extra look at Ystad harbor, primarily to secure the redundancy even more broadly, which we have so many times established that we agree on.
What I do not quite understand about the interpellation answer is how the government stands regarding including Ystad harbor in this work. In light of the unfortunate wording in the Transport Agency's report, I would wish that the question marks could be cleared up a bit. I have a quiet wish and hope for a clarification in that regard.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! It is positive that we share the view that we need to strengthen the redundancy in the Öresund region and preferably in more places. I have no reason to comment on individual formulations in the Transport Authority's report, but I can state that Ystad harbor gladly still has rail infrastructure in the harbor. Unfortunately, in the current situation, there is no regular train ferry traffic to Świnoujście in Poland. That is, of course, regrettable. But both Trelleborg and Ystad are important ports and nodes for the Swedish and the international transport system.
Let me take a brief look back at the background of the assignment that the member refers to. It was my predecessor Tomas Eneroth and the government he represented who gave the first assignment to Trafikverket. It only contained that the traffic between Trelleborg and Rostock should be highlighted. That report lay for 18 months without any measures being taken. I thought it was important to take an initiative to highlight the issue again, to move it forward and more concretely analyze what can be done to ensure the railway traffic. It was a broader assignment from the government's side.
Madam Speaker! As I have said, the Transport Agency's report is now being prepared in the Government Offices. We have just presented the infrastructure bill, which will be discussed in the chamber next week, with record-large investments in infrastructure. Furthermore, it is of course important to take into account the requirements of the total defense and our ability to give and receive host nation support, as I said in my response. In that case, these types of questions become very pressing, of course.
But I have no new announcements to give in the chamber today. I believe the member understands that.
Adrian Magnusson (S)
Madam Speaker! I would, of course, have been very happy if new announcements had come to the chamber here today, but that was perhaps not what I imagined when I stepped in here a short while ago.
As said, this report from Trafikverket is in the highest degree good. I think it is good that one builds further on the assignment that the previous government gave to Trafikverket.
If we are to take a small historical look back: The previous investigation states that the railway infrastructure in Ystad harbor is intact and that traffic can be resumed on short notice. This new investigation does not, but rather it says more or less that the connection is decommissioned. I understand that the Minister here today does not want to stand and comment on various individual formulations in Trafikverket's reports, but I think it is unfortunate when one writes those types of formulations. It also sends a strange signal to the market.
I know that Ystad harbor and several other harbors have a great interest in getting more freight traffic via railway. When a state authority then chooses to formulate it as if the traffic is discontinued, when it is actually the case that there is no transport operator running regular traffic on the stretch, I think that is unfortunate. If there is anyone from Trafikverket monitoring this debate, I hope they can take this with them into the future. Furthermore, quite a bit has happened since this report was written. The security situation has changed radically.
One can always be critical. I personally think that the issue of freight transport by rail has been treated neglectfully by a number of governments of different colors for quite a long time. There has been a steady decrease in freight traffic via railway ports all around Sweden, and several sections have been completely shut down, which this report also notes. I believe that across the entire political spectrum, there is good reason to be self-critical. One could perhaps have done more earlier to support these railway connections.
In Skåne today, we have a situation where if the Öresund Bridge were to be taken out of service for various reasons, for any reason whatsoever really, we have no functioning railway route to the continent except for the port of Trelleborg. In Trelleborg, the municipality is primarily responsible for the costs of keeping it intact.
It also costs to operate ferry traffic via railway. The shipping companies have pointed this out on a number of occasions. I have myself participated in a number of seminars where that exact question has been raised. Therefore, it is good if one can broaden the perspectives and include more ports in this. In that case, Ystad harbor is such a port.
I want to press again that it is very unfortunate when this type of questions are presented in an incorrect way. It creates concern and confusion. It is simply not good.
I know that Ystad hamn is actively looking for actors who can conduct regular freight traffic beyond the traffic that has nevertheless become quite regular regarding the renovation of train sets and the like. That is what I want to assert based on my contacts with Ystad hamn. But it is clear that it is not a transport actor that conducts traffic in the way that Unity Line, Polferries and the like do.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I would like to thank Adrian Magnusson for his commitment and for the sense of seriousness that the member expresses. This also applies to the self-criticism that I believe all parties should have regarding the issue of redundancy for the Öresund Bridge.
That is precisely why we saw a great reason to take the issue further. It is now being prepared in the Government Offices. In the Total Defence Proposition, connectivity to the continent is also pointed out as being of strategic importance.
Just as Adrian Magnusson points out, it is important not to rely solely on the Öresund Bridge, even though the transports across the bridge are, of course, positive and efficient. But one also needs to think long-term and have diversion routes in the event that one cannot use the Öresund Bridge. In that case, train-ferry connections become of central importance from a redundancy perspective. It is therefore a priority issue for the government.
I want to be clear that there are infrastructural prerequisites in Ystad harbor to operate railway traffic, and then between Ystad and Świnoujście in Poland. There is therefore nothing preventing the operation of traffic with railway ferries on the route.
Unfortunately, I can only state that since 2018, no regular freight traffic has been conducted on the line, something that I believe we both have highlighted in the debate. I have been informed, just as the member writes in the interpellation and takes up here in the debate, that some rail transports have taken place during the year, which is of course pleasing.
Otherwise, I do not wish to comment on the formulations from Trafikverket in the report. I want the member to note that I am fully informed that railway transports have taken place on the line.
Adrian Magnusson (S)
Madam Speaker! It is gratifying that the Minister is informed of that. We can always stand here and have a full debate about what constitutes regularity and what does not. In any case, it is not the large shipping companies that operate regular rail traffic. We can still state that, can we not?
Just as the Minister said, there are good conditions to start the railway traffic via Ystad-Swinoujscie on relatively short notice. There is also reason to discuss having more transport routes to the continent than just between Sweden and Germany.
Poland is, for example, also a member of the European Union and in Nato. I know that the Prime Minister had a meeting quite recently with Poland's Prime Minister and other leading representatives around the Baltic Sea. It is wise that we safeguard the relations with Poland. It is an important actor in the Baltic Sea and also for Sweden.
I know that the Minister has been in Ystad harbor before, admittedly in a different role when he had other assignments. I know that the Minister has former colleagues here in the chamber from his own party who live in Ystad, whom I believe he has quite good contact with even today.
My hope is that the Minister visits Ystad harbor at some point. I think that could be good. The Minister does not usually make such visits with the undersigned, and I perhaps would not have expected that either. If not, there are certainly Kristdemokrater from Ystad, including the person I mentioned recently, who will surely receive the Minister and carry out that visit. I think that would be good.
There is a concern regarding the formulations, regardless of whether the Minister wants to comment on it or not, and what effects they have. I feel reassured by the answers the Minister has given here today. The Minister is at least informed. I hope that the Minister's answers can also be disseminated outside of this chamber.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I perceive it almost as an invitation. It would certainly have been nice to make a visit with the member as well.
I am fully aware of the situation and am updated on the conditions. I also want to add that yesterday I sat with a Polish State Secretary responsible for the transport minister's area.
Poland is also the incoming president of the European Council. It will be an important contact, in addition to the obvious fact that we do a lot in common regarding the Baltic Sea in Nordic-Baltic-Polish cooperation. Poland is, of course, a very important strategic partner. It is something that truly demonstrates the importance of having good contacts and connections.
I have also been in contact with the representative, the former Polish transport minister, regarding the situation that arose in the port on the Polish side. It also had effects on the possibilities of operating ferry traffic.
It is, of course, an ongoing discussion with the European transport minister colleagues, and not least with the colleague from Poland for obvious reasons.
It is of course a priority for the government to strengthen the redundancy of the Öresund Bridge. In that case, the train ferry connection becomes a prioritized issue. I intend to return. Thank you very much for the commitment and the debate.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.