Response to interpellation 2024/25:218 on the Öresund Link
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns Ostlänken and the planning of railway expansion in Östergötland. S considers it crucial that the planning includes a section out of Linköping to promote urban development, as well as that expansion of Södra stambanan is needed to remedy capacity shortages for both commuters and freight traffic 1 2. S also emphasizes the importance of rail freight for the climate. KD notes that Ostlänken connects to Södra stambanan in Linköping according to the consultation documents 3 4. KD emphasizes the importance of cost reductions in the project 4 and agrees on the need for a robust transport system for freight traffic 5. KD argues that one cannot comment on specific objects in the ongoing planning process 3 4 6 5.
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! Eva Lindh has asked me if I intend to take measures to provide the possibility for a connection from the station site in Linköping south towards the Södra stambanan.
Trafikverket's planning process for Ostlänken is ongoing. I can state that according to the underlying material that has been subject to consultation during 2024, Ostlänken connects towards the Södra stambanan in Linköping. I cannot, however, as a minister, anticipate the planning process and comment on what is an appropriate design of individual objects.
On 3 October, the government submitted an infrastructure bill to the Riksdag with historically large investments in the transport infrastructure. The economic framework for the period 2026-2037 is proposed to be increased by over 200 billion kronor compared to the previous planning period, to 1,171 billion kronor.
After the Riksdag has deliberated on the government bill, the government will instruct Trafikverket to prepare a proposal for a new national plan for the period 2026-2037. It is only in this part of the process that concrete projects and measures are investigated and analyzed.
Eva Lindh (S)
Madam Speaker! A month ago was a historic day for all of us who live and work in Östergötland and also for many more, naturally. For us Östergötar, the question of Ostlänken has been very present in our thoughts and our desire for the future. The railway is not only pleasant for all of us who love trains and it is also a climate-friendly way to travel, but it also means incredibly much for the region that one can easily commute within Östergötland and travel between different parts of our country but also out of Sweden, of course. It also matters for freight trains and everything else. The trains are important.
For those of us who have been involved in Ostlänken, it was an important day when we took the first spadeful a month ago for this part of Ostlänken, between Järna and Linköping. The year 2035 may feel far away, but the spade is nevertheless in the ground. This is the largest ongoing infrastructure project right now, so it is important not only for us in Östergötland.
If you are a commuter, you notice that Ostlänken is needed. We need to strengthen and expand the railway, because it is crowded on the tracks through Östergötland. Ostlänken is therefore truly long-awaited. When this is completed at some point in the future, it will mean shorter travel times and trains that can arrive on time, but also opportunities for a larger labor market and smoother work commuting.
I have received an answer from the Minister for Infrastructure – I thank him very much for that. I suspect that the Minister will not be able to give me very many more answers. I still want to ask the question, however, because this is of such great importance and also highlight the significance of the fact that this infrastructure project is also being planned further south.
Many thanks to everyone who has worked for Ostlänken and for the fact that that first spade has truly been turned! But it is crowded on the tracks in Östergötland, not just northward but also southward from Linköping. Those who commute on that part notice it. Even the regional trains have difficulty getting through. Given the positive developments, which also concern Fehmarn Bält and many other things ahead, it will not become less crowded on the tracks.
That it will need to be built railway tracks to the south, I don't think anyone can deny, and then the question is what the planning to the south looks like. But it is also about the short stretch out of Linköping. The Government has now tasked Trafikverket with building rails into Linköping, but no planning exists for rails out of the city. This affects urban development and construction in Linköping in a regrettable way.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I understand that it was a day of joy when the first spade was turned. This is a stretch that has been discussed for a long time. Originally, this was a priority aimed at strengthening commuter travel and freight traffic, which is also prioritized by the government. When we early in the mandate period made the decision to cancel the planning of trunk lines for high-speed trains, we saw that it was important to continue planning for Ostlänken.
We did, however, give a mandate to Trafikverket to carry out cost reductions, and such have been made with 2.7 billion kronor. Trafikverket will also continue to report cost-reducing measures every year, which is important in all projects - perhaps particularly in the largest project, which the member speaks of. This means, I believe, that one can get more infrastructure for the money, and that will be important also in this project.
Since we debated the issue in the chamber in February, Trafikverket has conducted a consultation regarding Ostlänken concerning the part in the Linköping urban area. I can state that there are proposals in the consultation material for the connection of Ostlänken towards the Södra stambanan in Linköping.
I repeat what I said in my opening response, Madam Speaker: As a minister, I cannot anticipate the planning process and comment on the design of individual objects. New objects and projects will emerge in the next step, when the infrastructure framework has been decided by the Riksdag in the infrastructure bill and the government has returned with the priorities for the next national plans. The question, however, concerns an ongoing planning process, and in that case, I cannot comment on the design.
Eva Lindh (S)
Madam Speaker! No, I just want to ensure that the government and the responsible minister truly realize the problem of not including, in this ongoing part, the relatively small section of track out of Linköping, which is actually crucial for Linköping's urban development and construction moving forward. If the section out of Linköping is not included in this process and this part of the planning, it will entail major negative consequences for Linköping as a city and municipality for a long time to come. It seems quite strange to stop in the middle of a city and not continue the planning of a track out of the city.
I understand that I will not receive an answer regarding this. I just want to ensure that the Minister realizes that this is very crucial for Linköping and for all of us who live there.
Regarding the continued planning concerning the Södra stambanan, I realize that the decision will not be made right now. But we must also look forward. It is crowded on the main line to the south - not least, as I said, on the section between Linköping and Mjölby, but also for the freight trains and other trains south from Mjölby. We need to continue that planning and expand, because this will be crucial for the development of Östergötland and all of Sweden moving forward. This is, therefore, an appeal.
Then I also want to ask a question that the Minister might still be able to answer, which in this debate perhaps is not as large but still concerns something that I have heard from several. When we now inaugurated Sweden's largest ongoing infrastructure project, the Minister was not on site. The Minister may have an opportunity here in the speaker's chair to explain why he did not have the possibility to be on site when that first, historic spade turn was taken. It still has a symbolic significance, and I think there is an opportunity here for those who wondered to speak about why the Minister was not there.
This may be a small question in this context. The large, significant questions are about the planning out of Linköping and how the Minister views the planning of the Södra stambanan and the importance of the section southward, from Linköping and down into the rest of the country which I believe the Minister also has a special interest in building together - down towards Jönköping and further.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Yes, it must be a very small matter. I have, in fact, never encountered it before – that someone should have views on my planning regarding the fact that I was not present at the first groundbreaking. This is, just as the member says, of symbolic significance.
It is of course important that I use the time I have in an effective way. I will do so also during the next mandate period if I get the opportunity and am re-elected.
That day I had a press conference on winter road maintenance, which is another important part of the matter. I will not account for all the parts in my calendar, but I want to have said that what is important is understood not to be symbolically significant actions, but that one gets effective measures on the ground that strengthen the infrastructure in the whole country and which enable increased housing construction. That is what I work with.
I did not have the opportunity to be present today and instead sent a digital greeting, which the member surely is aware of. I have not understood that this was to be any issue - it is the first time I encounter it. But I hope that the answer can provide some form of guidance.
It is of course important to have high momentum in infrastructure projects, but as I have said before, I will not be able to give any more answers than: Planning work is underway, and therefore I cannot comment on the individual case. The member helps me a little by answering that question themselves.
Eva Lindh (S)
Madam Speaker! I would naturally have appreciated it if there were more answers to give, but I realize that they will not come.
Ostlänken is very important for Östergötland but also for all of Sweden. It is important to continue the planning for several reasons. I want to once again bring up why this is incredibly important.
The first thing concerns the labor market. Östgötatrafiken and commuting within Östergötland are crucial. Now we have a capacity shortage. It becomes clear in Östergötland. The trains have difficulty arriving. We notice this as those of us who travel to, from, or within Östergötland. We need better communications within the county.
The second point is that the Södra stambanan is crucial for freight traffic. It is naturally also completely crucial moving forward. I believe we agree that it is good if freight can go on rails. It is better for the climate and many other things. Here, it is important that we expand, so that more freight trains can go on rails in the future. I do not need to tell this to the minister, but perhaps there are others who do not quite have a handle on it.
The third point naturally concerns what I have asked about here: the importance of not only laying track into Linköping but also out of Linköping.
I hope that the Minister has listened and taken this to heart. I also really hope that it will be possible with this little bit out of Linköping and that the construction of the Södra stambanan will continue.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Yes, I have listened. I have noted the member's views. I have also answered several times that I cannot comment at this stage regarding the specific planning process.
I agree with several of the points the member raised at the end of their speech. We need to have a more robust transport system on the railway, not least for the needs of freight traffic.
Much of this is also about obtaining better maintenance of existing railways. The next interpellation debate will be about this a little bit. Those who follow this debate on TV will therefore not change the channel now just because this debate ends. One can continue to follow other debates here in the Riksdag chamber.
Madam Speaker! I believe this debate will be concluded quite soon, and I would then like to thank you for the commitment.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.