– This is a completely unacceptable proposal and also in a context where the state clearly states that the infrastructure in Sweden must contribute to the development of the entire country, says the chair of the regional board Angelica Katsanidou (S).
The Swedish Transport Administration has planned that in the future the Tjust and Stångådal lines will not run all the way to the planned new train station in Linköping. This would mean that Kalmar county will in the future be dropped from the connection to the national trunk network via Linköping.
– This proposal presented to us basically means the nail in the coffin and the death of our two regional tracks, says Angelica Katsanidou (S).
Instead, the last stretch, from the railway’s terminus to the new station in Linköping, is planned to be run by bus.
– We need to be able to indicate the new station in Linköping in order for it to be an attractive travel option for our travelers, says Angelica Katsanidou (S).
Severe deterioration
In the letter, the politicians argue that the plans should be changed.
“The alternative creates a number of negative consequences for the south-eastern part of the country. The connection between the growth engines Kalmar-Linköping is cut off. That travelers have to change to a bus or otherwise get to the new station location on the main line for Ostlänken is a major deterioration from an accessibility point of view,” they write in the letter.
– It upsets us very much, it is important for our courses to reach the growth engine Linköping, says regional development committee chairperson Karin Helmersson (C).
In addition to Angelica Katsanidou (S) and Karin Helmersson (C), the regional board’s vice-chair Malin Sjölander (M) has also signed the letter.
CLIP: Västervik’s municipal councilor Harald Hjalmarsson (M) rages against the Swedish Transport Administration