The train tracks south of Hudiksvall show once again that the maintenance of the railway is substandard. This is the opinion of the trade organization Tågföretagen, which believes that the railway must be upgraded and climate-proofed, and which now demands that the government push for more money.
– We have lagging maintenance in the Swedish railway system – very lagging, says Gustaf Engstrand, head of economic policy at Tågföretagen.
The train derailment south of Hudiksvall on Monday, when the rainy weather caused the embankment to collapse, once again makes the question of the state of the railway relevant. For both passenger and freight traffic, a safe railway is required and then better maintenance is needed, according to Tågföretagen.
– There are recurring problems in the railway system, says Gustaf Engstrand, who believes that there is a large maintenance debt.
Need to greatly increase the package
In the infrastructure plan for 2022 to 2033, SEK 165 billion is set aside for railway maintenance. In the previous plan, 125 billion kroner went to maintenance of the same, but despite the fact that money has already been allocated, Tågföretagen believes that it is not enough.
And the maintenance debt, which is SEK 60 billion for railways and roads where the debt for the railway is SEK 46 billion, will only grow at the same time as the railway gets worse unless more money is pushed.
– Until 2033, this will increase to 100 billion according to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s calculations, so it is urgent to pay off that debt, says Gustaf Engstrand.
How much money is needed?
– Our calculations are that you need to increase this package for the railway and road system very strongly, at least 50 percent. If it is 800 billion today, you would have to put well over 1,000 billion.
The Minister of Infrastructure: Will come back about the sum
Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson (KD) shares the picture that railway maintenance in Sweden is neglected and that there is a large maintenance debt.
– Maintenance is delayed and that is why, for example, the government has canceled the planning of the new main line for high-speed trains which had cost incredibly large sums, money that can instead be used to maintain the existing infrastructure, repair where necessary and manage our common resources on best way, he says.
How much money will the government be able to provide?
– We will return to exactly how much money will be set aside for maintenance, but it is a priority for the government to strengthen maintenance – there is no doubt about that.
The government has recently tasked the Swedish Transport Administration with drawing up an orientation document for the next transport infrastructure plan, which will be decided on at the beginning of next year.