Sweden’s rail passenger transport operator, SJ, has received the green light to organize a tender on the procurement of 30 high-speed trains capable to reach speeds of 250 km/h. The decision has been approved by the operator’s Board of Directors.
According to SJ, the market analysis carried out last year has revealed a considerable interest from potential suppliers. Bids could be submitted by European and non-European companies. It is estimated that new high-speed trains will be delivered as of 2021 at a value that varies between SEK 5-6 billion (EUR 523 – 630 million). The sum is the company’s biggest investment in new rolling stock procurement over the past 30 years.
Trains have to be technologically competitive and adapted to northern meteorological conditions, including to severe winter conditions and tolerance to wild fauna collisions. Each train will have to provide at least 350 seats. Also, the accent will fall on the fact that the new rail vehicles will be more intelligent “keeping in mind all their characteristics, from maintenance and technical equipment to passenger information systems”.
The new high-speed trains (called Snabbtåg) will be put into operation on routes where the demand is increasing, operating next to the existing X2000 trains which are currently under modernisation, as well as the new-generation electric multiple-units of the SJ3000 class.
The Swedish operator estimates that the first high-speed trains will be put into service on Stockholm – Malmö corridor, although Ostlänken railway, built for speeds of 250 km/h, is not expected to be inaugurated before 2030. Ostlänken is the first high-speed railway built in Sweden. Trains will be equipped to provide cross-border rail transport services both in Norway and in Denmark.
Moreover, the Swedish Transport Authority, Trafikverket, announced in September, that according to the National Infrastructure Plan, an investment of around EUR 29 billion (SEK 280 billion) in the Swedish railway industry segment for the benefit of freight and passenger transport. At least 47% of this budget is allocated to maintenance projects, as the quality of the rail infrastructure has deteriorated in years.
Maintenance works will include the renewal of signalling systems and the further ERTMS deployment, a system covering the majority of the Swedish rail network until 2030. A new telecommunication system will be introduced starting with mid-2020 to replace the GSM-R system. Moreover, Trafikverket will also initiate projects for replacing the optical fibre system.
Overall, EUR 13 billion (SEK 125 billion) are necessary for the operation, maintenance and renewal of rail infrastructure, an amount for which Trafikverket will ask for a state-budget contribution.
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