The Swedish Transport Administration, Trafikverket, awarded the Aecom and Rejlers the design contracts for the development of the North Bothnia Line.
The assignments include producing line studies, railway plans with associated environmental impact assessments and managing important permits and preparations for future construction.
“Our collaboration with Aecom is now being further developed and we look forward to developing the North Bothnia Line together for a couple of years with a focus on sustainable solutions and long-term societal benefits,” Henrik Öhrnell, Head of Division Infrastructure at Rejlers, said.
The collaboration between the two companies includes the development of railway plans and public roads within Piteå municipality north and south of Piteå urban area.
In Piteå municipality, there are three railway plans to be drawn up. These are divided into a part north of Piteå, a central part, and a part south of Piteå, totalling 5 km of rail to be constructed. But the construction of North Bothnia Line will also mean that many roads that will need to be rebuilt as all passages towards the railway will have to be at different levels.
“For Piteå municipality, there are many miles in unbroken terrain, but we will also pass Pitsund, Pite havsbad, through central Piteå as well as Kopparnäs and Norrfjärden, which will be challenging passages,” Pär Fleuron, project manager at Trafikverket, said.
During 2025 and 2026, the studies will be developed, and the alignment will be identified. According to the plans, works are being prepared to enable the construction to start before 2033 between Skellefteå and Luleå. “The work will be intensified now in the coming years. The fact that we are now getting started with line studies and eventually choosing a line is of course an important step that lays the foundation for future construction,” Pär Fleuron explains.
In 2025, Trafikverket will organize a number of consultations and have a dialogue about alternative solutions in order to finally determine how the route of the North Bothnia railway (Norrbotniabanan) in the entire municipality of Piteå should look. A consultation regarding the central route will be held during the first half of 2025 where the citizens will also be able to share their opinion.
The North Bothnia Line is a 270-km long new railway between Umeå and Luleå. The project is expected to contribute to faster and more sustainable transports, strengthening the urban development and the competitiveness of businesses across Sweden.
The construction of the line started in 2018 with the first 12 km Umeå – Dåva section.
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