Works on the Swedish Western Mainline, a key rail artery, are in full swing. They are expected to hinder traffic for years to come – and so a smooth completion is much desired. However, an interest group now sees an opportunity to amend plans either way: it wants an additional double track added to the route.
The replacement of the catenary between Gothenburg and Alingsås will disrupt traffic on the Western Mainline for the coming three years. Especially 2026 and 2027 stand to be difficult years for rail freight.
Even if the project is already ongoing, a group of municipalities along the line want to expand the upgrade even further. It is advocating for an entirely new double track of 40 kilometres in length between Gothenburg and Alingsås. Since the line is a major bottleneck for passenger and freight traffic alike, such an upgrade is supposed to mitigate the issues.
A window of opportunity
The group sees an opportunity to make their wish a reality: the Swedish Transport Administration is now putting forward proposals for the upcoming national transport plan. In other words, there might be an opportunity to get the issue prioritised, according to Swedish media.
Sweden is also starting new upgrade works on the railway between Borlänge and Falun, another important line for freight traffic. The project is worth 83 million Swedish crowns, and includes works on the tracks, electrification and signalling. The modernisation is supposed to last from February 2025 until July 2026.