The costs for Sweden’s East Link (Ostlänken) on the route through the eastern city of Norrköping have risen significantly, according to Trafikverket, the Swedish Transport Administration.
After a careful analysis of costs and uncertainty factors, the investment amount for the line crossing the city has increased by more than EUR 187 million (SEK 2 billion) compared to the initial estimate included in the co-financing agreement signed by the municipality of Norrköping and Trafikverket in 2022.
To keep costs under control, Trafikverket proposed a new version of the project, with the railway lines located at ground level.
“We share the responsibility for ensuring the implementation of the East Line project and getting the most value for the money invested. Therefore, the planning direction from now on will be a solution with the railway lines placed at ground level,” said Peter Bernström, regional director for the southeast region.
Cost control for Sweden’s East Line
The co-financing agreement provides for the construction of a suspended railway infrastructure on bridges as an addition to the basic solution. This option was chosen to provide better conditions for urban development north of the city’s railway station and to create a more efficient transfer point between different modes of transport. However, a recent analysis shows that additional ground reinforcement and other technical solutions are needed for the construction of the bridges, which will increase the costs by more than SEK 1.9 billion (EUR 187 million).
“Cost control is one of Trafikverket’s most important and priority concerns. In recent years, we have intensified our work on careful cost analysis and evaluation in all investment projects to ensure that public funds are used correctly. This way of working is part of the agency’s consolidated effort,” said Magnus Sjöberg, director of the Ostlänken program.
The proposal will now be reviewed in a political process within the municipality of Norrköping. The work done so far will form the basis for future planning. The planning period will be extended, but the total duration of the project will not increase, as the option with the railway lines at ground level is less complicated to implement.
“It was valuable for the parties to analyze the elevated route alternative in detail. At this point, we believe that the proposed new direction will not delay the timing of trains running through Norrköping,” said Peter Bernström.
Sweden’s Eastern Link will be 160 km long between Järna (in the Stockholm region) and Linköping, a city located 200 km south of Stockholm and 40 km west of Norrköping.
The cost of the project is estimated at over EUR 10 billion (SEK 110.3 billion).
Construction has begun on certain segments of the route, while other sections are still in the planning phase. The Eastern Link will be open to traffic in 2035.
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