Comments by Gunnar Sibbmark, 1st vice chairman and MD, Europakorridoren AB, at the press conference in Stockholm 27-08-2003.
- The results show that when fully developed the European Corridor will produce considerable increases in traffic that are greater than the overall effect of the future plan for railway investment for the years 2004—2015 that the National Rail Administration recently submitted to the government. The report shows that the project is commercially viable and has a large passenger base. The large passenger base will generate substantial revenue flows which means that there are excellent preconditions for financing the expansion through alternative methods such as partnership between private investors, the state and regional interests, as an addition to subsidies from the national budget. The project’s international emphasis means that partial financing with EU funds for the expansion of the Trans-European Network (TEN) is also possible. The public finance calculations that are presented in the KTH study show that the European Corridor will generate benefits for public finances that are twice as great as the cost of investment in the track.
- The European Corridor will produce substantial opportunities for regional growth and development in South and Central Sweden. The European Corridor, along with the European Line and the Götaland Line encompasses a large number of towns and regions and these will become even more attractive as a result of the stronger connections they will have with each other and with Europe. In most cases travelling times will be shortened by between 30 and 60 percent for a very large number of towns and regions. With increased regional enlargement and better accessibility to work, housing and education.
A European perspective is necessary as a foundation for the Swedish infrastructure investments. The Swedish railway network should be linked together with the network of new railways for high speed trains that are successively being expanded for cross-border, inter-national traffic on the European continent. Sweden’s geographic position in Northern Europe necessitates investments in properly functioning transportation that is not just going to cope with current requirements for speed, reliability, flexibility and safety but also those of tomorrow. A technological boost is required in order to reinforce the railway’s competitiveness as a means of transport. For new railways it is necessary to plan for speeds of up to 350 km/h.
- The future plan for railway investment for the years 2004—2015 that the National Rail Administration recently submitted to the government means that the train system for higher speeds than today’s will not be realised for 20 - 25 years. The National Rail Administration considers a higher speed to be a maximum of 250 km/h on new and existing railways and
it will not be be introduced until 2025 and in several cases not until 2030. This level of ambition is far too low and it will mean that Sweden is investing in a standard that is already out of date in the rest of Europe in the expansion of high speed trains. Sweden is standing aside from the development towards shorter travelling times that is now taking place with a new generation of trains and tracks in countries such as France, Germany and Spain. Europakorridoren is therefore advocating that Sweden too should be investing in a new railway system with speeds of up to 350 km/h.
- It is time for the government and Parliament to raise their perspective in terms of traffic policy and to focus on the important issues for the future. Sweden cannot afford to miss out on the major opportunities for regional growth and development that the European Corridor represents. An investment in Sweden in a high speed network of European standard is sustainable in the long-term both from an economic and an ecological point of view. It concerns the type of society we want to have in the future. Should the transport system be focussed towards dealing responsibly with important environmental goals, at the same time as satisfying the individual’s and trade and industry’s need for increased mobility? Or should the current development, with substantial growth of road transport and a society that is decreasingly enduring and sustainable as a consequence, prevail in the future too?
- Europakorridoren AB is now continuing the work of informing representatives of the government and Parliament about current studies. During the spring, meetings have been held with representatives of all the Parliamentary parties. The National Rail Administration has recently been informed about the study in question. During the autumn, talks will be held with representatives of the Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications. In addition, there will be a presentation for Parliament’s traffic commission.
For further information:
Contact Gunnar Sibbmark tel. +46 (0)472-20584, +46 (0)70-562 94 33 |
|
Press info
Visit the European Corridor -
The European Corridor:
If the trains run too slowly, growth and jobs will be threatened
Comments by Gunnar Sibbmark, 1st vice chairman and MD, Europakorridoren AB, at the press conference in Stockholm 27-08-2003.
Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg, Falköping Municipality and Östergötland County Council are new members of Europakorridoren.
|
