Co-funding approved for new railway Gothenburg-Borås
The Swedish Transport Administration, GR, and the City of Borås now have an agreement in place for the study of a new railway line between Western Sweden's two largest cities.
"We are pleased that the commitment from the municipalities along the route and the region is so solid. The new Gothenburg-Borås line is a very important project both regionally and nationally. With this agreement, we can advance the studies on the Almedal-Mölnlycke and Bollebygd-Borås routes," says Swedish Transport Administration Regional Director Håkan Wennerström.
The agreement means that the Gothenburg Region Association of Local Authorities (GR) and City of Borås are investing SEK 40 million, and the Swedish Transport Administration will be contributing the same amount. The GR municipalities, City of Borås, Bollebygd and Swedavia, are responsible for the co-funding. Previously, the planning and construction of the stretch past Landvetter airport, Mölnlycke-Bollebygd, were included in the national plan for the transport system from 2014 to 2025 which the Swedish Government adopted on 8 April this year.
"I'm really looking forward to getting underway with the planning. Our greatest challenge at this point is to pinpoint the optimal location for the new railway with as much consideration taken to the environment as possible. Naturally, it is also a challenge to build Sweden's first high-speed railway using new technology," says Swedish Transport Administration Project Director Sara Distner.
"This is significant for the entire Gothenburg region, where more people will have the option of coordinating both work and study for the whole family," says Jonas Ransgård, chair of the Gothenburg Region Association of Local Authorities (GR).
The new line between Gothenburg and Borås means faster journeys between metropolitan regions, easier commuting and improved accessibility to Landvetter airport. The railway is being built as a double-track, high-speed rail line and will be capable of handling speeds of up to 320 km per hour.
"The new railway links the two major labour markets which will have major significance for the whole of western Sweden," says Ulf Olsson, chair of the Borås Region/Sjuhärad's municipal associations.
"We are looking forward to linking up public transport on the ground with air travel and consequently the international accessibility of our expansive region," says Helena Wiberg, Deputy Airport Director.