It was at a meeting on Friday that a consensus was finally reached on the last economic details of the disputed project. It was about how to pay around five billion kronor.
The money came about after a change in the previous plans. In the end, the Västra Götaland region will pay 2.5 billion, while the City of Gothenburg will pay one billion.
Then it will be distributed proportionally between the municipalities, except for Gothenburg, which will pay a fixed amount. But regardless of how the project goes, we will only pay one billion, says Axel Josefson (M), the second vice chairman of the municipal council, to TT.
"Everyone was overjoyed"
It feels very good that we have reached an agreement and that we can now get trains between Gothenburg and Borås, which will strengthen the very positive development we have in western Sweden, he continues.
The news has now been announced to Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson (KD).
Everyone was overjoyed. It's probably one of the biggest historical decisions made in the county residence since it was built in the 1600s, says Johan Trouvé, CEO of the West Swedish Chamber of Commerce, who was present at Friday's meeting.
Difficult negotiations
A railway between Borås and Gothenburg has been discussed for decades. Only in recent years have the plans seemed likely to become a reality after the state earmarked 43.5 billion kronor for a western Swedish railway investment.
However, the negotiations between the parties – the Västra Götaland region, Swedavia, and the municipalities of Borås, Härryda, Mölndal, and Gothenburg – have been difficult and protracted. Among other things, after Härryda municipality long opposed the proposed route.
In the end, the government was forced to call in County Governor Sten Tolgfors as a mediator.
Sten Tolgfors has done a fantastic job. The negotiations have been difficult. The parties have different interests, so it was a very good move by the government to appoint Sten Tolgfors, says Axel Josefson.
