The Government has presented its infrastructure proposal for the period 2026-2037. The total framework for new investments, maintenance, and operation of Sweden's transport system amounts to 1,171 billion kronor.
According to the Minister of Infrastructure, this is an increase of 27 percent compared to the current infrastructure plan.
You don't have to travel many miles in our country to see that roads and railways need to be improved, says Carlson.
More to roads
Of the total amount, 607 billion kronor is proposed for new investments in the transport system. Approximately 210 billion will go to maintenance and operation of railways and 354 billion to maintenance and operation of roads.
In practice, the money for new investments, maintenance, and operation will be an additional 59 billion more, since the allocations to the actual authority, the Swedish Transport Administration, will no longer be taken from the infrastructure budget.
According to Carlson, the money for road maintenance will thus increase by 53 percent compared to the current infrastructure plan.
Now, the destructive trend of neglecting maintenance is being broken, he says.
The Swedish Transport Administration has assessed that the money will be sufficient to address the entire backlog of maintenance in the road network. And the Minister is sending a clear message until 2037.
There will be no potholes. There may be a single one, but this type of road that we have become accustomed to in many parts of the country, with potholes and cracks in the road that make it impossible to travel safely, we will put an end to.
Tough for the railways
For the railways, the situation looks tougher. The allocations for maintenance and operation of railways are increasing by 18 percent. However, only 10-15 percent of the backlog of maintenance will be able to be addressed by 2037. The maintenance debt for the railways is 90 billion kronor.
According to the Government, the Swedish Transport Administration will receive as much money as it can manage to use for railway maintenance until 2037.
Carlson admits, however, that much more money is needed for the railways.
Is there not a risk of train chaos and continued delays?
It will be a tough period ahead as well. But I think everyone understands that if you have neglected the railways for decades, it takes time to turn this around, says Carlson.
