SWEDEN’s infrastructure manager and national transport authority Travikverket says it is working closely with Inlandsbanan AB (IBAB), the infrastructure manager for the 1288km Inland Line between Kristinehamn and Gällivare , in order for work to start later this year on upgrading the line for military traffic.
Under the Total Defence initiative announced in October 2024 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, last month the government commissioned Trafikverket to begin preparatory work on upgrading the railway network to meet defence needs. SKr 100m ($US 10.35m) was allocated to this task in the amended spring budget for 2026.
Part of this spending will be allocated to the Inland Line, managed by IBAB on behalf of the 18 municipalities which own it. One of IBAB’s long-term objectives is to reopen the disused Filipstad - Mora section, while on operational sections freight capacity is currently limited by the 22.5 tonne axleload in force on 75% of the line and 20 tonnes on the remainder.
A study undertaken by Trafikverket last spring concluded that the Inland Line is a critical defence asset, also fulfilling an important role in providing an alternative route for traffic to the far north of Sweden. According to Trafikverket, this has been highlighted by recent serious disruption in Västernorrland county and on the Malmbanan line connecting Luleå and Kiruna with Narvik in Norway.
The funding allocated for 2026 will finance immediate physical work, as well as preparatory studies for more extensive upgrade work in the coming years. This will include gathering data to inform future route choices and starting detailed design. Extensive preparatory work already undertaken should enable work to begin later this year, Trafikverket says.
“It feels very satisfying and important that we can now get started concretely on the ground,” says Björn Söderholm, infrastructure manager at IBAB.
“The money for 2026 means that we can translate our plans into actual benefits for the railway system.”
