STOCKHOLM Local Transport (SL) and Bombardier unveiled artist's impressions of the forthcoming C30 train for the city's metro network at the EurasiaRail exhibition in Istanbul on March 5.

SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket has completed a project to reactivate the cross-border section of the Meråker Line from Trondheim, Norway to Storlien in Sweden which has been closed for more than a year due to movements in an embankment on the Swedish side of the border.

SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket announced on February 12 that tracklaying has been completed in the 8.7km Hallandsås tunnel, Sweden's longest railway tunnel, and the SKr 10.5bn ($US 1.25bn) project is on course for its official opening on December 13.

STOCKHOLM County Council launched public consultation on February 9 on plans to construct two extensions to the metro Blue Line, which would serve the city's growing southern suburbs.

SWEDISH passenger operator SJ reported an operating profit of SKr 568m ($US 67.9m) in 2014, a SKr 270m improvement on the SKr 298m operating profit made in 2013. Net profit increased by 110% to SKr 460m, compared with a net profit of SKr 220m in 2013. Net sales marginally increased by SKr 42m to SKr 9.06bn, compared with the previous year.

SWEDISH regional transport operator Skånetrafiken has awarded Alstom a SKr 1.5bn ($US 180m) contract to supply 25 additional class X61 Coradia Nordic EMUs, taking its total fleet of these trains to 99 sets.

SWEDISH national passenger operator SJ has revealed plans for major improvements on the Stockholm – Oslo route with the reintroduction of X2000 tilting trains, an increase in frequency, and dramatically improved journey times.

SWEDISH infrastructure manager Trafikverket has awarded Strukton Rail a five-year contract worth around €50m to maintain railways in the Malmö area.

SWEDISH national passenger operator SJ and Arriva have awarded Alstom rolling stock maintenance contracts covering 82 regional trains in Sweden.

NEW train schedules were launched across Europe on December 14, and according to the December issue of the European Rail Timetable, the improvements outnumber the number of services being withdrawn.