Overview of the Trafikverket plan 2026–2037
The Trafikverket plan for 2026–2037 outlines a total investment of 1,171 billion kronor aimed at Sweden’s rail and transport network. Infrastructure and Housing Minister Andreas Carlson has described the plan as a historically large expansion of the country’s infrastructure program. The core ambition is to close the long-standing maintenance backlog on the rail network and to accelerate development projects that improve reliability, capacity and cross-border connections. The government is presenting the plan as a long-term, results-oriented effort to maximize the value of every crown spent on infrastructure while ensuring safer, faster and more climate-friendly travel.
Funding split and project focus
Specifics from Trafikverket show that roughly half of the nearly 1.2 trillion kronor is earmarked for maintenance of the existing railways and associated systems, while the other half is allocated to development and modernization. Within the plan, about 20 billion kronor has been freed for 27 projects that Trafikverket identifies as delivering greater benefit. This shift signals an emphasis on targeted upgrades that can unlock the most value for travellers and freight customers, even as the maintenance backlog is slowly reduced.
Key projects for Värmland and regional rail corridors
In the Värmland region, the plan highlights two specific items on the priority list: a meeting or passing loop on the Värmlandsbanan between Kil and Charlottenberg, and a similar passing loop on the Norge-Vänerbanan between Kil and Skälebol. These passing loops are intended to improve timetable resilience, increase line capacity, and reduce delays on routes that connect regional towns with broader national networks. The inclusion of these projects underscores the government’s aim to bolster regional rail as a backbone for both passenger and freight transport.
What is being removed or altered from earlier plans
As part of refocusing resources, nine investments that were part of previous plans are removed, and two are revised to free funds for other priorities. In Värmland, two specific projects have been dropped: the E45 segment between Säffle and Valnäs on the Säffle–Hammar section, and the E18 segment between Valnäs and the national border on the Töcksfors–Bäckevarv section. These changes reflect a recalibration of where funds can generate the most benefit and how best to allocate capital across the network while keeping long-term goals in sight.
Next steps and government approval
The plan is scheduled to be finalized by the government in the coming spring. As is common with major multi-year infrastructure programs, the proposal will undergo political scrutiny and requires alignment among different ministries and regional actors. Observers will be watching for how the plan translates into concrete procurement, project milestones, and cost control over the 2026–2037 horizon. The government’s framing emphasizes efficiency and higher returns on public investment, but critics may call for greater transparency around timelines, risk management, and regional impacts.
What this means for travellers and freight customers
If implemented as outlined, the Trafikverket plan 2026–2037 could bring more reliable train services, shorter travel times, and improved freight flows through key corridors including the Värmland region and cross-border links with Norway and other neighboring networks. While the long horizon means results will unfold gradually, the focus on both maintenance and strategic upgrades aims to deliver tangible improvements in service reliability and network resilience over the coming decades.
