The European Corridor – a sustainable development project for the future of

Oslo

Land- vetter

Göteborg Vårgårda

Borås Ulricehamn

Helsingör Linköping Arlanda Norrköping Jönköping Mjölby Värnamo Nyköping Vaggeryd KKöpen-öpen- Høje hahamnmn ÖrkelljungÅstorp a Taastrup

Kastr Åstorp

NykNykøbingøbing F u p MalMalmömö

Lübeck

The European Corridor region consists = Götalandsbanan of all existing infrastructure in South and

= Central Sweden as a whole, with the addition of the new high speed railways, the European Line and the = Götaland Line. = Regionals lines and other line s = European roads

AFIKBYRÅN GR NSKA SVE

www.europakorridoren.se Reduce the size of the regions – expand the European Corridor

There are numerous examples of how THE EUROPEAN CORRIDOR is the region Fundamentally, this concerns the investments in better communications, that extends from Mälardalen and Stockholm competitiveness of Sweden and the rest of including roads, railways, ports and IT, have through Jönköping and to the Nordic countries – in a world with an provided people and businesses with better and Hamburg. increasingly internationalised economy. accessibility. To jobs and education, to larger This is where two new railways – the The European Corridor means that towns, markets and new business opportunities. European Line and the Götaland Line – are municipalities and regions throughout the This is how we are creating an important going to be the arteries in a transport system elongated corridor will come closer to each prerequisite for increased growth. that will link together Sweden, the Nordic other – as a result of the considerable time region and continental . A transport savings delivered by high speed trains and a We are not able to influence the geographic system that will shrink distances and thereby properly integrated modern transport system. distance. The 500 kilometres between, say, provide access to new opportunities to Stockholm and Gothenburg will remain 500 work and study, new markets and new In several places the Swedish railway system kilometres, whatever we do. preconditions for development. is already considerably undersized. This However, distance should be measured in At the same time the expansion entails a diminishes the opportunities for both people time, not in kilometres. In terms of time the drastic reduction in the environmental impact and businesses – and in practice moves heavy regions will become smaller with a modern of traffic – we will obtain a transport system traffic from rail to road transport. transport system, and thereby more accessible. that is also sustainable in the long-term from We feel that what is required now are And as the distances shrink, cities and an environmental perspective. political decisions, based on an overall countries on the European continent will get perspective. A collected will to create a closer. High speed trains (which travel at speeds of up modern transport system for Sweden. to 350 km/h) are of central significance for the In the process we – in Sweden 33 Investment in a modern transport system is new transport system. However, in addition municipalities, regions and counties, and in also a key to a lasting and sustainable society. the existing infrastructure must be renewed and Germany, regions and towns An unchecked increase in road transport – and and strengthened. – have both visions and knowledge to offer. primarily heavy traffic – risks exacerbating the In Southern Sweden it is the European greenhouse effect and increasing the pollution Line, the Götaland Line and the Southern Welcome to the European Corridor! of air, earth and water. Main Line that will form the corridor’s backbone, facilitate efficient traffic distribution and deliver drastically reduced journey times. Göran Johansson Gunnar Sibbmark Chairman of MD of the European the European Corridor Corridor

3 A European high speed network is emerging – is Sweden going to be part of it?

New lines for high speed trains between Denmark and Germany. This is going also run on existing railways at lower speed, conditions for this forthcoming high are being constructed throughout to be of crucial significance for Sweden too. thus achieving complete compatibility between speed line are very similar to those that Europe that link together regions and The bridge represents a fixed connection different types of trains and tracks. prevail for the European Line between countries and bring people closer to between the Nordic region and the continent. Stockholm and Copenhagen. each other. A high speed network for There are now no obstacles to effective cross- Spain There are both strong terminal speeds of 300-350 km/h is emerging, border international passenger and goods traffic. Spain is similar to Sweden in a number of ways: markets and a number of larger on newly built or refurbished tracks. There is a relatively low population base and towns all along the route that create a This is delivering substantial Planning for the bridge is already at an advanced urban areas are spread out. The large distances substantial market for regional travel. reductions in journey times and stage – the aim is for it to be open as early as and long journey times by train meant that The distance between the two lines’ stronger regional integration. 2016. domestic flights had long enjoyed an advantage. terminal points is almost the same. A bonus is improved conditions for Several countries in Europe have already The arrival of high speed trains consequently In common with Sweden, Spain is transporting freight by train. Within invested in high speed trains, and have achieved produced a springboard effect, raising the profile located on the fringes of Europe and it the EU an ambitious programme extremely good results, France, Germany and of both the railway and Spain. has a similar handicap in the form of has been adopted to expand the Spain for example. long distances to important destinations Trans-European Transport Network Large sums are being invested in these and Services on the 470 km long stretch between in Central Europe. There are also major (TEN-T). several other countries in new or upgraded Madrid – Seville commenced as long ago as similarities in the population base and railways. 1992. The research report “The European traffic structure, with large distances Sweden is highly dependent on close Corridor – A broadband for physical between the population centres. contact with the large European France transportation”, published by the KTH Railway markets. Our geographic position, France has had an extensive high speed train Group in 2003, reveals that travel on the route In the long-term the Spanish network involving long transport times, argues service since 1981, now at speeds of just over has been continuously increasing. After all will be linked to the French one and unequivocally in favour of us being 300 km/h. The French TGV network is being this time the increase in demand has still not thereby to the rest of the high speed part of the European network. continually expanded and there is cross-border declined. network in Europe. However, construction of the traffic to Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Thanks to the rapid connections the The European Corridor could be European high speed network is Britain (via the channel tunnel), Germany and railway has increased its share of the market. connected to Hamburg in the same already fully underway, and there are Switzerland. The aim of the major Spanish investments way. already more than 3000 kilometres of Next on the French expansion programme is in high speed railways is to achieve positive high speed track on the continent. a 320 km long track eastwards from Paris. From regional development, to increase the railway’s When is Sweden going to 2007 this will bring a number of important competitive strength in relation to road and air, proceed from ambitions and high- cities closer to the capital region. Among other and in the long-term to become closer to Europe. flown words to decisions and action? towns Strasbourg will be connected to the TGV network. By 2010 these TGV trains will The extension of the railway between Madrid Fehmarn Belt also cross the border to Germany, stopping in and Barcelona is in progress. A 600 km long In our immediate vicinity a bridge is Frankfurt am Main and thereby contributing stretch is currently under construction for being prepared over Fehmarn Belt, yet another link to the European high speed high speed trains to travel at 350 km/h. The in other words, a fixed connection network. The European high speed trains can

4 5 The European Corridor is a sustainable development project

Fast communications are a means – not an end Better possibilities for commuting produce on coordinated social planning and traffic in themselves. better conditions for development and growth. planning for the Borås – Jönköping – Linköping Speed creates proximity. Fast trains offer us Studies by the International Business School stretch of the Götaland Line. A study of ideas the possibility of shaping the future society we show that it is towns and villages that are and proposals was submitted to the National are all going to live and work in. A society that situated within an hour’s commuting distance Rail Administration in 2007. corresponds to people’s requirements for work, from high speed railways that benefit the most. housing, quality of life and mobility within This insight provides a basis for the idea of the However, to achieve the major benefits Sweden and in the world around us. A society European Corridor as a region. a coherent railway system is required – a that generates the conditions for sustainable and sustainable development perspective and an lasting growth. Size and density are significant in creating the overall conception. best possible conditions for growth and regional For it is namely the case that railways have a key Sweden does not lack positive, up-to-date development. Approximately 65% of Sweden’s role to play in future sustainable development. Stockholm experiences of what better communications can population live in the European Corridor In the European Corridor we want to Nyköping/Skavsta deliver: through Sweden – precisely the area that can be systematically bolster the positive development Norrköping The Mälar Line and the Svealand Line reached within an hour from the Götaland Line by building two new tracks for high speed trains Linköping have expanded employment and educational and the European Line – and approximately and by reinforcing and upgrading the Southern

prospects in the entire Stockholm-Mälar region. 65% of Sweden’s GNP is produced there. Main Line. ås teborg Traffic increased on the Svealand Line by 700 % For the municipalities and regions in the Gö LandvetterBor compared with the situation on the old line. An expansion of the European Corridor European Corridor an overall conception Jönköping In Västra Götaland the three counties that entails an overall conception would be of crucial significance for growth and have amalgamated have become more closely New railways are being surveyed, planned and employment. The municipalities and regions linked to each other through an expansion in built in Sweden. Naturally this is positive. would become even more strongly integrated, Värnamo regional train services. E.g. extensions within the European and trade and industry would have a broader In Skåne, travelling is steadily increasing with Corridor are being surveyed and planned in composition – which would create preconditions the Pågatågen and Öresund trains. Train services a number of different sub-sections – according for an increased number of employment over the Öresund Channel are bringing two to the investment plan ratified by the opportunities. Helsingborg regions (Skåne and Själland) and two countries Government and Parliament for 2004-2015. closer to each other. Examples of some important stages are In Småland, traffic on the Krösatågen train – Stockholm – Linköping (the Eastern Link) is increasing. In Östergötland, Norrköping and – Gothenburg – Landvetter – Borås (part of the Linköping are cooperating to deliver improved Götaland Line) communications and working in collaboration Municipalities, regions and the European as the fourth metropolitan area in Sweden. Corridor AB, in conjunction with the National Rail Administration and the Ministry of Sustainable Development have started to work

6 7 We want to connect a Swedish high speed network to the European one

The European Corridor This work makes it possible to plan and build is promoting the for the overall project, with a common speed

Uppsala implementation of pilot standard for the different sub-sections. The Arlanda

Stockholm studies for the European Line European Corridor from Stockholm and

Nyköping/Skavsta Norrköping equivalent to those that were Mälardalen via Helsingör and Copenhagen to Linköping carried out for the Götaland Hamburg can then become part of a European ås teborg Gö LandvetterBor Jönköping Line, i.e. for the section high speed network.

Värnamo southwards from Stockholm via Jönköping down to Substantially reduced journey times

Helsingør Helsingborg Helsingborg. Other sections The extended European Corridor will make it København Lund Malmö might be relevant as well and possible to complete longer journeys and freight Kastrup must be studied before a final movements in a considerably shorter time. Nykøbing F location for the European A large number of regions and towns will

Lübeck Line can be determined. obtain substantially reduced journey times with Hamburg We are also working for the Götaland Line and the European Line. realising the tunnel between The illustration below is taken from The Helsingborg and Helsingör European Corridor – A broadband for physical (the HH tunnel). This is transports, the KTH Railways Group 2003. needed both for Sweden’s international transports and for regional traffic in the Öresund region and, depending on the extent of the European Line, might also be a part of it.

Today Med Europa-/ Change in % Götalandsbanan

Köpenhamn-Stockholm 5:00 2:35 -48% Hamburg-Stockholm 9:30 4:15 -56% Hamburg-Köpenhamn 4:31 1:40 -63% Jönköping-Malmö 2:28 1:20 -46% Göteborg-Jönköping 1:54 0:39 -67% Linköping-Göteborg 3:54 1:19 -60% Köpenhamn-Göteborg 3:52 1:55 -52% Helsingborg-Stockholm 4:40 2:11 -53%

8 9 The European Corridor – a long-term, sustainable transport system

The transport sector is responsible for approx. new high speed lines are highly important in 30% of Swedish emissions of greenhouse gases. terms of enabling the transport sector to achieve Furthermore, these emissions have gradually the high level of environmental targets that have increased and in 2004 amounted to approx. 20.1 been set. million tonnes – which is approx. 9% more than in 1990. This increase consists almost exclusively More than 80% of the Swedish transport sector’s of increased emissions from heavy lorries. emissions of greenhouse gases are derived from This development is unsustainable. Here too road traffic. an overall conception is required to break the Road traffic causes more fatalities and trend and ensure a positive development. personal injuries than other types of transport. Heavy vehicles are involved in about a third of An expansion of the European Corridor all fatal accidents on our public roads. represents a significant step towards a transport If the current development continues and system that is sustainable in the long-term. nothing is done, transportation by heavy lorries Capacity will increase, which will mean that will increase substantially. A forecast carried Swedish railways will be able to deal with both out by the Swedish Institute for Transport and an increase in passengers and freight. There Communications Analysis, SIKA, reveals that are substantial environmental gains: Less both passenger and freight transport will increase eutrophication and acidification of land and substantially between 2001 and 2020. Passenger water and lower emissions of carbon dioxide. journeys are estimated to increase by 28% by 2020, measured in passenger kilometres. Issues pertaining to far-reaching, long-term climate goals and measures for adapting The only alternative which has a significant to climate changes are highly topical. The impact is to offer a more energy-efficient parliament has set the bar high for reducing infrastructure, expanded in order to cope emissions of carbon dioxide from the transport with the high level of requirements placed on sector. efficiency and capacity. This places demands on structural changes. Both the environment and traffic safety are Integrated investments are now needed in new arguments in favour of the railway meeting transport systems with long-term environmental a considerably larger proportion of transport considerations. requirements. Not least in terms of freight.

The European Corridor’s environmental effects have been thoroughly analyzed. We know that

10 11 Increased track capacity is a must

The investments that have been made in Both passenger and freight movements are This is already the grim reality. For example, positive regional development. It is improving communications in various regions currently on the increase. This is leading to for the 2006 summer timetable SJ (the Swedish satisfying the needs of individuals – to enhance accessibility and integration of local more traffic, more regional journeys and more State Railways) was forced to increase journey and the economy for increased job markets – have been successful. They have freight moving by rail, which is positive from an times for regional train services on the Mälar mobility. led to an increase in train travel, particularly environmental and traffic safety perspective. Line due to a shortage of track capacity. within and between adjacent regions. However, particularly in the metropolitan New tracks and increased capacity on existing The Southern Main Line is one The railway can reduce commuting times areas, but also in other areas, this development tracks is therefore a must. Otherwise the of Sweden’s most overburdened through a combination of increased capacity has led to an increasingly troublesome lack of attraction and competitive edge of trains as a railways. Here the lack of capacity and increased average speed, thus making it track capacity at peak hours. Different types of means of transport will be impaired. is becoming an increasingly possible to commute to work and studies over train services with different speeds have to share serious problem. Distributing the increasingly long distances. existing tracks, e.g. the X2000 and InterCity High speed trains increase the capacity fast passenger services over more trains, regional trains, commuter trains, goods of goods traffic tracks will create room for more trains and international services. Quality, assured delivery and level of service regional and freight services – and are crucial factors when deciding on mode of a sustainable long-term solution transport. to the capacity problems on the An investment in high speed trains within tracks. the European Corridor will free up capacity on the existing main lines for goods traffic and regional trains, thus enabling the economy’s ”Both passenger- and need for efficient transport of goods to be dealt with in a considerably better fashion than it is freight transport by rail today. increased during 2005.” Moreover, a separate railway network for Press information from SIKA, the Swedish Institute for fast trains creates the preconditions required to Transport and Communications Analysis 08-05-2006 meet transport policy objectives for a satisfactory environment, safety, accessibility, mobility and

12 13 The benefit to the national economy: Backing the European Corridor: Municipalities, Three times the cost regions and organisations in three countries

The study undertaken by the KTH Railway ”Several of the proposals made in the motion also concern group makes an economic calculation that projects that have an international connection. According shows that the European Line/Götaland Line to the committee, changes in the world around us, not least produce almost three times as much benefit to the expansion of the EU in our immediate surroundings, are the national economy as the investment in tracks placing demands on the infrastructure to meet new travel costs. patterns and new transport routes. Västerås Köping Arboga Uppsala Enköping The committee therefore shares the fundamental view Arlanda Eskilstuna Örebro that is articulated in several motions regarding the importance Läggesta Stockholm Fully completed, the European Line/the Kumla Strängnäs Laxå Hallsberg Flen Nynäshamn Gnesta Söderälje Götaland Line will produce substantial increases of applying a European perspective in connection with the Mariestad Katrineholm Nyköping Oxelösund Lidköping planning of roads and railways. It is therefore with satisfaction Norrköping in traffic. The project is commercially viable Öxnered Vänersborg Skövde Motala Uddevalla Grästorp Linköping that the committee states that the traffic agency’s planning Vara Mjölby and has a large passenger base. This, along Trollhättan Falköping Åtvidaberg Vedum Mullsjö Tranås Herrljunga directive prescribes that a European perspective will constitute a Stenungsund with the time savings will generate sufficient Ljung Bankeryd Kisa Borgstena Jönköping Västervik starting point for the planning work”. Fredrikshavn Borås Forserum revenues to produce very favourable conditions Göteborg Tenhult Vimmerby Viskafors Mariannelund Kungsbacka Fritsla Limmared Nässjö Eksjö Kinna Hultsfred for financing the expansion through alternative Veddinge Horred Vaggeryd Gnosjö Oskarshamn Varberg Smålands- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport stenar Värnamo Högsby and supplementary forms of financing. E.g. as Falkenberg Kinnared Åseda and Communications report 2005/06: TU5 Modern Oskarström Växjö a collaboration between private investors, the Ljungby transportation Laholm Nybro Båstad Älmhult Emmaboda Government and interested regional parties. The special infrastructure project section: Örkelljunga Ängelholm The European Corridor and high speed network etc. Århus Åstorp Karlshamn Hässleholm Helsingborg Klippan Helsingør Ronneby Nykøbing Höör Åhus The Götaland Line and the European Line Esbjerg Vejle Eslöv Køpenhavn Lund The European Corridor is backed by a large should therefore be brought forward and moved Odense Kastrup Korsør Malmö number of municipalities, associations of up the National Rail Administration’s investment local authorities, county councils, regions and plan and financed by special decree with a

Nykøbing F businesses – in Sweden, but also in Denmark Rødby normal depreciation period. Puttgarden Gedser Sassnitz and Germany. Kiel It involves the financing, regeneration and Stralsund Neumünster In Sweden far-sighted national politicians Rostock development of national capital (the Swedish Lübeck Travemünde – not least member of parliaments – have also railway network) in order to satisfy today’s Hamburg become involved. demands on travel and freight transportation. Bremen It is easy to understand: People, trade and industry and society will be the beneficiaries for many years to come. Berlin The European Corridor is based on the Hannover conviction that properly functioning communications between Swedish regions and the European continent are crucial for Sweden. Crucial for continued development and growth. Crucial for our future in Europe. The European Corridor is a sustainable development project for the future of Sweden.

14 15 If you would like Visit www.europakorridoren.se where you can subscribe to our newsletter, more information: order or download reports and publications and read more about our different activities.

For further information contact: Gunnar Sibbmark, MD and vice chairman Tel. +46 (0)472 – 205 84, +46 (0)70 – 562 94 33 [email protected]

Sylvia Blomby, project secretary Tel. +46 (0)372 – 78 93 55, +46 (0)70 – 598 93 55 Fax +46 (0)372 – 120 88 [email protected]

SVALÖVS KOMMUN

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