The Swedish Transport Administration conducted an indepth analysis before continuing with rollout of ERTMS in Sweden and has identified a number of critical factors that need to be addressed. A review of the entire rollout plan is therefore now underway.
Rollout of ERTMS in Sweden is a major challenge for the Swedish Transport Administration as well as vehicle owners and system suppliers. Work to roll out ERTMS on the Ore line is in full swing and will be completed according to plan. Next in line is rollout on the Swedish part of the Scan-Med Öst freight corridor, which stretches from Stockholm and Hallsberg, via Katrineholm-Mjölby, down to Malmö and towards Denmark.
Several factors identified
The analysis conducted by the Swedish Transport Administration identifies several critical factors that need to be dealt with before continuing with ERTMS rollout in Sweden. Some relate to experience from the ongoing rollout on the Ore line in relation to adapting regulations and choosing technical solutions. Methods for production under contract and connection also need to be reviewed. A further important consideration is the EU’s new regulatory framework, due to come into effect in 2022, which affects rollout and needs to be taken into account.
“We need to gather in the Swedish Transport Administration and in dialogue with industry players develop and improve the strategy and take a holistic approach before the continued roll-out of ERTMS in Sweden. For us to succeed, the right conditions need to be in place ... We have concluded that it is not realistic to have a connection in 2023 on Scan-Med Öst, but our assessment is that it will take place in 2025 or 2026 at the earliest”, says Patrik Assarsjö, Head of Investigation within the Planning Unit.
The introduction of ERTMS also presents challenges for the railway industry where, among other things, several vehicle owners are involved in legal proceedings after having procurements appealed. Further challenges relate to the conversion of existing vehicles and purchase of new vehicles. These issues cause schedules to shift, which means that it can take time for vehicles equipped for use in traffic to become available. Dialogue between the Swedish Transport Administration and industry stakeholders is ongoing, the process is being monitored, and discussions of the review are taking place.
The Swedish Transport Administration has started work on dealing with the factors identified in the analysis and expects to present a revised rollout plan for Scan-Med East and West and the rest of the railway network in Sweden within the next few months.
“The revised plan will be an important part and a basis for the work on the forthcoming national transport plan. Our ambition is to continue to be able to roll out by the year 2030 on Scan-Med, which the EU has as a requirement for us. But it is a big challenge, and at the moment we look like we will need a few more years after 2030 before we are completely finished with the rollout”, says Patrik Assarsjö.
(Source: Trafikverket)
