INLANDSBANAN

The project is financing the upgrade of the existing Swedish Inland Railway (Inlandsbanan), covering a network of 1200 km from Mora in central Sweden up to Gällivare in the North. Capital investments are currently estimated at SEK 6.5bn (EUR 664m), including associated infrastructure (terminals, depots and weighing stations as well as two connecting lines).

The main objective of the project is to provide an alternative railway corridor from North to South, where freight trains would have priority. The rail line will be open access and it is foreseen that the line will be mainly used by operators servicing corporates (active in the steel and the forest industry). The project excludes the acquisition and operation of rolling stock and financing will be limited to infrastructure investments.

The railway line is located in Central Sweden, crossing environmentally sensitive areas, hence some of the investments (construction and modernisation the terminals, depots and stations) fall under Annex II of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2011/92/EU as amended, and may therefore require an EIA. Screening decisions, EIA and developments consents, as well as, conformity with the requirements of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) will be analysed during the appraisal. Furthermore, the railroad crosses areas inhabited by the Sami people, recognised and protected under the international conventions of indigenous peoples. In addition, the effects on reindeer husbandry is taken into account in the project and will be analysed during the appraisal.

EIB will require the project promoter to ensure that contracts for the implementation of the project will be tendered in accordance with the relevant applicable EU procurement legislation, Directive 2014/25/EU or 2004/17/EC, where applicable, as well as Directive 92/13/EEC as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the EU, with publication of tender notices in the EU Official Journal, as and where required.