Published 17 Oct, 2017
Region Blekinge learns more about making the most of transport development in Europe
As a part of the TENTacle project, the region of Blekinge in southeastern Sweden has studied and highlighted transport-related initiatives, both inside and outside the county, which are important to increase its competitiveness as a bridging area in-between three TEN-T core network corridors.
The trade flows via Blekinge have increased rapidly for many years. Trade volumes are still small in relation to the transport flows through Germany, but projections based on the historical growth of transport flows via the ferry lines indicate that the eastern flows may be in the same extent as the "traditional" western flows in less than 10 years.
Transport routes via Öresund and the Scandinavian-Meditteranean corridor have a competitive edge on the infrastructure standard, but perhaps mainly thanks to large-scale and extensive logistics operations.
With the macro-trends that can be seen and political ambitions about the development of the transport system in Eastern Europe, Russia and China, there are good reasons to plan for heavily increasing transport volumes through southeast Sweden. But it is difficult to assess exactly when in time possible infrastructure measures are needed and thus it is important to maintain good preparedness for both infrastructure and land access measures.
In order for freight transport to provide regional benefits, land space is needed for warehouses and terminal operations. It is important that there is a clear vision and strategy for how transport-related activities can develop. Infrastructure and road connections can also have shortcomings in managing flows associated with larger vessels.
For Sweden, EU co-financing through TEN-T is of lesser importance. Priorities in the national infrastructure plan are made irrespective of the possibility of co-financing, rather regarded as an addition to the budget of the action plan. In addition several requirements for the TEN-T technical standard are already met. TEN-T is rather of political than financial significance whenit provides an image of the most important parts of the transport system and reflects or signals the transport routes of major national importance at present and for the future. Thus, it seems worrying that stretches of very fast-growing transport flows, such as from ports in Blekinge to Gothenburg and Jönköping, are not visible because the infrastructure is not part of the TEN-T. It would be reasonable to include the roads of these links in the comprehensive network to provide political signals about the desirability of being prepared to meet long-term volume growth. Main road routes should be defined and prioritized for measures to develop high quality routes for heavy transport.
Measures on rail and road
In general, no capacity shortages in the road network were found. However, it can be regarded as an accessibility shortage that the road to major nodes such as Jönköping and Nässjö has several sections at speeds below 80 km / h. In addition, longer and/or heavier trucks (HCV, high capacity vehicles) can increase efficiency for road transport. Currently a comprehensive map of routes usable by HCV is missing and should thus be targeted.
For Blekinge there are significant rail connections at Hässleholm, Älmhult and Alvesta within the Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor. These nodes link the ports of Blekinge and Olofström to the main rail line in south-north direction and to Gothenburg. Hässleholm forms a railway junction with already very extensive traffic. Measures to improve possibilities to change train directions in the node can thus create significant benefits.
Measures (longer sidings) in the part of the rail system not included in the TEN-T, but which improve the connection to the Scandinavian-Mediterranean rail network corridor, can create possibilities for longer freight trains on the Blekinge Coastal railway between Karlshamn and Hässleholm. Capacity measures in form of double track are very important for the development of passenger transport during peak hours but are of less importance for freight transport.
The expansion of the Southeast link from Olofström to Blekinge Coastal railway is mainly beneficial for freight trains from Karlshamn and north, where the expansion leads to shorter transport times. However, this measure cannot replace the need for capacity increases on the route Kristianstad-Hässleholm, as this is driven by passenger demand traffic.
The crooked and partially steep railway stretch between Karlshamn and Karlskrona can primarily be regarded as a shortcoming for passenger trains. A straighter stretch would shorten travel times and provide better accessibility to Karlskrona. However, for freight trains, measures are of marginal importance as market conditions are lacking.
Download the full report in Swedish language with an English summary in the section “Downloads”.
More information:
Mathias Roos
Region Blekinge
E-mail: mathias.roos@regionblekinge.se