[SE] SJ's plans for the Swedish west coast

[JonasB]

The Swedish rail news site jarnvagar.nu published an interesting article recently about SJ's plans for the west coast. https://jarnvagar.nu/fler-snabbtag-pa-vastkustbanan/

Currently there are a couple of large construction projects happening on the West coast line. In the south, the line is being expanded from two to four tracks between Malmö and Lund, which will open later this year. A bit further north most of the single track portion from Helsingborg to Ängelholm will be replaced by a new double track next year. There is also a tunnel being built under Varberg that will open in 2025. And in Gothenburg the tunnel project Västlänken was set to open in 2026 but will probably be delayed. Add new high speed trains to that and things will happen in a few years.

The Varberg tunnel and the double track south of Ängelholm is expected to reduce the travel time between Malmö and Gothenburg by 20 minutes. SJ will use that to increase the number of departures along the west coast. For the moment with X55/SJ 3000 most of the year and X2000s in the summer. The big change will come in 2027 when SJs new high speed trains are delivered. SJ plans to use them on the west coast with three daily trains Oslo-Gothenburg-Copenhagen and seven daily additional trains Gothenburg-Copenhagen, all using the new trains.

A plan for Oslo-Gothenburg-Copenhagen-Hamburg trains have also been mentioned here and the article also mentions the plan to use DSB's Talgo trains for the route, although that would require new locos that can haul the trains in Sweden and Norway as DSB's Vectrons are not equipped to run in Sweden and Norway.

 

[43096]

A plan for Oslo-Gothenburg-Copenhagen-Hamburg trains have also been mentioned here and the article also mentions the plan to use DSB's Talgo trains for the route, although that would require new locos that can haul the trains in Sweden and Norway as DSB's Vectrons are not equipped to run in Sweden and Norway.

Or conversion of existing locos. It is fairly straight-forward to convert Vectrons to different country configurations; Siemens designed that in from the start as it enables owners (particularly the leasing companies) flexibility on fleet deployment.

 

[jamesontheroad]

I suspect that in order not to prejudice any future procurement, SJ can't mention the Vectron (or any locomotive) specifically. But it's clearly the most likely choice - Green Cargo in Sweden has agreed to lease 5 of them that are configured for NO/SE/DK/DE/AT.

 

[dutchflyer]

Some years ago there was already a first step: between Malmö and Helsingborg where several lines/branches ran, it was unified into a major line. This led to the closure of in-town station in Landskrona (on the coast, about halfway between these 2), getting an out of town station and to compensate it got a short trolleybusline to connect.
Lund got a brand new tramline 1 or 2 years ago.
A large part of this line is just single track. It has for passengers basically an hourly Öresundttag-to Copenhagen, had often changed operators and by SJ a few IC/X2000 trains-for a short period even totally withdrawn.

 

[popeter45]

between Lund and Malmo its actually rather cool what they have done
a entire temp 2 track line with temp stations at Akarp and Hajrup next to the old line thats getting 4 tracked, once 4 tracking is done the temp line will be closed

 

[chris2]

I saw this recently. Four brand new tracks with the temporary line running alongside at the top of the embankment, giving a pretty great view of it all. Was looking very close to being operational (that was early august 23).

Varberg was also looking pretty advanced - the spur at the southern end had masts and wires up and I think was connected in. At the station end there’s a big construction site in a huge hole. Looked like still plenty to do there.

 

[JonasB]

I saw this recently. Four brand new tracks with the temporary line running alongside at the top of the embankment, giving a pretty great view of it all. Was looking very close to being operational (that was early august 23).

Well spotted. It is scheduled to open in October.

Varberg was also looking pretty advanced - the spur at the southern end had masts and wires up and I think was connected in. At the station end there’s a big construction site in a huge hole. Looked like still plenty to do there.

The Varberg tunnel has been delayed. It was originally planned to open in December next year, but the new plan is July 2025.

 

[JonasB]

I saw this recently. Four brand new tracks with the temporary line running alongside at the top of the embankment, giving a pretty great view of it all. Was looking very close to being operational (that was early august 23).

And now the new four tracks are open. The speed limit is still only 80 km/h, but by the end of the month it should be raised to 200 km/h.

 

[popeter45]

are they new lines still on ATC or starting off on ETCS?

 

[JonasB]

are they new lines still on ATC or starting off on ETCS?

They are still ATC, hence the light signals visible in the video. The plan is to install ETCS by the end of the decade, at the moment a lot of vehicles using the line are not equipped with ETCS.

 

[chris2]

And now the new four tracks are open. The speed limit is still only 80 km/h, but by the end of the month it should be raised to 200 km/h.

Good to see and thanks for posting an update