The boring through of the first of two 8.7km single-track bores on the SKr 10.5 billion ($US 1.4 billion) Hallandsås tunnel project is a major achievement. Tunnelling originally started in 1992 but was halted in 1997 when the project was one-third complete because of serious environmental concerns. Tunnelling restarted in 2005 and the tunnel will now open to traffic in 2015. The tunnel is a key element in upgrading Sweden's West Coast Line linking Gothenburg with Malmö as it will replace a steeply-graded single-track section on the line which is now 85% double-track. The tunnel will allow the number of trains to be increased from four to 24 per hour, and a doubling of the maximum weight for freight trains.
Trafikverket, Sweden's infrastructure authority, officially started work today on a combined project to build a new highway and to double the existing 26km railway between Motala and Mjölby. The rail element will cost SKr 2.3 billion and is due to be completed in 2013.
Trafikverket, Sweden's infrastructure authority, officially started work today on a combined project to build a new highway and to double the existing 26km railway between Motala and Mjölby. The rail element will cost SKr 2.3 billion and is due to be completed in 2013.