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The upgrading of Sweden’s railways must be done with clearer consideration of NATO’s requirements. Commander-in-Chief Micael Bydén believes so and calls for action.
– It will take time and cost a lot of money. But we have to start and get it going, he says.
The country’s total defense makes high demands on the transport of goods, material, heavy vehicles and people.
– This has been accentuated with NATO membership. If there is armed conflict in our region, our territory becomes very interesting – for allies to come here and conduct military operations, but also to transit through the country, Micael Bydén told TT at SJ’s annual general meeting, where he spoke as a guest.
The Swedish Armed Forces recently remarked in a consultation response to the Swedish Transport Administration’s infrastructure plan for 2026–2037 that the plan “to a greater extent needs to take into account” the fact that Sweden is now a member of NATO.
Obvious maintenance debt
Micael Bydén emphasizes that the Armed Forces’ own resources for transport are “quickly finite” and that extensive investment in the infrastructure is now needed.
– The maintenance debt is obvious. It is a clear action we need to take, both for our own needs but also for NATO. NATO comes with special requirements for large units.
He states that the need is broad.
– The total defense was down to very low levels. We had a Defense Force that was small and did other things and a civil defense that was more or less completely dismantled. Now we build. The time is now to act.
In May, Swedish and American units conduct an exercise, Immediate Response, in northern Sweden with a focus on transport.
Important routes
Micael Bydén points out some “strategically important” routes where the railway must work: from Gothenburg and the west coast ports out into the country, Trondheim–Östersund and Narvik–Kiruna and beyond.
In critical situations – where, for example, the Baltic States or Finland are exposed to attack – it is about the transport of massive NATO forces.
– And it is now that we can plan for it. If the situation does happen, it is too late to start finding these resources then. It must be rehearsed and trained, says ÖB.
