Sweden recently marked the start of the construction on the first phase of the 270km Norrbotniabanan from Umeå to Lulea.
The 12km stretch from Umeå to the Dåva industrial area was initially approved in 2014 and the major build is set to begin in the second half of 2018.
The Dåva - Skellefteå section is included in the 2018-2029 National Plan for the Transport System, which was published in June, and this accounts for around half of the total length of the route. Construction for this section of the build is to commence in 2024.
When all phases are completed, the mixed-traffic line is expected to halve the journey time between Umeå to Lulea, reducing transport costs by 30 percent.
The line will significantly reduce the transit distance for freight traffic to and from northern Sweden and enable the raising of the maximum train weight to 1600 tonnes, compared with 1000-1100 tonnes on the existing north-south corridor through Norbotten county.
According Trafikverket cost estimates, the price tag for the overall project is SKR 30 billionn at 2015 prices.