Strategic agenda
Strengthened reliability on the railway connections between Norway, Sweden and Finland (Narvik to Luleå to Tornio) –TEN-T – through increased investments and optimized operations.
- Double track between Luleå–Boden and Narvik–Kiruna
- Increased number of meeting tracks Narvik–Luleå
- Efficiency improvement on the border crossing Tornio–Haparanda
- Co-planning between authorities and industry across national borders
- Optimization of traffic planning in all three countries
- Increased predictive maintenance in all three countries
Why this agenda?
- Reliability on arctic rail is a key factor to succeed with the green transition in the Nordic region and Europe, for critical material flows and passenger transport to enable increased competence attraction
- Reliability on arctic rail is needed to ensure transport across national borders in an increasingly unstable security-politically environment
Why is a coalition needed?
- There is no cross- border collaborative organization with focus on the railway between Tornio to Luleå to Narvik today
- Actors have worked for a long time individually and to some extent in collaboration, but lacked a common thread and goal which is a prerequisite for the desired success
- There is a lack of an organization within railway collaboration that has a North Calotte perspective (all three countries)
- There is a lack of an organization that can effectively receive funding and order targeted efforts
Success factors to achieve the strategic agenda:
- A clear focus
- A few clear main arguments based on facts
- Many advocates willing to continuously argument for the agenda
- An agenda that fits into a larger transport system, national and European
Organisational structure
Economic association (ekonomisk förening)
- Membership-driven
- Simple start-up, administration and potential for governmental funding
Build a platform that can attract project financing and potentially larger long-term financing
- Start smaller and build down the road
Timing and focus
Momentum now – prioritize a start-up on a smaller scale
- Malmbanan needs focus now
Focus on advocacy
- Gather and facilitate collaboration between the right stakeholders and people
- Establish working groups in relevant areas
- Gather and compile arguments and data
- Produce communication and advocacy material
- Influence decision makers
Focus on project financing
- Initiate projects
- Identify and execute funding possibilities
Working groups
To be established during 2024.
Suggestion for themes:
- Cross-border planning and maintenance collaboration
- Cross-border investment and project collaboration
- Decision-maker advocacy
Operational team
This is the suggestion for 2024, with additional budget, changes in strategy etc. it will change, and the ultimate goal is to have 1-2 dedicated resources to Arctic Rail
- Strategy and relations: Markus Petäjäniemi
- Communications, strategy, membership: Jan Ots
- Branding, communications, membership: Daniel Kangas
- Proposals: Lisa Ek