One of Sweden’s fastest railway projects underway in Boden

Construction of an infrastructure corridor is progressing at a rapid pace, with railway and road taking shape side by side. The project, already being referred to as one of Sweden’s fastest railway builds, will deliver six kilometres of track, ten bridges, and 700,000 cubic metres of excavation—equivalent to 280 Olympic-sized swimming pools—in less than two years.

“This is a large project, but what sets it apart is the incredible speed. We are designing the railway at the same time as we’re building it,” says Max Havama, Project Manager for the infrastructure corridor at Polar Structure.

Two Projects in One

The initiative is a combination of railway and road construction, with the railway financed by Polar Structure and the roads funded by Boden Municipality. The collaboration is based on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, in which the private partner assumes the primary financial risk. At the same time, the public partner maintains full oversight of all processes and retains authority over critical decisions, ensuring responsible use of public funds.

PPP is a procurement model that allows public actors to work with private companies to carry out major infrastructure projects more quickly and cost-effectively. Under this model, the private company not only builds the infrastructure but is also responsible for its operation and maintenance over an extended period—creating strong incentives to ensure high quality.

“It’s a complex project with many stakeholders involved, but we are actually ahead of schedule, which is very rare for a project of this scale,” says Max Havama.

Key to Green Industry

The railway is a vital part of the infrastructure for Boden Industrial Park, enabling efficient and sustainable transport for companies such as Stegra. For heavy and long-distance freight, rail offers clear advantages over road transport in terms of both capacity and reduced environmental impact—making it essential for the region’s green and industrial development.

“Strong Results Despite a Tight Timeline”

As with many railway projects, challenges can arise from factors such as ground conditions and coordination between different stakeholders. In this case, the tight schedule and the climate in Norrbotten add further demands for flexibility and efficient problem-solving.

Success so far is the result of thorough preparation, innovative methods, and adaptive coordination. Going into winter, all planned groundwork has been completed. The focus will now shift to above-ground railway construction and the foundations for the final two bridges. In the spring, work will begin on sleepers and rails.

“We are proud to be ahead of schedule in a project that requires both speed and precision. It’s a testament to the strength of cooperation between all the parties involved,” says Max Havama.

The railway is scheduled for completion in January 2026, while the road is expected to be ready for traffic in October 2026.