Inlandsbanan's New Trains Aimed at Revamping Regional Public Transport
Inlandsbanan railway introduces new trains to enhance public transport, replacing select bus lines.
Key Points
- • New motor vehicles acquired for Inlandsbanan to replace some bus routes.
- • Municipalities along Inlandsbanan must decide on train service implementation.
- • Current use is primarily for summer tourism, but there's potential for expansion.
- • Recent trip tested new train and strategized future improvements.
The Inlandsbanan railway has taken a significant step towards enhancing public transport options by acquiring new motor vehicles designed to replace certain bus routes. Jenny Johansson Jänkenpää, a municipal councilor in Gällivare, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing its potential to improve connectivity in the region.
Municipalities along the Inlandsbanan, which currently serves mostly tourists during the summer, are now being asked to decide whether to implement the new train services for regional public transport. Johansson highlighted the importance of a complete renovation of the railway to facilitate transferring freight traffic from road to rail, which would also bolster commuting options in the inland areas. A recent collaborative trip saw representatives from these municipalities travel from Östersund to Gällivare, where they tested the new train and discussed future strategies. However, the journey faced an interruption when the new motor carriage was abandoned in Jokkmokk due to track work, necessitating the remainder of the journey to be completed by bus.
This initiative represents a promising opportunity to revitalize regional transport, although municipalities must now weigh their options regarding the train services' implementation.