STRING has launched a new analysis, clearly showing the scope for alternative financing from the EU CEF programme as a co-financing option for double tracking the Gothenburg-Oslo railway stretch
STRING’s standpoint is that an improvement of the existing railway stretch between Göteborg- Oslo to double track and deployment of potential for highspeed rail services is essential to overcome the prospective challenges for traffic in the entire corridor when the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link is in place. Together with actions to attract more rail freight between Sweden and Norway, the double track investment is necessary to create jobs, sustain economic growth and improve the quality of the environment in the STRING geography – as pushing for new rail solutions is deemed the only sustainable alternative for mid-length travels.
As financing for such infrastructure solely from own national resources seems unlikely, one of the options to be investigated is whether there is an opportunity to apply for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to co-fund the double tracks construction project.
This report provides guidance to the STRING partners on whether any CEF funding would be applicable to the co-funding of a double railway track construction project between Oslo and Göteborg and what kind of pre-requisites and provisions need to be considered.
