SWEDEN —Rejlers has received an assignment from the Swedish Transport Administration to design infrastructure changes at Gräsberg on the Bergslagsbanan line between Borlänge and Ludvika. The planned conversion is intended to accommodate freight trains up to 750 metres long at the operating site.
The engineering solution calls for an extension of the deviating main track towards the south and the planning of new switches. Once implemented, the arrangement will allow longer freight trains to meet at Gräsberg while retaining a minimum operating speed of 80 km/h on the deviating track.
Rejlers will coordinate the design across railway systems, electrical infrastructure, signalling, telecommunications and land-related works. Its scope also covers preparation of tender and construction documentation for the subsequent execution contract, together with technical safety management and support for the required approval process.
The assignment is relevant to Sweden’s freight transport network because existing meeting stations on the Borlänge-Ludvika section are not configured for current and future train lengths. Increasing the usable length of the meeting infrastructure can enable longer freight services to operate with fewer train movements, improving the utilisation of the railway corridor.
Construction planning will place particular emphasis on maintaining railway operations during the reconstruction. Track access will be restricted to designated work periods, while the final connection will be undertaken during a complete shutdown. Rejlers is therefore incorporating construction feasibility and implementation requirements into the design process alongside the technical disciplines.
The upgrade forms part of the Swedish Transport Administration’s broader development of infrastructure for longer, heavier and larger freight trains. Higher capacity on Bergslagsbanan could support industries dependent on rail freight by providing additional capability for moving goods through central Sweden, while railway operators and logistics businesses could benefit from infrastructure better suited to longer train formations.
Rejlers is a Nordic engineering consultancy providing technical and infrastructure-related services. The Swedish Transport Administration is the government agency responsible for the long-term planning, development and management of Sweden’s transport infrastructure, including the national railway network.
