Sweden earmarks SEK 30bn for defence-relevant transport links

The money comes from the SEK 300 billion for civil and military defence that all eight parliamentary parties agreed in late March 2026; the plan covers north–south and east–west links, clearing the maintenance backlog, triangular junctions, double and passing tracks, longer trains and higher axle loads. Inlandsbanan AB welcomes the prioritisation, and the government has yet to define the specific measures.

In its spring budget, presented in the week before 20 April 2026, the government highlighted rail as critical infrastructure for civil protection, crisis preparedness and total defence and plans to provide SEK 30 billion (EUR 2.8 billion) for 2026–2034, drawn from the SEK 300 billion for defence investment that all eight parliamentary parties agreed in late March 2026. The Inlandsbanan is singled out, which according to infrastructure minister Andreas Carlson the armed forces named explicitly; the aims are robustness, redundancy and capacity, for example by clearing the maintenance backlog, adding triangular junctions, more double and passing tracks, longer trains and higher axle loads. Inlandsbanan AB welcomes the prioritisation and awaits the detailed measures. (LOK Report, 20 Apr 2026; second source: Altinget, 14 Apr 2026)