Strategic agenda

Strengthened reliability on the railway connections between Norway, Sweden and Finland (Narvik to Luleå to Tornio) –TEN-T – through increased investments and optimized operations.

• Double track between Luleå–Boden and Narvik–Kiruna
• Increased number of meeting tracks Narvik–Luleå
• Efficiency improvement on the border crossing Tornio–Haparanda
• Co-planning between authorities and industry across national borders
• Optimization of traffic planning in all three countries
• Increased predictive maintenance in all three countries

Why this agenda?

• Reliability on arctic rail is a key factor to succeed with the green transition in the Nordic region and Europe, for critical material flows and passenger transport to enable increased competence attraction
• Reliability on arctic rail is needed to ensure transport across national borders in an increasingly unstable security-politically environment

Why is a coalition needed?

• There is no cross- border collaborative organization with focus on the railway between Tornio to Luleå to Narvik today
• Actors have worked for a long time individually and to some extent in collaboration, but lacked a common thread and goal which is a prerequisite for the desired success
• There is a lack of an organization within railway collaboration that has a North Calotte perspective (all three countries)
• There is a lack of an organization that can effectively receive funding and order targeted efforts

Success factors to achieve the strategic agenda:

• A clear focus
• A few clear main arguments based on facts
• Many advocates willing to continuously argument for the agenda
• An agenda that fits into a larger transport system, national and European

Organisational structure

Economic association (ekonomisk förening)

• Membership-driven
• Simple start-up, administration and potential for governmental funding

Build a  platform that can attract project financing and potentially larger long-term financing

• Start smaller and build down the road

Timing and focus

Momentum now – prioritize a start-up on a smaller scale

• Malmbanan needs focus now

Focus on advocacy

• Gather and facilitate collaboration between the right stakeholders and people
• Establish working groups in relevant areas
• Gather and compile arguments and data
• Produce communication and advocacy material
• Influence decision makers

Focus on project financing

• Initiate projects
• Identify and execute funding possibilities

Working groups

To be established during 2024.

Suggestion for themes:

• Cross-border planning and maintenance collaboration
• Cross-border investment and project collaboration
• Decision-maker advocacy

Operational team

This is the suggestion for 2024, with additional budget, changes in strategy etc. it will change, and the ultimate goal is to have 1-2 dedicated resources to Arctic Rail

• Strategy and relations: Markus Petäjäniemi
• Communications, strategy, membership: Jan Ots
• Branding, communications, membership: Daniel Kangas
• Proposals: Lisa Ek

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