Sweden: track access charges increased by 37% for freight trains 29/12/24

Source: https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/hojda-avgifter-for-godstag-branschen-varnar-for-klimatbacklash

Hear from Stephan Ray, Green Cargo's communications manager, and Viveka Beckeman, CEO of Skogsindustrierna, about the risks they see with the increased railway charges for freight trains. Photo: Nicolai Zellmani

Increased freight train fees – industry warns of climate backlash

Despite the government's ambitions to increase the proportion of freight transport by rail, track charges for freight trains were raised sharply in December. The increase has been sharply criticized by, among others, Green Cargo and Skogsindustrierna, who believe that more transport will now be carried out by truck.

– This will make it more difficult for Sweden to reach its climate goals, says Viveka Beckeman, CEO of Skogsindustrierna.

Rail charges in Sweden have been increased significantly for several years and were already higher in 2020 than in many other countries – especially for heavier freight trains.

The single largest increase, however, took place in December, when freight train charges increased by an average of 37 percent. Heavier trains pay more.

The reason for the sharp increase is that the Swedish Transport Administration adjusted the track charges for freight trains to the statutory minimum level for the first time.

– We would have liked to have had a slightly slower pace of adaptation, but we have to follow the existing legislation, says Håkan Persson, head of unit at the Swedish Transport Administration.

Transport is moved to the road

The forest industries are one of the largest players in rail freight transport in Sweden and regularly transport heavy loads.

– This impairs the competitiveness of the Swedish forest industry and will mean increased fossil emissions, says Viveka Beckeman, CEO of the Swedish Forest Industries.

According to Beckeman, several companies have already begun the process of moving freight from rail to road.

– This is not something they want to do, but to survive in a competitive market it is a necessary evil.

Green Cargo, the largest rail operator for freight in Sweden, also warns of increased road transport.

– There will be more trucks on the roads, which means increased emissions, wear and tear and increased congestion, says Stephan Ray, Green Cargo's communications manager.

The railway charges are intended to cover the costs that traffic gives rise to, isn't it reasonable that the business community should help pay for it?

– Of course, but the level must be evidence-based and carefully thought out. It should also reflect the quality of freight traffic, and there is more to be desired there, believes Ray.

The charges are being investigated.

The Government has commissioned the Swedish Transport Administration to review the railway charges. The results must be reported no later than 30 June 2025.

Stephan Ray and Viveka Beckeman welcome the review but believe that the government should restore the track fees to the previous level now.

– The more people who manage to move over to the road, the more difficult it will be to move back, warns Beckeman.

SVT has contacted Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson (KD), who has not agreed to an interview.

That's why the track fee was increased significantly in December.

Train Schedule 2025 (T25) came into effect on 15 December 2024. In it, the Swedish Transport Administration increased the charges for freight traffic to the so-called minimum level for the first time ever. This was after an order from the Swedish Transport Agency. The minimum level (floor level) represents the direct costs that the traffic gives rise to.

The Swedish Transport Administration has for a number of years continuously increased the fees to reach the minimum requirements of the law. The agency had planned to reach this level at the start of the 2028 train schedule (T28), but the Swedish Transport Agency's order accelerated the correction of the fee level to T25. This resulted in an unusually high adjustment of the fee level between T24 and T25.

The fee structure is such that heavier trains pay higher fees, as they are considered to put more wear and tear on the railway infrastructure.

The requirement to charge so-called direct costs, that is, "the cost that arises as a direct result of the operation of railway vehicles," is regulated in the Railway Market Act.

Source: Swedish Transport Administration