Sweco Wins SEK 440m Role on Gothenburg–Borås Airport Rail Link

Sweden’s long planned Gothenburg–Borås railway has taken a significant step forward, as engineering consultancy Sweco secures a SEK 440 million design assignment for the new railway section serving Gothenburg Landvetter Airport, sharpening the focus on faster, more sustainable airport access in western Sweden.

Major Design Contract Consolidates Gothenburg–Borås Momentum

The newly announced Sweco contract covers planning and design services for the Mölndal to Landvetter section of the Gothenburg–Borås railway, a core stretch that will provide a direct rail link to Sweden’s second largest airport. Publicly available information indicates that the Swedish Transport Administration has commissioned the work as part of a broader national effort to expand high speed and regional rail capacity.

Reports indicate that the assignment, valued at about SEK 440 million, will run over several years and encompass detailed technical design for a double track alignment engineered for speeds up to 250 km/h. This forms part of one of Sweden’s largest ongoing infrastructure investments, aiming to integrate western Sweden more tightly while relieving strain on existing road and rail corridors between Gothenburg and Borås.

The focus on the airport section reflects long standing ambitions to connect Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to the national rail network. Information published by the Swedish Transport Administration describes the overall Gothenburg–Borås scheme as a roughly 60 kilometer double track line, purpose built for passenger services and intended to transform commuting patterns and long distance travel across the region.

The new contract confirms that, following earlier pauses and reviews, the Gothenburg–Borås project is regaining pace, with the airport access link at the center of planning activity. The investment also underscores confidence in long term passenger growth at Landvetter and in the region’s role within Sweden’s wider high speed rail vision.

Airport Rail Link Aimed at Cutting Travel Times and Emissions

According to project documents, the Gothenburg–Borås railway and its Landvetter Airport station are expected to significantly shorten door to door journeys between central Gothenburg, the airport and Borås. The line is being planned for maximum speeds of around 250 km/h, with a dedicated passenger configuration intended to offer frequent, reliable services that compete directly with car and coach travel.

Published material from the Swedish Transport Administration highlights goals such as improved access to jobs and education, smoother daily commuting and better regional integration across western Sweden. The Landvetter rail link forms a key part of this strategy by connecting an international airport to surrounding metropolitan and mid sized cities via high capacity rail.

Environmental objectives are also central. Publicly available planning information points to expectations that the new line will encourage a substantial shift from road to rail for both airport access and intercity trips, helping Sweden to cut transport related emissions. Landvetter currently relies heavily on road based access, and the new tunnel and station under the airport are framed as tools to promote more sustainable travel choices.

For airlines and airport operators, improved ground accessibility typically broadens the catchment area and can support route development. Observers of the Gothenburg–Borås project note that faster and more predictable rail connections may make Landvetter more attractive for both business and leisure travelers across the region, particularly if integrated timetables and through ticketing are developed.

From Paused Plans to Renewed Investment

The latest contract award follows a period of uncertainty for Sweden’s high speed rail ambitions. Government decisions in late 2022 scaled back elements of the broader Götalandsbanan high speed program, prompting a review of how best to deliver the Gothenburg–Borås link in a more cost effective manner. During that time, sections of the planning process were paused while alternatives were studied.

Subsequent political negotiations in western Sweden resulted in renewed backing for a new double track railway between Gothenburg and Borås, routed via Landvetter Airport. Regional media coverage in 2023 and 2024 describes agreement on a multibillion krona framework for the line, with municipalities and the region endorsing the project on the basis of its long term economic and environmental benefits.

The Swedish Transport Administration has since reported that planning has restarted, including a separate process for a connecting branch near Mölnlycke. Within this context, the Sweco assignment for the Mölndal–Landvetter stretch marks one of the clearest signs yet that practical design work is advancing again, moving the project from conceptual alignments toward buildable plans.

Industry observers view the contract as a signal that the Gothenburg–Borås railway has secured a firmer place in Sweden’s revised national transport strategy, even if the wider high speed network has been scaled back. The focus is now on delivering high impact segments, and the airport rail link is widely regarded as one of the most strategically important.

Technical Scope: Double Track, Tunnels and a New Airport Station

While full design details remain under development, previously released project information suggests that the Mölndal–Landvetter section will involve complex engineering, including tunnels and grade separated structures to handle challenging topography and minimize environmental impact. Earlier planning material for the Gothenburg–Borås corridor has referenced a tunnel station directly beneath the airport terminal, providing weather protected, step free access between rail platforms and check in areas.

The line is expected to be fully electrified and designed with modern signaling and safety systems suited to high speed, high frequency passenger operations. Double track along the corridor will enable both express and stopping services, supporting a mix of regional and airport focused operations while allowing capacity for future demand growth.

Integrating the airport station with the broader rail network around Gothenburg is another key technical task. The new line will ultimately need to interface with existing infrastructure, including capacity enhancements delivered through ongoing projects in central Gothenburg. Combining these elements into a coherent operational concept is part of the design challenge Sweco is being asked to address.

Project documents also highlight the need to balance rapid travel times with good local accessibility. Planned stations at locations such as Mölndal and Borås are intended to open up new development opportunities along the corridor, while the Landvetter stop anchors the line in Sweden’s international air transport system.

Regional and National Implications for Sweden’s Rail Network

The Gothenburg–Borås project is not only a regional initiative but also a building block in Sweden’s evolving national rail strategy. Publicly available background material portrays the line as part of a wider vision for higher speed links between Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, even as the exact sequencing and scope of those corridors continue to be debated.

By improving east west connectivity in western Sweden and connecting an international airport directly to the rail network, the line is expected to support labor market expansion, tourism development and broader economic growth. Municipal planning documents in the region have repeatedly cited the new railway as a critical factor for housing expansion and business investments along the corridor.

For travelers, the eventual opening of the Landvetter Airport rail link would align Gothenburg more closely with other European cities where fast, frequent airport rail services are considered standard. While completion is still several years away and subject to further planning and permitting milestones, the latest Sweco contract indicates that the technical groundwork is now moving ahead in earnest.

As design work advances, further procurement for construction and systems installations is expected in stages. For Sweden’s rail sector and for travelers moving through western Sweden, the Mölndal–Landvetter assignment represents a concrete step toward turning long discussed airport rail plans into operational reality.