Sweden. Region Skåne

The EUR 112.4 million loan has been provided for financing the purchase of up to 49 trains.

The new trains are larger and have more seats than the current trains in the region. The new trains will offer greater comfort and will also be more convenient for travellers with physical handicaps, with entrances at platform level, wheelchair places and adapted toilets.

The trains will be more environmentally friendly, with noise levels in the compartments similar to those experienced in a car, and even less external noise. The trains also have technology for brake energy recovery. The major part of the train sets have already been delivered and final delivery is expected for August 2012. The trains have an estimated lifetime of 25 to 30 years.

Region Skåne’s railway services currently connect almost 50 villages and cities in the region through six different routes. This is the southernmost region of Sweden, close to continental Europe, and most of the traffic between Europe and the rest of Sweden passes through this area.

Skåne is one of the fastest developing regions in Sweden and one important factor is infrastructure. Region Skåne is responsible for trains which enable smooth commuting from cities and towns both within the region and adjacent regions. It is important that this commuting has a minimum impact on the environment. The project will affect the region through environmentally friendly travel on modern trains which give value for money. Demand for regional high-speed train travel is increasing and Region Skåne is addressing this in the form of new high speed trains that offer higher standards of comfort.

The new trains use less energy than the older models, mainly due to lower air resistance and better recovery of electricity from brake energy. The new trains will also be significantly better for passengers with physical disabilities. The major environmental benefit of this project is the potential transfer of passengers from road traffic to the railway. Railway transportation causes considerably lower emissions per person-km in comparison with road travel. The delivery and operation of the trains will be in compliance with Swedish environmental legislation.  The loan is granted under NIB’s BASE and CLEERE environmental lending facilities.