Railway connection completed – driving Boden’s industrial future

The new railway connection to Boden Industrial Park has been fully completed – one month ahead of schedule and under budget. The project is one of the most significant infrastructure investments in Boden in modern times and a central component of the region’s ongoing industrial transition.

The six-kilometre railway, featuring nine bridges and extensive groundworks, links the area directly to the Malmbanan (the Iron Ore Line) and, from there, to the national rail network. The connection is designed to accommodate 1,000-metre trains in line with the EU’s TEN-T standards, ensuring robust capacity for heavy, long-distance and climate-efficient transport.

Innovative partnership delivered when time was critical

The need for a new railway was identified early as industrial development in Boden accelerated. At the same time, state decisions lagged, and the scale of the project was too great for the municipality to undertake on its own.

To avoid delaying the development, Boden Municipality procured a public–private partnership (PPP) – a model that combines private financing and implementation capacity with public oversight and long-term stewardship.

Polar Structure won the procurement and, together with the municipality, established Boden Järnväg AB, where Polar Structure is the majority owner while the municipality retains strategic influence over key decisions.

“The PPP model has given us both speed and security. We were able to act in time while also protecting the municipality’s finances. This shows that public and private expertise can be combined in a way that strengthens the entire region,” says Magnus Åkerlund, Municipal Chief Executive of Boden.

Ahead of schedule, under budget – prepared for the future

The construction has been carried out in close collaboration between Boden Municipality, Polar Structure and several contractors. A key success factor has been the ability to work in parallel with design and construction.

“Being able to complete the work ahead of schedule and under budget is extremely positive and the result of a strong focus on quality and progress throughout the entire process,” says Daniel Kronheffer, Project Director at Polar Structure. He also highlights the pride in the project and the people behind it:

“Seeing the railway completed – and earlier than planned – feels fantastic. Many people have put great dedication into this project, and now we can truly see the results of that work.”

Additional infrastructure to boost accessibility

The railway forms the central infrastructure for Boden Industrial Park. To further enhance accessibility, the municipality is also constructing a new road to the area, along with a cycle path and a combined pedestrian, cycle and snowmobile bridge. These elements complement the railway and contribute to a more cohesive and functional environment for the area as it continues to develop.

Read more (in Swedish):

https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/boden/pressreleases/jaernvaegen-till-boden-industrial-park-faerdigstaelld-foere-tidplan-och-under-budget-3419412?utm_campaign=send_list