SWEDEN: Trafikverket has appointed Atkins to undertake design work for a major upgrade of the Mälarbanan route to increase rail capacity in the greater Stockholm region.
Inter-city, regional and commuter services on the Stockholm - Västerås - Örebro route use the same pair of tracks over the 20 km between Kallhäll and Tomteboda, leading to delays as long-distance services wait behind stopping trains.
Under the contract announced on March 22, Atkins will design widening from two to four tracks to allow services to be segregated, with improvements to track geometry to allow higher speeds, new bridges, and a new commuter station.
Preliminary construction works are already underway, and completion is planned for 2016
