---
title: Tunnelling begins on the West Link project in Sweden
url: "https://www.systra.com/en/news/tunnelling-begins-on-the-west-link-project-in-sweden/"
type: post
date_published: 2019-01-14
date_modified: 2020-10-01
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-US
word_count: 525
reading_time: 3 min
canonical: "https://www.systra.com/en/news/tunnelling-begins-on-the-west-link-project-in-sweden/"
featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/91ef930820de79d604acd7f2bd1b06.png"
---

# Tunnelling begins on the West Link project in Sweden

![Tunnelling begins on the West Link project in Sweden](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/91ef930820de79d604acd7f2bd1b06.png)

The West Link is an 8km long double-track railway, including 6km in tunnel,
under the centre of Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city. The tunnel will
connect commuter rail services to routes that pass through the city. The project
involves the construction of two new stations at Haga and Korsvägen, while
Gothenburg Central Station will be converted from a terminus to an underground
transit station.

SYSTRA already has project coordinators working on the construction of the two
stations at Haga, where the tunnelling work has begun, and Korsvägen. In
addition, we were awarded two Construction Manager contracts in 2017 and are now
working as subcontractor to engineering and design company ÅF for the West Link.
This summer SYSTRA was awarded a further two Construction Manager contracts for
the crossover tracks in Olskroken, a sub-project of the West Link.

![20190109-korsvagen](https://www.systra.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20190109-korsvagen.jpg)

_Korsvägen new station_

### West Link: A major government transport initiative

The West Link is part of The Western Swedish Package, which includes several
infrastructure projects for trains, buses, trams, bicycles and cars. This
initiative, on behalf of Trafikverket, the Swedish transport administration,
aims to contribute to positive and sustainable growth in the western part of
Sweden.

With the West Link, commuter and regional trains will be able to pass through
Gothenburg allowing travellers to spread out at more stations in the city, and
the pressure on both Gothenburg Central Station and the public transport system
in general be eased. In this way, both local and regional public transport will
gain in efficiency, benefiting public transport in Gothenburg and throughout the
region.

At Olskroken five railway lines converge, most of them on the same level. Both
passenger and goods trains pass through the junction, which makes it one of the
most intensive nodes for rail traffic in Sweden. A conversion of Olskroken into
a grade-separated junction was deemed necessary to increase the capacity of the
rail system.

Speaking about our involvement in this strategically significant project, Lars
Malmqvist, consultant, said: “Working on the West Link and related sub-projects
represents a major achievement for our teams in Sweden and enhances our
relationship with our longstanding client Trafikverket. Construction work will
take place in a dense urban environment in direct contact with traffic, housing
and business premises. During the works great attention will therefore have to
be paid to the surroundings and to the people likely to be affected. I thank the
teams involved and I am fully confident that they will overcome these
challenges.”

### SYSTRA at the heart of Sweden’s railway modernisation programme

SYSTRA’s teams in Sweden are playing a major role in the country’s rail
modernisation programme and recently won contracts for two major studies. Sweden
must deploy European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) technology across
its entire network by 2025, so this market presents many opportunities. In
addition to the West Link, our teams are also working on the OLP3 stretch of
Ostlänken (East Link), Sweden’s first high speed line, in collaboration with
SYSTRA colleagues from Paris as well as some support from SYSTRA Poland.

_Copyrights: Trafikverket_