COMPLETE THE LINK.UNLOCK THE CORRIDOR.
Norrbotniabanan (the North Bothnia Line) is a new 270 km railway under development between Umeå and Luleå in northern Sweden. When completed, it will close a major missing link in northern Europe, strengthening connections between northern Sweden’s industries, communities and European markets while increasing capacity for both freight and passenger transport, resilience and military mobility.
EUROPE NEEDS STRONGER CONNECTIONS
Europe is strengthening its competitiveness, security and strategic independence. That means reducing critical dependencies, building resilient supply chains and making better use of resources and industrial capacity within Europe and with reliable partners. But resources and industry are only part of the equation. They need reliable infrastructure connecting production, processing and markets.
ONE CONNECTION IS STILL MISSING
Norrbotniabanan closes the missing railway link along the northern Swedish coast, connecting Umeå, Robertsfors, Skellefteå, Piteå and Luleå. It strengthens a continuous north–south rail corridor through Sweden and onwards into the European TEN-T network. The railway is part of the Scandinavian–Mediterranean (ScanMed) European Transport Corridor, shown in pink on the map.
WHY THIS LINK MATTERS TO EUROPE
FREIGHT AND CAPACITY
Northern Sweden generates major freight flows from mining, forestry and manufacturing. Completing the railway link adds capacity and improves reliability for freight moving through the European transport network.
COMPETITIVENESS AND VALUE CHAINS
Northern Sweden is rich in critical raw materials and home to major industrial investments, including the transition towards low-emission steel production. Reliable rail connections help link resources, processing and manufacturing to European value chains and markets.
RESILIENCE AND SECURITY
An interconnected railway network gives Europe more transport options when supply chains are disrupted. In northern Europe, the same infrastructure also has strategic relevance for military mobility.
NORRBOTNIABANAN TODAY
UMEÅ–DÅVA | UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Targeted to open for initial freight traffic in late 2026/early 2027.
DÅVA–ROBERTSFORS–SKELLEFTEÅ | CONSTRUCTION STARTED
Construction and preparatory works are underway along the section.
SKELLEFTEÅ–PITEÅ–LULEÅ | PLANNING UNDERWAY
Planning and railway plan development are underway for the northern section.
WE WORK TOGETHER
The Bothnian Corridor is a regional collaboration across Sweden’s seven northernmost regions.
We work together to strengthen the transport system as one continuous corridor, across regional and project boundaries.
→ Discover the Bothnian Corridor
We work together to strengthen the transport system as one continuous corridor, across regional and project boundaries.
→ Discover the Bothnian Corridor
At Connecting Europe Days, we bring this shared perspective to the European discussion.
EUROPE IS INVESTING
The EU has supported the development of Norrbotniabanan through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), helping move the railway from planning towards implementation.
2015 → PLANNING
2015 → PLANNING
EU co-financing for planning Umeå–Skellefteå.
2021 → DETAILED DESIGN
EU co-financing for detailed design and field investigations.
2026 → NEXT STEP
New CEF application.
INVESTING TO CREATE VALUE
Northern Sweden is seeing major investments in processing and industrial production, creating more value within European value chains.
For example, more than 90% of the EU’s iron ore is mined in northern Sweden. Some of it is processed in Sweden into products worth around €52 billion, with further value created across Europe.
Source: ÅF 2010.