Investigators: Railroad maintenance can not be nationalized – Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet

During the day presented an interim report from an investigation that looks over the railway organization. As expected, the report severely criticizing the Swedish Transport Administration.

But the investigator also provides an answer to an important question for the Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (S). According to investigators, the Social Democrats’ election promise of a return of rail maintenance to state management is not implemented because the Transport Administration would not do it.

– There’s nothing to suggest that they should come to grips with the problems identified on the Transport Administration would undertake all or part of the maintenance in-house, says the investigator Gunnar Alexandersson, according to news agency TT.

A re-nationalization would be done by the state company Infranord converted to a unit under the Transport Administration.

The Report proposes , a national maintenance plan shall be implemented for the railroad. But should continue to external contractors are engaged.

– Transport Administration has a very large work to do to overcome the shortcomings that currently exist. Today there is not something that we call a national maintenance plan. Such could contribute to better informed decisions, says Alexandersson to TT

– Train delays have not tended to decrease but remained at a high level. Safety has not deteriorated in the general sense but there are some areas to watch.

Minister for Infrastructure Joan Smith welcomes in a press release commission’s interim report.

– The government has been clear. The State should take overall responsibility for the control and execution for maintenance of the Swedish railways, she says.

– The inquiry is now out for consultation. Only then will the government’s position on how the work should proceed.

Stefan Löfven has been previously opened up to deviate from vallöftet when the government announced an investment of 620 million for rail maintenance spring budget.

– The most important thing is that you get an overall control, not exactly which agent to use. The most important thing for us is to be able to say to the people and Swedish entrepreneurs that we raise safety through better maintenance so people can get around, there are fewer derailments and that companies dare to ship by train. For that we need to keep better track, but the means for recurrently investigator to said Stefan Löfven to SvD Business then.