Railway to Boden Industrial Park Completed

The new railway connects Boden Industrial Park – where Stegra is establishing the world’s first large-scale green steel plant – with the Malmbanan line and the national rail network. This provides the capacity needed for heavy, long-distance and climate-efficient transport.

“Having the railway completed ahead of both schedule and budget is a real sign of strength – not only for the project, but for all of Boden. This strengthens our attractiveness as an industrial and business location and shows that we can deliver critical infrastructure at high speed when it truly matters,” says Magnus Åkerlund, Chief Executive of Boden Municipality.

When the state hesitated – Boden took the lead

The need for a new railway became clear when Stegra chose Boden as its location. At the same time, national investments were delayed, and the project was too large for the municipality to finance alone. The solution became an uncommon procurement model: a public–private partnership (PPP), known in Sweden as OPS.

Polar Structure won the tender and is responsible for financing, construction and the future operation of the railway. Together, the municipality and Polar Structure formed Boden Järnväg AB, of which Polar Structure owns 91 percent and the municipality 9 percent. The municipality retains strategic influence and oversight of all key decisions.

“The PPP model has given us both momentum and security. We could act in time to enable Stegra’s establishment, while safeguarding the municipality’s finances. This shows how public and private expertise can be combined in a way that strengthens the entire region,” says Magnus Åkerlund.

Efficient construction – ahead of schedule and under budget

The project includes six kilometres of railway, nine bridges and extensive groundwork. By running design and construction in parallel, the project maintained a high pace and was delivered one month early and under budget.

Polar Structure highlights parallel work processes as a key success factor:

“Designing and building in parallel allows us to maintain a fast pace, but it requires close coordination and quick decisions from everyone involved. When the project moves forward on several fronts at once, you need tight control and flexibility to avoid disruptions. This project shows that the method works very well when everyone pulls in the same direction,” says Daniel Kronheffer, Project Manager at Polar Structure.

The railway is dimensioned for 1,000-metre trains in line with the EU’s TEN-T standard, securing long-term capacity for industrial logistics.

Strengthening Boden’s and the region’s attractiveness

The railway is crucial for Stegra’s operations, but its significance goes far beyond a single establishment. The increased capacity and accessibility make Boden Industrial Park even more attractive for companies seeking sustainable, well-prepared industrial environments.

Directly adjacent to the railway and Highway 97, the municipality is also planning a new industrial area, further expanding development opportunities. A draft zoning plan has been prepared and is expected to be decided during the first quarter of 2026.

“We are building a structure built to last. A modern railway increases our attractiveness, creates better conditions for new establishments and strengthens Boden’s role in the green transition,” says Beatrice Öman, Municipal Commissioner.

Next step: the road connection

In parallel with the railway, work is underway on the new road connection to Boden Industrial Park. The road will complement the railway and form a robust, interconnected logistics system.

The current plan is:

• The section from Highway 97 to Boden Industrial Park is expected to open for traffic in the second half of 2026.
• The section from Boden Industrial Park towards Highway 605 is expected to open in the second half of 2027.