Swedish rail system poorly prepared for extreme weather

Sweden’s rail network faces a “serious and escalating risk” as climate change makes extreme weather more frequent and intense, according to a new report by the National Expert Council on Climate Adaptation.

The report identifies landslides, cloudbursts, flooding, and heatwaves as the most critical climate risks to the rail system. Extreme weather already causes recurring disruptions, and problems are expected to worsen by the end of the century.

“We are seeing more frequent and intense short-term events, which also shorten recovery time between incidents, increasing pressure on society,” said Susanne Skyllerstedt, an investigator at the council.

She noted that responsibility for climate adaptation is fragmented, with maintenance backlogs, difficulty rerouting traffic, and dependence on external infrastructure adding to vulnerability. Clarifying roles and existing regulations is key, she said, rather than new legislation.

While progress has been made on heat-related risks like sun kinks in tracks, measures against complex threats such as landslides and major flooding lag behind.

Catherine Kotake, acting planning director at the Swedish Transport Administration, said the government’s 12-year infrastructure plan allocates 100 billion SEK annually, providing the means to implement known measures.

“There are always uncertainties in these assessments,” Skyllerstedt said. “The worst-case scenario may not materialize, but the report clearly shows a possible trajectory and a direct link between emissions and future risk development.”