Leading global engineering and consulting firm Golder has been appointed to deliver consulting services for a route diversion project on Roslagsbanan, an urban railway system in Stockholm, Sweden. The firm will lead a group of consultancies to undertake a review of the tunnel alignment of Roslagsbanan’s future route from the existing University Station to the city centre via Odenplan Station.
Stockholm’s current metro system serves approximately one million people daily, but congestion in and around the city has steadily increased. In response to population growth and the need for a more sustainable commuting alternative, the government, Region Stockholm, and the affected municipalities agreed to invest in the diversion of Roslagsbanan’s narrow gauge railway. The new rock tunnel will create a direct link with the rest of the rail network and central Stockholm.
Golder’s soil and rock mechanics, hydrogeology and environmental specialists will undertake an early-stage review of the tunnel alignment of Roslagsbanan’s future tunnelling location route. As project lead, Golder will engage other consultancies to perform technical deliverables associated with tracks, tunnel safety, noise and investment calculations. The project will include a number of critical passages both above and below ground, including the Nationalstadsparken passage and existing underground facilities such as the City Line and the metro. Golder will also undertake ground investigations at sections of the existing rail line that are being converted into double track.
“We’re proud to support the Roslagsbanan route diversion and double track extension which will provide residents in northern Stockholm with a faster commute to the city centre, without transfer, in a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable manner,” said Markus Kappling, Business Area Manager Geotechnical Services and Project Manager at Golder in Sweden. “The retirement of the existing East station and its tracks will create new housing opportunities and areas for recreation, strengthening the green corridor between the two national parks.”
Golder will support the initial stages of the project throughout 2021, and the overall project is expected to be completed by 2035. Golder has more than 200 employees in Sweden supporting a range of major infrastructure projects including the Stockholm Bypass, City Line, Metro Extension Northern and Southern Links in Stockholm and Marieholm Connection, West Link and Varberg Tunnel in Western Sweden, and the East Link High Speed Railway connecting Stockholm and Gothenburg.
