NIB finances new high-speed trains in Sweden

NIB and the Swedish passenger train operator SJ AB have agreed on a SEK 1.5 billion (EUR 144 million) loan for co-financing of the purchase of 30 new high-speed trains that will be operating long-distance traffic between the largest urban areas in Sweden and between Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo.

The 13-year loan will co-finance new high-speed trains that will increase SJ’s capacity in the future and meet the increasing demand for train travel. With a new fleet of modern high-speed inter-city trains, SJ will strengthen labour mobility, growth and the integration of the largest cities in Scandinavia.

Electric passenger trains are a clean and energy efficient mode of transportation and considered to be one of the most sustainable ways to carry out large passenger volumes. SJ’s long-distance routes can increase the market share of train travel by encouraging passengers to shift from air and road travel to railway travel. Hence, the project is expected to indirectly result in a decrease of CO2 emissions.

SJ AB is 100% owned by the Swedish government and tasked with operating profitable public railway transport. Every day, 150,000 people travel on one of SJ’s routes. As the market-leading train operating company, SJ connects Sweden and is the gateway to Scandinavian capitals.

NIB is an international financial institution owned by eight member countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. The Bank finances private and public projects in and outside the member countries. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with the leading rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact

Mr Tore Emanuelsson, Senior Manager Origination, at +358 10 618 0244, tore.emanuelsson@nib.int

Ms Iiris Anttalainen, Communications Unit, at +358 10 618 0258, iiris.anttalainen@nib.int