Public transport – key to a sustainable transport system

Public transport is an important element of society and it will be even more important tomorrow. It is a strategic tool to handle climate challenge and urbanisation. It contributes to wealth and growth through its provision of accessibility to everybody. It enables expanding regional labour markets through faster services.

In 2008, the Swedish Public Transport Association and the operator associations for trains and buses set up a joint goal to double the patronage on public transport to 2020. First being laughed at, the ‘doubling project’ has now become a driving force for people in the industry. Ambitious goals are important for motivation and activity levels.

However, such goals can only be achieved if we offer citizens value for money with better services at affordable prices. Public transport has to become more attractive. My main motive for the reformation of the transportation system is customer focus. This is reflected in legislation, investments, organisation and other measures.

In 2009, we launched two major legislative reforms. In June 2009, the Parliament decided to abandon the SJ AB monopoly and open the market for commercial rail passenger services to competition. The reform is executed stepwise. The first step, in July 2009, was the opening of the weekend market. The second step, in October 2009, was the opening of the market for inter – national train operations. The third step will be launched on 1 October 2010 when the whole railway market will be opened for competition.

There have not been any dramatic effects yet. Only one new commercial operator has entered the weekend market between Stockholm and Malmö. I believe that the third step will trigger more railway operators to apply for capacity. More applications mean that the Transport Administration has to improve the capacity allocation process, including economic incentives. This is underway. The opening will induce a dynamic force to the market. We believe in mainly positive effects but we are prepared to deal with potential problems.

The second legislative reform was launched in April 2010. It replaces a 30-year-old legislation for public transport. The new legislation governs urban and regional public transport on rail, by tram, underground and on road. It will enter into force in January 2012 and provide better opportunities for authorities and operators to put the passengers in focus. The legislation opens the market for urban and regional passenger services. Commercial operators will also be allowed to provide services within regions. The legislation also removes restrictions for authorities to stay within their counties. We introduce functional requirements, saying that regional authorities should focus on everyday travelling, like commuting, school trips etc.

The regions also have to make strategic regional transport programmes. These shall be discussed and decided upon by regional political bodies. This will induce more transparency into the decision-making process and ease coordination with issues like housing and infrastructure planning.

Fast regional trains have been a success story over the last decade. They are of great importance to the development of labour markets. Our main infrastructure investments in public transport are the train tunnels under our biggest cities – Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. These are of major importance for increasing all train operations of the future.

Such a development also presupposes a good coordination with other means of transport to create seamless transportation services. Therefore, key transport administrations should be organised in a cross-modal way. In 2009, we made a big reorganisation of the State Administration. In January 2009, the Transport Agency was established. It replaces the Civil Aviation Authority, the Rail Agency, the Maritime Safety Inspectorate and partly the Road Administration. It is responsible for all regulation and inspection in the field of transportation.

The 1 April 2010 was the birthday of the Transport Administration. Its task is to develop an effective and sustainable transport system, including all modes. It replaces the Road and Rail Administrations, a part of the Maritime Administration and the Institute for Transport and Communications Analysis. With these two administrations in place, we have powerful instruments to create a customer focused and sustainable transport system for the future.

I will soon launch the Passengers’ Forum. It will be an advisory body to the Ministry and a place for dialogue, exchange of views between stakeholders. The Forum will contribute to further development of transport policy with focus on user needs and public transport.

Finally, I do believe that the measures mentioned above will contribute to a sig – nificantly improved public transport and increased ridership.