New Rail Link Between Oslo And The Göteborg Port

On 16 September 2020, a new weekly rail shuttle service has started, providing Oslo and Norway with a rapid, dependable, climate-smart link to the largest port in Scandinavia. The new shuttle service has been launched by the Norwegian rail operator Cargonet and it will initially operate once a week in each direction between Oslo and Göteborg.

The 580 m train arrives at the Göteborg port (Göteborgs Hamn) from Oslo on Wednesday afternoon carrying Norwegian export goods for loading onto ships and onward transport to various parts of the world via the extensive port service network. That evening the train is loaded with import goods bound for the Norwegian market, reaching Oslo next morning. This is equivalent to having 2,000 fewer HGVs each year operating on the extremely busy E6 motorway between Göteborg and Oslo. The switch from road to rail will result in a reduction in carbon emissions of 724,000 kg.

“Our experience is that demand for an environmentally friendly transport solution between Oslo and the Göteborg port has increased in recent years. With our broad range of services we can ensure effective transport to and from all the major cities in Norway and we are extremely pleased that we can now offer our customers this service all the way down to Göteborg,” said Erik Røhne, Cargonet chief executive.

At present around 60 % of container volumes to and from the Port of Göteborg are transported by rail. This figure puts Göteborg among the top rail freight ports in the world. Investments include an expansion of the double-track Port Line system and the Arken Combi Terminal, which have already had a significant impact on reducing the number of HGVs on the roads in the Göteborg area. The new rail-sea transshipment terminal at the port, the Svea Terminal, is currently in the start-up phase.

“The demand for rail transport is continuing to grow, and a further increase will help us to achieve our highly ambitious climate goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 70 % by 2030. It is a natural progression for us to continue investing offensively in rail services in partnership with our terminals and rail operators,” said Claes Sundmark, Vice President, Business Area Container, RoRo & Rail at the Göteborg Port Authority.