BOTNIABANAN En liten länk i ett större järnvägssystem? : Om Botniabanans samhällseffekter och jämförelser med svenska järnvägar

In 2010, at the east coast of Sweden’s sparsely populated North, a new mode of travel was introduced to connect the region via high-speed railway, Botniabanan, and with no regional history questions on the regional effects of this new mode of travel are spurred. This paper addresses such questions in terms of, firstly, comparing the intended and potential regional effects of the railway and, secondly, by comparing the project with other Swedish railroad investments. The results show that, despite reasonably favorable preconditions both theoretically and geographically, the profitability and the function of the project turned out considerably lower than expected and its regional effects are still unclear, pending further investments in neighboring systems. Reasons for optimism, however, can be found in the broadly defined benefits that due to methodological issues were excluded from cost-benefit calculations, as well as in beneficial effects of other contemporary Swedish railroad investments. In the case of contemporary railroad investments varying circumstances and research agendas impede a well-defined conclusion, but high-speed railway connection in contemporary Sweden shows potential