Stockholm's subway expansion could cost close to 100 billion and be delayed

The expansion of the Stockholm subway is one of Sweden's largest infrastructure projects in modern times. It is also very costly.

Earlier this year, it was estimated that the mega-build could exceed the budget by 5.5 billion. Now the administration, the Administration for the Expanded Subway, states that that figure is hardly close to the real increase in price.

The new assessment is that the final cost could land at SEK 99.8 billion, which is an increase of SEK 22.9 billion, or nearly 30 percent.

It is also pointed out that all lines will be delayed. The start of traffic for the subway to Barkarby and Arenastaden is pushed forward by about a year. The expansion to Nacka and Söderort is delayed by almost two years. Currently, the subway to Älvsjö is estimated to be ready for traffic in 2037.

The increased costs are mainly due to the construction taking longer than previously estimated. Among other things, the rock works have been delayed. It also turns out that the amount of time required to test the facility was underestimated.

A complicating factor is also that the costs in the building and construction sector have skyrocketed.

- Index development costs us a lot. In our industry, costs increase faster than in the rest of society and this affects us negatively, says the head of administration Per Ling-Vannerus in a statement.