A-Train AB Secures NIB Financing to Upgrade Stockholm Airport Rail Link

A-Train AB Secures NIB Financing to Upgrade Stockholm Airport Rail Link

(IN BRIEF) The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) has provided a SEK 560.5 million (€51 million) loan to A-Train AB to finance seven new high-speed electric trains for the Arlanda express rail connection between Stockholm Arlanda Airport and Stockholm Central Station. This investment will boost seat capacity by 50% and increase train departures from four to six per hour. With projected passenger numbers set to rise to 40 million by 2050, the new trains aim to improve efficiency and support Sweden’s transport strategy. A-Train AB, which has operated the service since 1999 under a public-private partnership, will retain the older trains as backups.

(PRESS RELEASE) HELSINKI, 23-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB), an international financial institution with focus on the Nordic and Baltic countries, has signed a loan agreement with A-Train AB to co-finance the procurement of a new fleet of electric high-speed trains for the Arlanda express, the direct rail link connecting Stockholm Arlanda Airport with the city’s central station. This move is aimed at increasing transport capacity, reducing congestion, and enhancing travel efficiency on one of Sweden’s most vital rail routes.

Valued at SEK 560.5 million (approximately €51 million), the loan comes with a tenor of 6 to 8 years and will support the acquisition of seven new electric multiple unit trains. These modern vehicles will replace the existing fleet, which will be retained as reserve capacity. With the upgrade, the Arlanda express will increase its seating capacity by 50% and boost the frequency of departures from four to six per hour.

Passenger volumes along the route are expected to nearly double by 2050, from 22 million to 40 million, driven by regional population growth and an overall rise in air and rail travel. The investment reflects Sweden’s broader national transport strategy, which promotes sustainable mobility solutions.

“This financing demonstrates our strong commitment to sustainable infrastructure and regional development,” said NIB President and CEO André Küüsvek. “The Arlanda express upgrade not only aligns with Sweden’s transport goals but also contributes to economic growth and improved accessibility in the Stockholm region.”

NIB has a longstanding partnership with A-Train AB, having previously co-financed the construction of the Arlanda Line through loans issued in 1997 and 1999. The rail line was inaugurated in the same year and has since become a key part of the capital’s transit network.

A-Train AB, a public-private partnership entity, has operated the Arlanda express since 1999. The company’s concession to run the service was recently extended until 2050. A-Train is jointly owned by two Australian pension funds—STC Pooled Fund and Australian Retirement Funds—as well as the Chinese investment group Gingko Tree Investment Fund.

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 S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact
Tore Emanuelsson, Senior Banker, at +358 10 618 0244, tore.emanuelsson@nib.int

Arild Moen, Associate Director, Communications, at +358 10 618 0496, arild.moen@nib.int

SOURCE: Nordic Investment Bank