COWI Supports Planning for the Lindholmen Connection, Gothenburg’s Future Tram Tunnel Beneath the Göta River

Early plans for the new transport hub at Linnéplatsen. Image: Land Development Department at the City of Gothenburg

(IN BRIEF) Gothenburg is planning the Lindholmen Connection, a major tram tunnel project that will run from Lindholmen to Linnéplatsen beneath the Göta River, via an underground stop at Stigberget and under Slottsskogen. Scheduled to open in 2039, the project is intended to support the city’s expected population growth, reduce travel time between Lindholmen and Linnéplatsen from around 25 minutes to about six minutes, increase public transport capacity, and make the tram network more resilient by adding a new river crossing. COWI is involved in several planning aspects, including compiling the railway plan, which defines land use, track infrastructure, and environmental impact considerations. The project includes complex technical and environmental challenges, such as poor rock quality near Linnéplatsen and the need to protect water quality during construction beneath the Göta River. COWI is also working with Arkitema on the future Linnéplatsen stop and with AFRY, which coordinates the technical system design. The railway plan is expected to be submitted to the Swedish Transport Administration for approval by the end of 2027.

(PRESS RELEASE) KONGENS LYNGBY, 26-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ —COWI is supporting the planning of the Lindholmen Connection, one of Gothenburg’s most ambitious future public transport projects, which will create a new tram tunnel linking Lindholmen and Linnéplatsen beneath the Göta River. Scheduled to open in 2039, the project is designed to improve sustainable mobility, reduce travel times, increase transport capacity, and strengthen the resilience of the city’s tram network.

Gothenburg is expected to grow by another 100,000 residents over the next decade, adding to its current population of around 600,000. This growth is increasing the need for a transport system that can keep the city moving efficiently while supporting more sustainable travel.

The Lindholmen Connection will run from Lindholmen to Linnéplatsen, passing beneath the Göta River, via an underground stop at Stigberget, and under Slottsskogen, one of Gothenburg’s most well-known parks. Once completed, the route is expected to reduce travel time between Lindholmen and Linnéplatsen from around 25 minutes to approximately six minutes.

The project will also improve connectivity between districts, increase the capacity for sustainable travel, and make the public transport system more reliable by creating a new tram crossing under the river. At present, the Hising Bridge is the only river crossing available for trams, making the system more vulnerable to disruption.

Led by the Land Development Department at the City of Gothenburg, the project remains in its early stages. COWI has already been involved in several aspects of the planning process, including the preparation of the railway plan for the new tram line. Jonas Brunner, Urban and Regional Planning Specialist at COWI, is responsible for compiling the railway plan.

Map showing the project and the tramway route. The blue line shows the tunnel from Lindholmen to Linnéplatsen. Image: Land Development Department at the City of Gothenburg.

“A railway plan enables structured and systematic planning of a railway construction project. It’s a tool to ensure the project is carried out correctly with respect to both safety and the environment,” said Jonas Brunner.

The railway plan identifies the land required for the tunnel and defines the future track infrastructure. It also includes an environmental impact assessment, which is especially important given the project’s technical and environmental complexity.

One of the major challenges involves poor rock quality in certain areas around Linnéplatsen, where input from COWI’s hydrogeologists is essential. Another key consideration is how the tunnel will be constructed beneath the Göta River. Some possible construction methods, including dredging the riverbed, could disturb contaminants on the river bottom. The planning process must therefore demonstrate that construction can be carried out without risking water quality or exceeding current environmental quality standards.

The railway plan also needs to align with the City of Gothenburg’s detailed development plans for land along the Lindholmen Connection. A new local development plan is being prepared for the full route, with COWI playing an important role. COWI is also collaborating with Arkitema on the design of the future stop at Linnéplatsen.

COWI is working closely with AFRY, which is coordinating the technical system design, as well as with the City of Gothenburg and other project partners. The railway plan is expected to be submitted to the Swedish Transport Administration for approval at the end of 2027.

“We learn from one another and do this together – within COWI, but also with AFRY and with the client. Together, we ensure that the project is carried out in a sustainable and efficient way and contributes to positive societal development,” said Jonas Brunner.

The Lindholmen Connection is expected to become a key part of Gothenburg’s future transport network. By shortening journeys, improving capacity, adding a new tram crossing under the Göta River, and supporting sustainable urban development, the project will help prepare the city for long-term population growth and changing mobility needs.

Media Contact:

Fabian Bengtsson
PR Specialist, Communication, Sweden
fabn@cowi.com
+46 108502427

SOURCE: COWI