Upgrading the Silverhöjden Line during a planned line closure

Revitalising a railway that is more than 150 years old while meeting modern demands for capacity and operational reliability requires both extensive improvements and careful coordination. At Silverhöjden, NYAB delivered one of the most significant upgrades to the line between Grängesberg and Ställdalen in many years.

The project included a comprehensive track renewal along the entire 17.5-kilometre route, with new track swithes, a new overhead contact line system, improved drainage, new sub-ballast and the reconstruction of level crossings. The historic bridge over the Ställdalsån river was also carefully refurbished as part of the contract. Together, these measures have created a more robust and higher-capacity railway for both freight and passenger traffic.

The works were carried out during a short and intensive planned line closure, with several major work packages needing to be completed and coordinated within the same time window. This placed high demands on planning, logistics and collaboration between NYAB, the client and the project’s many contractors and suppliers.

The Silverhöjden Line differs from many other railway projects in that the focus was not on constructing a new railway, but on upgrading an existing line to achieve performance characteristics approaching those of a double-track railway. Together with the parallel Hörken Line, the upgraded route now provides better conditions for increased capacity, improved punctuality and a more resilient railway system in the Bergslagen region.

Despite changes to the scope of the contract during delivery, traffic resumed only one week later than originally planned. The project demonstrates NYAB’s ability to deliver complex railway infrastructure projects where numerous critical activities must be coordinated within a limited timeframe to create long-term value for both the client and rail users.