Increase in track access charges in Sweden

Priority question for written answer P-004511/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Jonas Sjöstedt (The Left)

The Swedish Transport Administration is currently in the process of increasing track access charges and relates this to the EU directive that regulates direct costs (marginal costs) for the wear and tear of railway infrastructure. In its reply to a previous question (P-003695/2025[1]), the Commission claims that the interpretative guidelines to Directive 2012/34/EU do not contain support that forces Member States to increase track access charges. In its reply, the Commission writes that 'In any case, track access charges should be set at a level that the market can bear and that does not undermine the competitiveness of rail transport vis-à-vis other modes'.

Given this situation:

• 1.Does the Commission agree that a minimum level of track access charges is stipulated in the EU directive and the implementing regulation that is used to determine the direct costs for the use of rail infrastructure?
• 2.Does the Commission accept the Swedish Transport Administration's explanation that Swedish track access charges have so far been 'too low' in relation to the aforementioned EU directive and must therefore be increased?
• 3.Does the Commission consider that, as a result of the prevailing EU directive, the Swedish Transport Administration should increase the track access charges, even though this would undermine the competitiveness of rail transport vis-à-vis other modes?

Submitted: 13.11.2025

• [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-10-2025-003695-ASW_EN.html