SJ's new contract for eight billion – Will get paid more if the trains are on time
Six regions/counties are included in Öresundståg AB's partnership. On Friday, the 14th of June, their traffic directors signed a contract with SJ on a platform at Hässleholm station.
The contract is for eight years, with an estimated turnover of 1 billion crowns per year.
SJ will be responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of 111 trains and 200 people will be employed at the newly built depot in Kärråkra outside of Hässleholm.
Jarl Samuelsson, Head of the Business Unit at Västtrafik, has led the work on the contract and procurement.
– I see the depot in Hässleholm as the most important in the new contract. Before DSB handled the maintenance of our trains in Copenhagen and various train operators handled the traffic in the counties. Now, SJ will handle both the operation and maintenance in Sweden. This makes it easier for us to ensure high quality, he says.
20 per cent of the agreement is variable, that is, the better the service travellers get, the more SJ gets paid. If there are many delays, SJ gets fined.
– In the contract, there are also high requirements for replacement transport for trains to be in place fast. This also applies to personnel in yellow vests who will inform travellers about replacement transport, says Mikael Esping, Business Manager at Skånetrafiken.
The contract takes effect in 1.5 years.