By Ashley Karen
The City of Helsingborg is now issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to analyze how the private sector would construct a permanent connection between Helsingborg and Helsingør.
A Request for Information is a formalized way for Helsingborg to request private sector actors about their interest in the project and what they can suggest to continue with plans to construct a permanent connection between Helsingborg and Helsingør.
The project will contain:
- A 10 km passenger train link– 7 km of which is going to be in a tunnel – between Helsingborg C and Helsingor station. The double track links to Helsingborg C and the Vastkustbanan (West Coast Line) from the south to allow smooth traffic with trains from the north. The double track links to Helsingor station from the north for further train traffic south towards Copenhagen.
- A 16 km motorway link – 12 km of which is going to be in a tunnel – linking to the current road network at the Sodra interchange in Helsingborg and the Helsingor motorway in Snekkersten south of Helsingor.
Christian Orsing, Municipal Commissioner (Moderate Party) stated: “We are doing this because we are convinced there is considerable business interest in the project. We also believe the process itself can provide relevant knowledge of how the project can be carried out quicker, more efficiently and at a considerably lower cost”.
The RFI being issued requests how the business, following the DBFOM (Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain) model, can assist in constructing a permanent connection between Helsingborg and Helsingør. It is neither a formal procurement nor binding on either the questioner (the City of Helsingborg) or the respondents (firms and businesses).
Jan Björklund, Municipal Commissioner (Social Democratic Party) pointed out: “An RFI process will provide us with the private sector’s answer to how a link between Helsingborg and Helsingør could be built. We hope the participants can provide innovative solutions, especially for reducing the climate footprint usually associated with such an infrastructure investment”.
The answers will complement the joint strategic examination previously conducted by a Swedish and a Danish government agency. In addition, the answers are going to shape the basis for a final decision on how a permanent connection is going to be constricted. After the Swedish Transport Administration has conducted its in-depth study, this decision will be taken.
Mikael Kipowski, the City of Helsingborg’s development director, declared: “We hope that the RFI will result in companies in Sweden, Denmark and other EU countries formally expressing an interest in participating in the project. The idea is for us to present a total solution for how a permanent link in the form of a road and rail tunnel between Helsingborg and Helsingør can come to fruition”.
For further details, you can visit the RFI website and the project website.
