Measurements carried out by SL’s traffic administration reveal that the Saltsjöbanan line records an average of between 13 and 18 passengers per departure. Despite this low number of riders, the line maintains a frequency of 230 services per day — a figure that may raise eyebrows when compared to the modest demand recorded.
SL acknowledges that the data may prompt questions, but defends the continuation of the service. Karolina Wichman, project communications officer at SL’s traffic administration, explains that while the number of users may seem too low to justify running trains, SL’s mandate is to operate rail transport on any stretch where the tracks are in service.
The situation brings to the fore a broader debate about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of public transport in areas with lower passenger density, set against the institutional responsibility to guarantee connectivity wherever infrastructure is already in place.
Original source: SVT Nyheter