Yes to platform screen doors on the Yellow Line

What will be most noticeable for future travellers is that the Yellow Line will have glass doors on the platform that only open when the train has entered the station.

The decision also includes other important investments: a new traffic management system, automatic operation, and ballastless track. With these investments, the budget for the expansion increases by approximately one billion SEK.

“These are investments that Region Stockholm is funding entirely on their own – because they pay off in the long run,” says Niklas Bergman, head of administration for the new subway.

Ballastless track means that the tracks are cast in place and no ballast – i.e., crushed rock – is needed. The new traffic management system is necessary for the line to be operated with self-driving trains – automatic operation – and can be used if decisions are made for further subway expansions.

Region Stockholm will see a return on their investment within 10–20 years, due to reduced operating costs.

With Tuesday’s decision, the implementation phase for depot, vehicles, and traffic management system for the Yellow Line begins.

Following the decision by the traffic committee, the regional council will also make a decision to include this in the region’s 2026 budget. The total budget for the subway expansion will increase from 54 billion kronor to 55 billion kronor, at 2016 monetary value.