2023-03-082022/23:TU5 · p.1TUTransport & infrastructure
An increased share of public transport
Measures to increase the share of trips made by public transport
What's at stake: The decision concerns how quickly, and through what means, the share of passenger trips made by public transport can grow, which is central to the climate targets for domestic transport. It affects commuters, young travellers, and everyone who depends on public transport working even at inconvenient times.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the Riksdag should call on the government to take concrete measures to increase public transport's share of travel — such as more capacity, better quality, service at off-peak times and free summer travel for young people — or whether the current approach, with regional responsibility and state infrastructure investment, should continue to apply.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee stresses that a higher public-transport share is central to the climate targets, points to the state's options for promoting public transport through infrastructure investment and urban-environment agreements as well as the industry initiative Nystart av kollektivtrafiken, but also underlines that it is the regions and municipalities that jointly bear responsibility for regional public transport and decide on fares, and therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S)
The reservation (S) argues that public transport needs more capacity and better quality to attract more passengers, that it should be available even at inconvenient working hours rather than being driven solely by profit interests, and that it should be free of charge for young people in summer, since many children and young people depend on it then and because this helps make public transport a natural part of their travel habits from an early age.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by S.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Abstain 0/0/21/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/91/0/16 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/15/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | Yes | Abstain 1/0/20/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 57/0/0/11 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 64/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Broke with the party line
| CAnna Lasses (C, Stockholms län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:834 by Ulrika Heie et al. (C) demands 5, 10 and 11, 2022/23:1233 by Nooshi Dadgostar et al. (V) demands 10 and 11, 2022/23:2023 by Sofia Skönnbrink et al. (S) and 2022/23:2140 by Gunilla Svantorp et al. (S) demand 10.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:834 av Ulrika Heie m.fl. (C) yrkandena 5, 10 och 11, 2022/23:1233 av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V) yrkandena 10 och 11, 2022/23:2023 av Sofia Skönnbrink m.fl. (S) och 2022/23:2140 av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S) yrkande 10.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected all motions regarding various public transport issues that were submitted during the 2022 ordinary motion period. The 37 motions address, among other things, an increased share of public transport, public transport throughout the country, equal and equitable public transport, ticket systems, the mobility service and Gotland Traffic. The reason includes, among other things, initiatives that have been completed or are ongoing in the areas that the motions raise.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to increase capacity and quality in public transport and make it free for young people during summer. (S) — Reservation 1
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan requires that public transport be expanded and made cheaper and more accessible throughout the country, and the party programme goes further and wants local and regional public transport to be fully tax-financed and free for users.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that public transport be expanded and made cheaper and more accessible throughout the country, and the party programme goes further and wants local and regional public transport to be fully tax-financed and free for users. The plan also rejects that socially important activities are driven by profit interests. Increased capacity, better quality, transport at inconvenient times and fare-free travel for young people thus lie within the plan's stated line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att kollektivtrafiken byggs ut och görs billigare och mer tillgänglig i hela landet, och partiprogrammet går längre och vill att den lokala och regionala kollektivtrafiken ska vara fullt ut skattefinansierad och gratis för brukaren. Planen avvisar också att samhällsviktig verksamhet styrs av vinstintresse. Ökad kapacitet, bättre kvalitet, trafik på obekväma tider och avgiftsfrihet för unga ligger därmed inom planens uttalade linje.
- free public transportdecisive»ska vara fullt ut skattefinansierad och gratis för brukaren« (party programme ↗)“should be fully tax-financed and free for users”
- expanded cheaper public transport»behöver även kollektivtrafiken byggas ut och göras billigare och mer tillgänglig i hela landet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“public transport also needs to be expanded and made cheaper and more accessible throughout the country”
- accessibility physical and economic»tillgänglig både fysiskt och ekonomiskt« (party programme ↗)“accessible both physically and economically”
- activity not driven by profit»Vänsterpartiet vill införa ett totalförbud mot alla vinstdrivande verksamhetsformer inom välfärden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Left Party wants to introduce a total ban on all profit-driven forms of activity within welfare”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan explicitly promises free public transport for upper secondary students and students during the summer, which is precisely one of the counter-proposal's requirements.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly promises free public transport for upper secondary students and students during the summer, which is precisely one of the counter-proposal's requirements. It also wants to restructure transport systems towards more public transport and rejects that tax-financed activities be governed by profit interest. Increased capacity and quality in public transport follows from the plan's massive investments in collective travel.
Original (Swedish)
Planen lovar uttryckligen avgiftsfri kollektivtrafik för gymnasieelever och studenter under sommaren, vilket är exakt ett av motförslagets krav. Den vill dessutom lägga om transportsystemen mot mer kollektivtrafik och avvisar att skattefinansierad verksamhet styrs av vinstintresse. Ökad kapacitet och kvalitet i kollektivtrafiken följer av planens massiva investeringar i kollektiva resor.
- free summer public transportdecisive»Vi vill ge möjligheten till gymnasieelever och studenter att resa avgiftsfritt i kollektivtrafiken under sommaren.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to give upper secondary students and students the opportunity to travel free of charge in public transport during the summer.”
- targeted support for young travellers»avgiftsfri kollektivtrafik för gymnasieelever och studenter på sommaren« (2022 manifesto ↗)“free public transport for upper secondary students and students in the summer”
- more public transport»Transportsystemen ska läggas om för mer gång-, cykel- och kollektivtrafik och så att« (party programme ↗)“Transport systems shall be restructured for more walking, cycling and public transport and so that”
- not governed by profit interest»Demokratin har därför företräde före marknaden.« (party programme ↗)“Democracy therefore takes precedence over the market.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The plan promises to expand public transport throughout the country and make it cheaper to take buses and trains, especially for young people.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan promises to expand public transport throughout the country and make it cheaper to take buses and trains, especially for young people. It also states that society itself shall control and be responsible for the expansion of infrastructure systems and that welfare activities shall not be handled as any market. The counter-proposal's requirements for increased capacity, accessibility at inconvenient times and free passes for young people follow from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen lovar att bygga ut kollektivtrafiken i hela landet och göra det billigare att åka buss och tåg, särskilt för unga. Den slår också fast att samhället självt ska styra och stå för utbyggnaden av infrastruktursystemen och att välfärdens verksamheter inte får hanteras som vilken marknad som helst. Motförslagets krav på ökad kapacitet, tillgänglighet på obekväma tider och avgiftsfrihet för unga följer av dessa åtaganden.
- cheaper public transport for young peopledecisive»bygga ut kollektivtrafiken i hela landet, och gör det billigare att åka buss och tåg, särskilt för unga och pensionärer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“expand public transport throughout the country, and make it cheaper to take buses and trains, especially for young people and pensioners”
- society's responsibility for expansion»Samhället måste själv styra och stå för utbyggnad« (party programme ↗)“Society must itself control and be responsible for expansion”
- not controlled by profit motive»Välfärdens verksamheter får inte hanteras som vilken marknad som helst« (party programme ↗)“Welfare activities must not be handled as any market”
- public transport before cars»minska bilåkandet i storstäderna och främja gång-, cykel- och kollektivtrafik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“reduce car driving in major cities and promote walking, cycling and public transport”
flags: citat_migrerat
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan wants public transport to become more attractive, but its decisive principle is that decisions concerning only a local level should not be moved upwards and that power should be decentralized.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants public transport to become more attractive, but its decisive principle is that decisions concerning only a local level should not be moved upwards and that power should be decentralized. The counter-proposal requires national standards for capacity, service and free fares for young people, that is state control of what regions and municipalities should decide. The plan also embraces competitive tendering and thus rejects the premise that public transport should not be run with profit incentive.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att kollektivtrafiken ska bli mer attraktiv, men dess avgörande princip är att beslut som rör en lokal nivå inte ska flyttas uppåt och att makten ska decentraliseras. Motförslaget kräver nationella krav på kapacitet, utbud och avgiftsfrihet för unga, alltså statlig styrning av just det som regioner och kommuner ska bestämma. Planen bejakar dessutom konkurrensutsättning och avvisar därmed premissen att kollektivtrafiken inte bör drivas med vinstintresse.
- local decisions stay localdecisive»Beslut som endast berör en mer lokal nivå, eller bara individen själv, bör inte flyttas upp till en högre nivå« (party programme ↗)“Decisions that only concern a more local level, or only the individual, should not be moved to a higher level”
- decentralization»Decentralisera mera. Människor ska få bestämma mer själva, och politiska beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decentralize more. People should get to decide more themselves, and political decisions should be taken close to those affected.”
- competitive tendering embraced»Offentlig verksamhet kan med fördel konkurrensutsättas« (party programme ↗)“Public operations can advantageously be competitively tendered”
- attractive public transport»Det ska dessutom vara smidigt att välja bort bilen till förmån för tåg, buss, båt och cykel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It should also be easy to opt out of the car in favour of train, bus, boat and bicycle.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants public transport to be given greater space at the expense of private car use and all public transport to be fossil-free by 2030, which requires increased capacity and quality.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants public transport to be given greater space at the expense of private car use and all public transport to be fossil-free by 2030, which requires increased capacity and quality. Urban planning shall actively create conditions for public transport. The counter-proposal's demand for more and better public transport thus aligns with the plan, while the plan's instruments are environmental fees rather than free travel.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att kollektivtrafiken ges större utrymme på bekostnad av privatbilismen och att all kollektivtrafik ska vara fossilfri senast 2030, vilket förutsätter ökad kapacitet och kvalitet. Samhällsplaneringen ska aktivt skapa förutsättningar för kollektivtrafik. Motförslagets krav på mer och bättre kollektivtrafik ligger därför i linje med planen, medan planens instrument är miljöavgifter snarare än avgiftsfria resor.
- public transport before private carsdecisive»I städer med trängsel- eller miljöproblem bör nyttotrafik och kollektivtrafik ges större utrymme« (party programme ↗)“In cities with congestion or environmental problems, goods transport and public transport should be given greater space”
- fossil-free public transport 2030»all kollektivtrafik på väg och spår ska vara fossilfri senast 2030« (2022 manifesto ↗)“all road and rail public transport shall be fossil-free by 2030”
- plan for public transport»I samhällsplaneringen ska det kommunala planmonopolet användas i högre grad för att skapa förutsättningar« (party programme ↗)“In urban planning, the municipal planning monopoly should be used to a greater extent to create conditions”
- instruments rather than subsidies»Detta görs genom god stadsplanering och miljöavgifter, t.ex. trängselavgifter« (party programme ↗)“This is done through good urban planning and environmental fees, e.g. congestion charges”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme wants public transport to be an attractive travel option in a market with competition and long-term rules, and it requires strong municipal autonomy where that level itself decides capacity and supply.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants public transport to be an attractive travel option in a market with competition and long-term rules, and it requires strong municipal autonomy where that level itself decides capacity and supply. Government requirements for free travel for young people and that operations must not be driven by profit motive contradict this. The commitment to fares that promote collective travel pulls in the opposite direction, which is why the certainty is low.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill att kollektivtrafiken är ett attraktivt resealternativ på en marknad med konkurrens och långsiktiga spelregler, och det kräver en stark kommunal självstyrelse där den nivån själv avgör kapacitet och utbud. Statliga krav på avgiftsfrihet för unga och på att verksamheten inte får styras av vinstintresse strider mot detta. Åtagandet om taxor som främjar kollektivt resande drar i motsatt riktning, varför säkerheten är låg.
- competition and long-term rulesdecisive»Kollektivtrafiken med buss, spårvagn, tåg och tunnelbana ska vara attraktiva resealternativ på en marknad med konkurrens och långsiktiga spelregler.« (party programme ↗)“Public transport by bus, tram, train and underground shall be attractive travel options in a market with competition and long-term rules.”
- municipal and regional responsibility»Den kommunala självstyrelsen ska vara stark och tydligt reglerad i grundlagen.« (party programme ↗)“Municipal autonomy shall be strong and clearly regulated in the constitution.”
- fares that promote collective travel»Taxorna inom kollektivtrafiken ska utformas så att de främjar kollektiva transporter och en god resurshushållning.« (party programme ↗)“Fares in public transport shall be designed to promote collective transport and good resource management.”
- the importance of public transport»En väl utvecklad kollektivtrafik är av största betydelse för ökat bostadsbyggande, utvidgade arbetsmarknadsregioner« (party programme ↗)“A well-developed public transport is of utmost importance for increased housing construction, expanded labour market regions”
The counter-proposal wants public transport not to be guided solely by profit interests and made free for young people in summer.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants public transport not to be guided solely by profit interests and made free for young people in summer. The plan is built on market economy institutions and on decisions being made at the lowest effective level, where regions and municipalities are responsible for supply and fares. New expenditure commitments must moreover fit within the surplus target, and the plan's railway money goes to maintaining existing networks.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill att kollektivtrafiken inte enbart ska styras av vinstintresse och göras avgiftsfri för unga på sommaren. Planen bygger på marknadsekonomins institutioner och på att beslut fattas på lägsta effektiva nivå, där regioner och kommuner ansvarar för utbud och taxor. Nya utgiftslöften måste dessutom rymmas inom överskottsmålet, och planens järnvägspengar går till underhåll av befintligt nät.
- lägsta effektiva nivådecisive»Det politiska systemet ska bygga på att beslut fattas på lägsta« (party programme ↗)“The political system shall be based on decisions being made at the lowest”
- marknadsekonomins grund»Grunden för Sveriges välstånd är en marknadsekonomi baserad« (party programme ↗)“The basis for Sweden's prosperity is a market economy based”
- finansierade reformer»Alla nya löften och reformer – som till exempel våra inkomstskattesänkningar – behöver finansieras eller rymmas inom överskottsmålet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All new promises and reforms – such as our income tax cuts – need to be financed or fit within the surplus target.”
- underhåll före nya löften»Rusta upp dagens järnväg i stället för att satsa på höghastighetståg som riskerar att vara omoderna redan innan de är klara« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Upgrade today's railway instead of investing in high-speed trains that risk being obsolete before they are finished”
The plan is explicitly critical of taxpayers bearing large subsidies for public transport and emphasizes that all modes of transport are needed, with particular focus on car commuting in rural areas.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan is explicitly critical of taxpayers bearing large subsidies for public transport and emphasizes that all modes of transport are needed, with particular focus on car commuting in rural areas. The counter-proposal's demand for new state ambitions for supply and free public transport for young people means precisely the type of subsidies the plan wants to hold back in favor of welfare's core. The plan addresses the committee's reasons about responsibility distribution through its view of the roles of the state and municipalities in public transport.
Original (Swedish)
Planen är uttryckligt kritisk till att skattebetalarna får bära stora bidrag till kollektivtrafiken och betonar att alla transportslag behövs, med särskilt fokus på bilpendling på landsbygden. Motförslagets krav på nya statliga ambitioner för utbud och på avgiftsfri kollektivtrafik för unga innebär just den sorts subventioner planen vill hålla tillbaka till förmån för välfärdens kärna. Planen berör utskottets skäl om ansvarsfördelningen genom sin syn på statens och kommunernas roller i kollektivtrafiken.
- criticism of public transport subsidiesdecisive»De flesta har inte råd att köpa en ny bil, men tvingas samtidigt betala för skattesubventioner för dem som har råd att köpa dyra elbilar och även betala för stora bidrag till kollektivtrafiken via skattsedeln.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Most people cannot afford to buy a new car, but are forced at the same time to pay tax subsidies for those who can afford to buy expensive electric cars and also to pay for large subsidies to public transport via the tax bill.”
- all modes of transport needed»Sverigedemokraterna anser att samtliga transportslag, inklusive bil och flyg, är viktiga för att samhället ska fungera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Sweden Democrats believe that all modes of transport, including car and air, are important for society to function.”
- car commuting in rural areas»Förbättra förutsättningarna för bilpendling, framförallt på landsbygden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Improve the conditions for car commuting, especially in rural areas”
- prioritize welfare's core»Sverigedemokraterna vill koncentrera de offentliga utgifterna till välfärdens hjärta och begära tydlig medborgarnytta för alla satsningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Sweden Democrats want to concentrate public spending on welfare's heart and demand clear citizen benefit for all investments.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:TU5)
- Committee report full text (HA01TU5)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1014 — Ett konkurrenskraftigt svenskt väginfrastruktursystem av Thomas Morell m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1015 — En konkurrenskraftig svensk sjöfart av Jimmy Ståhl m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1016 — En konkurrenskraftig svensk järnväg av Patrik Jönsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1120 — Nordiskt samarbete av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1143 — Idrottspolitiska frågor av Angelika Bengtsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1224 — Idrottspolitiska frågor av Vasiliki Tsouplaki m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1233 — Transporteffektivt och hållbart samhälle av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1323 — Översyn av färdtjänsten av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1374 — Färdtjänst till och från idrottsträning av Anna Wallentheim (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1413 — Gotlandstrafiken av Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1517 — Synskadades rätt till färdtjänst av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:158 — Reformera Gotlandstillägget av Hanna Westerén (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1743 — Gotlandstrafiken av Hanna Westerén och Laila Naraghi (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:2023 — Avgiftsfri kollektivtrafik för unga och studerande av Sofia Skönnbrink m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2028 — Stockholmsregionen som Sveriges gröna motor av Mattias Vepsä m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2140 — Utgiftsområde 22 Kommunikationer av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:285 — Upphandling av kollektivtrafik av Mirja Räihä (S)
- Motion 2022/23:389 — Nationell strategi för kollektivtrafiken av Jessica Rodén (S)
- Motion 2022/23:834 — Hållbara transporter med hög tillgänglighet i hela landet av Ulrika Heie m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:84 — Förbättrade arbetsvillkor i yrkestrafiken av Linda Westerlund Snecker m.fl. (V)
Source: The Swedish Parliament