2026-04-162025/26:TU15 · p.11TUTransport & infrastructure
A national ticket system for public transport
What's at stake: A common ticketing system could make it easier to travel by public transport across county and regional borders, benefiting leisure travel, commuting and regional labour markets alike, but the question also concerns who - the state or the regions - should take responsibility and bear the cost for such a system.
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 a common national ticketing system (a 'Sweden card') should be introduced for all public transport in the country, or whether the current arrangement, in which the regions are responsible for their own ticketing systems and existing digital services already ease ticket purchases, should remain.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions and notes that responsibility for local and regional public transport, including ticketing systems, lies with the regional public transport authorities. The committee observes that a number of online services already make it easier for travellers to buy and book tickets wherever they are in the country - a development it views positively - and therefore sees no grounds for parliament to take action.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 23 (S, V, C, MP)
The reservation (S, V, C, MP) calls for the government to introduce a national ticketing system - a common 'Sweden card' - for all public transport in the country, local as well as regional. The reasoning is that public transport accessibility and ticket prices currently vary greatly across the country, and that a common system would simplify things for travellers and strengthen both leisure travel, commuting and regional labour markets.
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 23 by S, V, C, MP.
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 | No 0/18/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| S | No | No 0/88/0/18 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | Yes | No 0/18/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 13/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 53/0/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 59/0/0/11 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:1840 by Monica Haider and Robert Olesen (both S), 2025/26:2780 by Nooshi Dadgostar et al. (V) motions 21 and 22, 2025/26:3185 by Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist et al. (C) motion 31, 2025/26:3281 by Linus Lakso et al. (MP) motions 4 and 5, 2025/26:3422 by Katarina Luhr et al. (MP) motion 108, 2025/26:3653 by Aylin Nouri et al. (S) motion 99 and 2025/26:3728 by Ulrika Heie et al. (C) motion 6.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:1840 av Monica Haider och Robert Olesen (båda S), 2025/26:2780 av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V) yrkandena 21 och 22, 2025/26:3185 av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C) yrkande 31, 2025/26:3281 av Linus Lakso m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 4 och 5, 2025/26:3422 av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP) yrkande 108, 2025/26:3653 av Aylin Nouri m.fl. (S) yrkande 99 och 2025/26:3728 av Ulrika Heie m.fl. (C) yrkande 6.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 120 proposals concerning railway and public transport issues in motions from the general motion period 2025. The proposals address matters such as the organization of railway maintenance, the railway's signal system, track fees, night trains, targets for public transport and paratransit services. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to already implemented measures and ongoing investigation and preparation work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to establish a crisis commission for railways and consolidate railway operations into a state-owned organization. (S, V, C, MP) — Reservation 23
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 election manifesto requires that public transport be expanded and made cheaper and more accessible throughout the country, and the party programme wants to make it easier to move about and access services regardless of where you live.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that public transport be expanded and made cheaper and more accessible throughout the country, and the party programme wants to make it easier to move about and access services regardless of where you live. A shared national ticket system is a direct way to realise that accessibility and facilitate commuting.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att kollektivtrafiken byggs ut och görs billigare och mer tillgänglig i hela landet, och partiprogrammet vill göra det enklare att röra sig och nå service oavsett var man bor. Ett gemensamt nationellt biljettsystem är ett direkt sätt att förverkliga den tillgängligheten och underlätta arbetspendling.
- cheaper and more accessible public transportdecisive»För att såväl öka alla människors rörelsefrihet som för att minska utsläppen av växthusgaser så behöver även kollektivtrafiken byggas ut och göras billigare och mer tillgänglig i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In order both to increase all people's freedom of movement and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, public transport also needs to be expanded and made cheaper and more accessible throughout the country.”
- easier travel throughout the country»Det behöver bli enklare att röra sig i städerna och närmare till välfärd och service på landsbygden.« (party programme ↗)“It needs to become easier to move in cities and access closer welfare and services in rural areas.”
- invest in public transport»Det handlar om att ställa om produktionen och satsa på förnybar energi, järnväg, kollektivtrafik och renoveringar av miljonprogrammet.« (party programme ↗)“It is about shifting production and investing in renewable energy, railways, public transport and renovation of the Million Programme.”
- equivalent public services»Välfärden måste vara till för alla och finnas överallt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Welfare must be available to all and exist everywhere.”
The party programme requires public transport that is well-functioning, reliable, sustainable and affordable as well as increased possibilities to travel by public transport throughout the country, which supports the counter-proposal's requirement for a common national ticketing system.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires public transport that is well-functioning, reliable, sustainable and affordable as well as increased possibilities to travel by public transport throughout the country, which supports the counter-proposal's requirement for a common national ticketing system. The programme also wants societal development to be steered according to citizens' needs and not market logic, which speaks against relying on existing commercial ticket services. However, the plan contains no specific requirement for a Sweden Card.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver en kollektivtrafik som är välfungerande, pålitlig, hållbar och prisvärd samt ökade möjligheter att resa kollektivt i hela landet, vilket bär motförslagets krav på ett gemensamt nationellt biljettsystem. Programmet vill också att samhällsutvecklingen styrs utifrån medborgarnas behov och inte marknadens logik, vilket talar mot att lita till befintliga kommersiella nättjänster. Något krav på just ett Sverigekort finns dock inte i planen.
- affordable public transportdecisive»Kollektivtrafik som är välfungerande, pålitlig, hållbar och prisvärd.« (party programme ↗)“Public transport that is well-functioning, reliable, sustainable and affordable.”
- public transport throughout the country»Ökade möjligheter för människor att resa kollektivt i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Increased possibilities for people to travel by public transport throughout the country.”
- cheaper climate-smart travel»Klimatsmart resande som det billigare alternativet.« (party programme ↗)“Climate-smart travel as the cheaper alternative.”
- needs before market logic»Styrning av samhällsutvecklingen utifrån medborgarnas behov och inte marknadens« (party programme ↗)“Governance of societal development based on citizens' needs and not the market's”
The plan's public transport commitment is that travel should become cheaper, simpler and accessible throughout the country, and the party programme wants to pursue an active policy of lowering ticket prices.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's public transport commitment is that travel should become cheaper, simpler and accessible throughout the country, and the party programme wants to pursue an active policy of lowering ticket prices. A unified national ticket system is a means to achieve that accessibility and to enable commuting throughout the country. The plan does not mention ticket systems as such, but the direction is clear.
Original (Swedish)
Planens kollektivtrafikåtagande är att resandet ska bli billigare, enklare och tillgängligt i hela landet, och partiprogrammet vill föra en aktiv politik för att sänka biljettpriserna. Ett gemensamt nationellt biljettsystem är ett medel för just den tillgängligheten och för arbetspendling i hela landet. Planen nämner inte biljettsystem som sådant, men riktningen är entydig.
- cheaper and more accessible public transportdecisive»Vi vill bygga ut kollektivtrafiken kraftigt, göra den billigare och mer tillgänglig« (party programme ↗)“We want to expand public transport substantially, make it cheaper and more accessible”
- lower ticket prices»en aktiv politik för att sänka biljettpriserna på tågresor« (party programme ↗)“an active policy to lower ticket prices on train journeys”
- public transport throughout the country»bygga ut kollektivtrafiken i hela landet, och gör det billigare att åka buss och tåg« (2022 manifesto ↗)“expand public transport throughout the country, and make it cheaper to travel by bus and train”
- sustainable and affordable travel»Miljöpartiets vision är hållbara och billiga resor i hela landet« (party programme ↗)“The Green Party's vision is sustainable and affordable travel throughout the country”
The plan's overriding principle is that decisions shall be made close to those affected and that power shall be moved closer to people's everyday lives, which speaks against the state introducing a unified national ticket system for all local and regional public transport.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's overriding principle is that decisions shall be made close to those affected and that power shall be moved closer to people's everyday lives, which speaks against the state introducing a unified national ticket system for all local and regional public transport. The plan does admittedly want to make it easy to choose not to use the car, but it does not point to a central system as a means. The conclusion is derived from general principles and is therefore uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande princip är att beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs och att makten ska flyttas närmare människors vardag, vilket talar emot att staten inför ett gemensamt nationellt biljettsystem för all lokal och regional kollektivtrafik. Planen vill visserligen göra det smidigt att välja bort bilen, men den anvisar inte ett centralt system som medel. Slutsatsen härleds ur allmänna principer och är därför osäker.
- decentralised decisionsdecisive»Decentralisera mera. Människor ska få bestämma mer själva, och politiska beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decentralise more. People shall have more say, and political decisions shall be made close to those affected.”
- power close to the individual»Decentralisering handlar om att flytta makten närmare människors vardag.« (party programme ↗)“Decentralisation is about moving power closer to people's everyday lives.”
- easy public transport»Det ska dessutom vara smidigt att välja bort bilen till förmån för tåg, buss, båt och cykel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It shall also be easy to choose not to use 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 party programme places responsibility for public transport on directly elected regions and states that fares and traffic decisions shall be made at local or regional level.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme places responsibility for public transport on directly elected regions and states that fares and traffic decisions shall be made at local or regional level. A national ticketing system for all local and regional public transport would move that authority to the state. The plan does affirm digital accessibility, but it does not prescribe a state-run joint ticketing system, so the rejection rests on the division of responsibility.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet lägger ansvaret för kollektivtrafiken på direktvalda regioner och slår fast att avgifter och trafikbeslut ska fattas på lokal eller regional nivå. Ett nationellt biljettsystem för all lokal och regional kollektivtrafik flyttar den befogenheten till staten. Planen bejakar visserligen digital tillgänglighet, men den anvisar inte ett statligt gemensamt biljettsystem, så avvisandet vilar på ansvarsfördelningen.
- regional responsibility for public transportdecisive»På regional nivå ska Sverige vara indelat i direktvalda regioner med ansvar för bland annat sjukvård, kollektivtrafik, näringslivsutveckling och regionplanering.« (party programme ↗)“At regional level, Sweden shall be divided into directly elected regions with responsibility for, among other things, healthcare, public transport, business development and regional planning.”
- decisions at regional level»Detta görs genom god stadsplanering och miljöavgifter, t.ex. trängselavgifter, som ska beslutas på lokal eller regional nivå och vars avgifter ska stanna på regional nivå.« (party programme ↗)“This is achieved through good urban planning and environmental fees, such as congestion charges, that shall be decided at local or regional level and whose fees shall remain at the regional level.”
- digital accessibility»En central princip är därför att alla offentliga funktioner som till en rimlig kostnad kan göras digitalt tillgängliga också ska göras digitalt tillgängliga.« (party programme ↗)“A central principle is therefore that all public functions that can be made digitally accessible at reasonable cost shall also be made digitally accessible.”
The plan wants public transport to be attractive in a market with competition and long-term rules of the game, and according to the subsidiarity principle places responsibility on the level that can manage the task, with strong municipal self-government.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants public transport to be attractive in a market with competition and long-term rules of the game, and according to the subsidiarity principle places responsibility on the level that can manage the task, with strong municipal self-government. A nationally mandated ticket system for all local and regional public transport takes over a task that the plan places close to the traveller. The plan does not, however, give explicit guidance on ticket systems, which is why the conclusion is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att kollektivtrafiken är attraktiv på en marknad med konkurrens och långsiktiga spelregler, och lägger enligt subsidiaritetsprincipen ansvaret på den nivå som klarar uppgiften, med en stark kommunal självstyrelse. Ett nationellt påbjudet biljettsystem för all lokal och regional kollektivtrafik tar över en uppgift som planen lägger nära resenären. Planen ger dock inget uttryckligt besked om biljettsystem, varför slutsatsen är osäker.
- public transport in competitiondecisive»Kollektivtrafiken med buss, spårvagn, tåg och tunnelbana ska vara attraktiva resealternativ« (party programme ↗)“Public transport with bus, tram, train and underground shall be attractive travel alternatives”
- the subsidiarity principle»Subsidiaritetsprincipen innebär att det som en liten gemenskap själv klarar av att hantera ska« (party programme ↗)“The subsidiarity principle means that what a small community itself can manage shall”
- municipal self-government»Kommunal demokrati förutsätter kommunal självstyrelse.« (party programme ↗)“Municipal democracy requires municipal self-government.”
- fares promote collective travel»Taxorna inom kollektivtrafiken ska utformas så att de främjar kollektiva« (party programme ↗)“The fares within public transport shall be designed to promote collective”
The plan establishes that decisions shall be taken at the lowest possible level and warns that a large state leads to a weaker society.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that decisions shall be taken at the lowest possible level and warns that a large state leads to a weaker society. A national ticket system for all local and regional public transport moves responsibility from the regions to a state-wide solution, which conflicts with that principle. The plan instead emphasises decentralised decision-making as a strength.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att beslut ska fattas på lägsta möjliga nivå och varnar för att en stor stat ger ett svagare samhälle. Ett nationellt biljettsystem för all lokal och regional kollektivtrafik flyttar ansvar från regionerna till en statlig enhetslösning, vilket strider mot den principen. Planen framhåller i stället decentraliserat beslutsfattande som en styrka.
- decisions at the lowest leveldecisive»Beslut ska fattas på lägsta möjliga nivå, så nära medborgarna som möjligt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decisions shall be taken at the lowest possible level, as close to citizens as possible.”
- decentralised decision-making»Decentraliserat beslutsfattande gör samhället mer robust« (party programme ↗)“Decentralised decision-making makes society more robust”
- limited state ambition»En stor stat leder till ett svagare samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“A large state leads to a weaker society.”
The plan regards municipal self-determination as central, and is critical of taxpayers bearing large subsidies to public transport; it also wants to eliminate unnecessary public expenditures.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan regards municipal self-determination as central, and is critical of taxpayers bearing large subsidies to public transport; it also wants to eliminate unnecessary public expenditures. The counter-proposal's requirement for a national Sweden Card for all local and regional public transport, motivated by climate goals, entails a centralization and a new state expenditure that the plan does not call for. The conclusion is derived from adjacent principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen betraktar det kommunala självbestämmandet som centralt och är kritisk mot att skattebetalarna får bära stora bidrag till kollektivtrafiken; den vill dessutom skala bort onödiga offentliga utgifter. Motförslagets krav på ett nationellt Sverigekort för all lokal och regional kollektivtrafik, motiverat av klimatmålen, innebär en centralisering och en ny statlig utgift som planen inte efterfrågar. Slutsatsen är härledd ur närliggande principer.
- kommunalt självbestämmandedecisive»Vi betraktar det kommunala självbestämmandet som en central del av demokratin« (party programme ↗)“We regard municipal self-determination as a central part of democracy”
- kritik mot kollektivtrafiksubventioner»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 simultaneously forced to pay tax subsidies for those who can afford to buy expensive electric cars and also pay large subsidies to public transport through their tax bill.”
- minskade offentliga utgifter»Skala bort onödiga utgifter i det offentliga« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Scale back unnecessary expenditures in the public sector”
- alla trafikslag jämställda»Sverigedemokraterna anser att samtliga transportslag, inklusive bil och flyg, är viktiga för att samhället ska fungera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats believe that all modes of transport, including car and air, are important for society to function.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:TU15)
- Committee report full text (HD01TU15)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1050 — Ett hållbart och tillgängligt transportsystem för framtiden av Jamal El-Haj (-)
- Motion 2025/26:1113 — Samordning av färdtjänst över regiongränser av Anne-Li Sjölund (C)
- Motion 2025/26:1160 — Avgiftsfri kollektivtrafik för alla under 18 år och studenter av Adrian Magnusson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1202 — Persontågstrafiken i Skåne av Ulrika Heindorff m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1244 — Upphandling av trafik av Anna-Caren Sätherberg och Lena Bäckelin (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:1480 — Spårspring av Eva Lindh (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1644 — Stärkt kommunal rätt att anordna lokal kollektivtrafik av Charlotte Nordström (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1695 — Översyn av färdtjänsten av Staffan Eklöf och Ann-Christine Frohm (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1817 — Punktligheten på järnväg av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1840 — Rikstäckande kollektivtrafikbiljett av Monica Haider och Robert Olesen (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:1963 — Kollektivtrafikens ojämna tillgänglighet av Mikael Dahlqvist och Lars Mejern Larsson (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:2061 — Fler nattågsförbindelser för hela landet och för Sveriges beredskap av Anders Ådahl (C)
- Motion 2025/26:2132 — Spårspring av Jörgen Berglund och Viktor Wärnick (båda M)
- Motion 2025/26:2556 — Kamerabevakning inom offentlig kollektivtrafik av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:2586 — Utrop på tågstationer av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:2695 — Nattåg av Mattias Jonsson och Gunilla Carlsson (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:2756 — Likvärdig färdtjänst av Azadeh Rojhan (S)
- Motion 2025/26:2758 — Längre färdtjänsttillstånd vid varaktiga funktionsnedsättningar av Azadeh Rojhan (S)
- Motion 2025/26:2778 — En funktionsrättspolitik för trygghet och delaktighet av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:2780 — Transporteffektivt och hållbart samhälle av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
Source: The Swedish Parliament