However, it was started much earlier.
Inlandsbanan - Wikipedia
In 1907 the Riksdag decided that the first link between Östersund and Ulriksfors was to be built. The next stage Ulriksfors-Volgsjö (today Vilhelmina) was conceived in 1911; the year after that the Sveg-Brunflo stage was given the go ahead. The northernmost stage Vilhelmina-Gällivare was agreed in 1917. By purchasing the private railway lines between Sveg and Kristinehamn the entire stretch stood clear. It was to take many years for the workers to finish this line. Originally the line was to be inaugurated in 1924, but due to recession and labour shortages it wasn't finished until 1937.
In 1907 the Riksdag decided that the first link between Östersund and Ulriksfors was to be built. The next stage Ulriksfors-Volgsjö (today Vilhelmina) was conceived in 1911; the year after that the Sveg-Brunflo stage was given the go ahead. The northernmost stage Vilhelmina-Gällivare was agreed in 1917. By purchasing the private railway lines between Sveg and Kristinehamn the entire stretch stood clear.
It was to take many years for the workers to finish this line. Originally the line was to be inaugurated in 1924, but due to recession and labour shortages it wasn't finished until 1937.
Years ago, I saw a documentary on the line on a German TV channel. IIRC they said that the Inlandsbanan had a US inspiration: it was to drive settlement and create economic growth the way Northern Pacific and Great Northern did in the regions settled by Swedes emigrating to the USA (and thereby keep more Swedes from emigrating to the USA). *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
It was often sold as a way to increase prosperity in the northern regions but in the end every project tended to be controlled from Stockholm, serving the needs of Stockholm. Which meant northern Sweden was mainly bset up to ship resources south. A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
