The Norwegian state-owned company Bane NOR, together with the Norwegian Armed Forces and the Swedish Armed Forces, has signed an agreement for the purchase of new train carriages. The agreement aims to meet the increased transport needs within the Nordic region and strengthen the capacity for military transport by rail, Bane NOR states in a press release.

– The ability to move heavier military equipment and supplies by rail within Norway and between the Nordic countries is crucial for our joint defence capability. This collaboration shows that cross-sectoral and Nordic cooperation can have significant effects, and I am very pleased that we have reached this agreement, says Gro Jære, head of Norway's defence procurement agency Forsvarsmateriell.

The agreement between Bane NOR, the Norwegian Armed Forces, and the Swedish Armed Forces has been concluded in a security policy context marked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Sweden's and Finland's entry into NATO.

The collaboration means that the three parties can make joint purchases of carriages to strengthen transport capacity within the Nordic region, particularly for heavier military equipment. The agreement covers a total of up to 120 train carriages, with Bane NOR initially acquiring ten carriages as part of a pilot procurement. The remaining carriages can be purchased through options included in the agreement.