New Mobility Package Could Lead To a Shortage of Half a Million Drivers in Europe By: Thomas Ström 11/26/21 Politicians in Brussels have created a massive new piece of paper. This time, they aim to put even higher demands on the transport sector and not least its drivers. I agree that it’s important to clamp down on operators who break rules and cheat. But we should stop and ask ourselves whether they have gone a little too far this time, as the new mobility package will be both cumbersome and time-consuming, not least for the drivers. There is a risk that this will push even more drivers to quit, and then it’s only a matter of time before we have a shortage of half a million drivers in Europe. The idea behind the new mobility package is solid. EU politicians are hoping that it will lead to healthier competition, while at the same time improving conditions for drivers who have had a rough time up until now. But like I said, I am quite convinced that a large number of drivers will change professions, because it will be both cumbersome and time-consuming to carry out transport across borders and have [A1] different salaries in the countries crossed. In addition, the car has to be returned to its country of origin, which will almost certainly create a large number of unnecessary journeys with empty vehicles that are completely insane in terms of the environment. Well, as you can imagine, there will be a lot of new things to keep track of for both drivers and companies in the transport sector. Not least for those who have to keep track of and administer all the charges. Another big question is whether the Police and the Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) and their European counterparts will have the resources to enforce the new legislation. But that's a whole other topic that we will discuss at another time. The changes are proposed to enter into force on 2 and 21 February 2022. 0 Comments SHARE The Shortage of More Than 400,000 drivers in Europe By: Thomas Ström 10/27/21 Minister invites industry to discuss how to avoid transport chaos – it was about time!! Minister of Infrastructure Thomas Eneroth recently announced what Sweden should do in order to avoid ending up where the UK currently is in terms of driver shortages. He intends to start by inviting representatives of the haulage industry, trade unions and relevant authorities to a round table discussion. Why didn't we see this coming sooner? The background to the Minister's actions is the recent high-profile shortage of drivers in the UK, which has resulted in shortages of a number of goods in shops, not least fuel. According to The Times, there is a shortage of 400,000 drivers in Europe. I think it's even more. It's been nearly five years since I predicted this and first wrote about the issue here on the blog. The reason is the poor wages and the conditions of often being away from home for long periods of time. At the same time, wages have increased in countries such as Poland, which has led to many people moving back home and taking up employment there instead. Those who have benefited most from the squeeze on transport prices are the consumers. How many of us have not stood in a shop with a product in our hands and wondered how on earth can it be this cheap? How much did the worker who made it earn and how much did it actually cost to transport it here? But in the future, we can expect a general price increase. One of the main reasons for the low transport prices is that the rest of the industry has been very good at pushing down prices for us transport companies. But with the rising costs of containers and fuel, there is a sudden understanding for the fact that transport and logistics prices have risen. And thanks to the high-profile crisis in the UK, higher prices are also being accepted in many places because drivers need higher wages. The new mobility package created by politicians in Brussels also adds to the shortage, as it becomes both cumbersome and time-consuming to carry out cross-border transport, with different pay in the countries that you pass through. In addition, the car will have to be returned to its country of origin, which will almost certainly create a large number of unnecessary journeys with empty vehicles that are completely insane in terms of the environment. But that's another story, to which I will return. Thomas 0 Comments SHARE Could Miniature Suns Be the Solution to Our Future Energy Problems? By: Thomas Ström 9/24/21 I care a great deal about the environment, which is reflected in this blog. The climate is a global issue, and we need to find a solution before it’s too late. Several countries are currently investing in fusion energy projects. Projects that have been underway for several years and that are getting closer to becoming a reality. But why is Sweden not part of the fusion power development? And when can this become a reality? Imagine if, within the near future, we could have an energy source that could solve not just the problems of a few countries, but the energy problems of the whole world. I’m talking about fusion energy, which might be the answer to the world's energy problems. We humans cannot do without the technology we are used to living with today. And when the world's energy supply is dominated by fossil fuels that are destroying our environment, we need to find alternative sources of energy that don't have the same environmental impact. Fusion energy might be the answer. There are already projects underway that aim to produce fusion energy in the future. In France, for example, 35 countries have joined forces to build the world's largest fusion power plant, ITER. Unfortunately, Sweden is not involved in this fusion energy development. But what is fusion energy? Fusion power is the same type of energy that powers the sun and the stars, and it involves the fusion of atomic nuclei. You could call it a miniature sun. Nuclear power, on the other hand, is called fission and involves the splitting of atomic nuclei, leaving behind radioactive waste. Fusion power, on the other hand, does not. In other words, it is an energy source that can supply the whole world with energy without much impact on the environment! To demonstrate how close we are to this becoming our reality, China has already managed to reach 120 million Celsius for a total of 101 seconds. They currently hold the world record for fusion energy. And by 2025, ITER in France is scheduled to be completed and they expect to be fully operational by 2035. When reading about fusion energy, I find it hard to find any drawbacks whatsoever. Except that it requires a lot of funding, and the fact that it doesn't work for more than 101 seconds so far. But honestly, who thought that we would leave our horses at home and take the car instead? Who thought that we would be able to "send letters" without stamps? Who thought that we would control our lives through smartphones? I believe this could be one of the future energy sources that can solve the energy problems we have in the world, and I wish Sweden would take a leap and contribute to the development. Thomas 0 Comments SHARE Wind Power Is Not the Answer By: Thomas Ström 9/15/21 The debate about renewable energy sources such as wind power is distorted. We can't rely solely on wind turbines, which will not in themselves be able to supply our energy needs, and which have major disadvantages for the environment, animals, and humans. Although wind power is a renewable source of energy, it has been shown to have major negative effects on the environment. Wind turbines emit a loud noise which disturbs residents living near windfarms and can also disturb and frighten wild and domestic animals – not least birds. In addition, the turbines kill a large number of insects, such as bumblebees and bees, which are fundamental for continued life. When windfarms are deployed in our oceans and lakes, they also harm marine life. Just to construct a 10 MW offshore wind turbine, you need either a 5,000-tonne concrete foundation or a 1,000-tonne steel one. The tower requires around 600 tonnes of steel, the hub another 100 tonnes, the generator yet another 450 tonnes and the rotor blades 40 tonnes of composite material. Is this really climate friendly? Even when windfarms are being deployed places where there is a lot of wind, it is not possible to rely on wind turbines as our only source of energy. There may be long periods without enough wind, and this requires alternative sources for electricity generation. Also, wind turbines must be replaced after about 15 to 20 years. By comparison, nuclear power plants have a life expectancy of about 80 years and hydropower plants about 100 years. Comparing the material requirements of nuclear and wind power for the same amount of energy produced, wind power requires 70 times more concrete and 20 times more steel than nuclear power. Many say that wind power is the answer. But how can it be considered sustainable? Thomas 0 Comments SHARE Several European High-Speed Rail Investments Have Proved Ineffective By: Thomas Ström 9/7/21 I have on a number of occasions expressed my scepticism regarding high-speed rails in Sweden. And here's another post emphasising my view on the matter. High-speed trains are not necessarily faster, greener, or cheaper. The construction of a new main railway line in Sweden has a huge environmental impact as all the steel and concrete has to be produced, transported, and installed. When this new main line is operational in 2050, both air and road traffic will already be emission-free. Why not improve and maintain the railways we already have? The biggest challenge ahead for us and the rest of the transport sector is to reduce our sector's climate impact while transport is expected to increase. Spain, Germany, France, and several other European countries already have a large network of high-speed rail lines. An audit carried out by the European Court of Auditors in 2018 found that many of these lines are considered ineffective. One of the major attractions of high-speed trains is that they are allegedly very fast. According to the audit however, the trains often run at speeds well below top speed in practice. In the six countries examined by the European Court of Auditors, trains averaged only 45% of top speed. Plus, it can cost up to SEK 4 billion extra for every minute the journey is cut. In Sweden, there is talk of our new main line being completed as late as 2050. By then, both air and road traffic will have switched to electricity and other zero-emission fuels and be entirely emission-free. Moreover, it will not be very cost-effective. The single biggest disadvantage of high-speed railways is its construction. The construction itself has a huge environmental impact as all the steel and concrete has to be produced, transported, and installed. In Sweden, the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) has been investigating the possibility of improving existing railway between Stockholm and Gothenburg/Malmö instead of building a new one. This would cost about half as much. Not least for the environment. Thomas 0 Comments SHARE Hydrogen Is Becoming a Viable Energy Source By: Thomas Ström 7/13/21 By 2030, there will be 30 million zero-emission cars on European roads. This is only one of several tough EU goals, and it will be exciting to follow and take part of this one in particular. Those of you who read my blog regularly know that I have since long highlighted the promise and benefits of hydrogen as an energy source. Without hydrogen, it will be impossible to reduce carbon emissions by 90% by 2050, which is the overall target. Along with batteries, hydrogen is being singled out as one of the innovative technologies needed to achieve the climate goals. At the same time, this development is expected to create millions of new jobs. Against this backdrop, the European Commission announced last summer that it will invest €430 billion by 2030 to make hydrogen part of our future energy sources. This means that we now have an opportunity to benefit from the huge investments that the EU is making in hydrogen technology. In addition, the government has created opportunities for companies to invest through various initiatives. This is the reason that NTEX have long-standing discussions with both AB Volvo and Gasum on how we as companies can take advantage of this new technology. The more you learn about this area, the clearer it becomes that we are facing a technological revolution in the transport sector. Even something as simple as refuelling requires special protective equipment as the gas is chilled to around 170 degrees below zero Celsius. This means that the fuel tank is almost comparable to a thermos. Hydrogen was also the theme of one of the interesting seminars I attended during Almedalen Week. The title was: "The Transformation of Road Transport – What Does It Look Like and What Will It Mean?" The seminar was organised by Vätgas Sverige and was attended by representatives from the European Comission, Volvo Trucks, Chalmers University of Technology, Vätgas Sverige and politicians, among others. Questions raised included: What will the new mobility technology entail? What will our way of transport look like in five years' time? What political decisions and support are needed to make the transition a reality? If you want to take part in the seminar, you can do so via this link: https://almedalsveckanplay.info/62019 0 Comments SHARE Future Route for the World’s Largest Cargo Ships Puts Major Focus on the Port of Gothenburg By: Thomas Ström 6/23/21 The fact that rising global temperatures are affecting the environment has not escaped anyone’s notice. But did you know that in the long run, this will also open up a new shipping route between Asia and Europe? In a few years' time, the Northeast Passage will be ice-free, and Sweden and the Port of Gothenburg will become an even greater priority than they are today. It will then be the first stop for large cargo ships on the Asia-Europe route. This being said, I would once again like to stress the importance of widening and deepening the Port of Gothenburg as soon as possible. There is every reason to believe that Gothenburg will, within a few years, be the first stop in Europe for the enormous cargo ships that come fully loaded from Asia. By then, the Port of Gothenburg must have been dredged and widened. Otherwise, these ships won't be able to enter the port and will have to go on to ports such as Hamburg and Rotterdam, where they will most likely unload all their cargo instead. This is also where they will be fully loaded before heading back to Asia. There is therefore a high risk that they will not be able to enter Gothenburg on their return journey to the Far East either. This scenario would be a complete disaster, not least for the environment. Should this be the case, all containers that are currently unloaded and loaded from these gigantic ships will instead have to be transported between the Port of Gothenburg and other European ports by truck. In 2018, the government announced their decision and budget to deepen the Port of Gothenburg, but so far, nothing has happened. This decision is, according to many, myself included, one of the most important decisions made during this entire term of office. It is now up to the land and environmental courts to approve the project. If they do, the project can apparently be completed by 2026. I think it should be possible to speed up this process. Efficient imports and exports via the Port of Gothenburg are vital for Sweden's economy in the future as well. Thomas Ström 0 Comments SHARE Why is it taking so long to broaden and deepen the Port of Gothenburg? By: Thomas Ström 5/26/21 WORLD'S LARGEST CARGO SHIPS RUN HALF-FULL TO AND FROM GOTHENBURG For years now, many of us have been saying that the Port of Gothenburg needs to be made deeper and wider so that the biggest cargo ships don't have to go come and go with half as much cargo as they can actually carry. In 2018, the government announced their decision and budget to deepen the port, but so far, nothing has happened. It is now up to the land and environmental courts to approve the project. If they do, the project can apparently be completed by 2026. Does it really have to take that long? Efficiency and a greater respect for the environment are driving the trend towards even larger ships. It is not difficult to understand that it's cheaper to load a large ship than a small one. That's why more and more shipping companies are investing in building huge ships, and ports need to keep up and develop at the same pace in order to be able to handle cargo in the best possible way. One incident that clearly shows what can happen to these large ships in shallow ports and passages is the case of the Ever Given – the ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal a while ago. It was quite the ordeal. The whole of world trade was affected, which is not surprising given that each day, roughly 50 ships transport about 10 billion USD worth of goods through this particular passage. At present, there are about 80 ships that are roughly the size of the Ever Given and another 60 are under construction right now. Fully loaded, they weigh over 200,000 tonnes! These ships can carry more than 20,000 containers (20-foot). In this context, it's easy to understand the data from the Bloomberg News, which claims that the container capacity of the world's ships has doubled these last ten years. These are the ships that operate on the Europe-Asia route, loading consumer goods and intermediate goods in China and Singapore and then heading for Europe via the Suez Canal after passing through India. Here in northern Europe, they dock at ports such as Antwerp, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Gothenburg. It's fortunate that Gothenburg is the last port on this route, as it is the only port that these ships cannot call at with a full load. They have to come half full, which means that Sweden cannot accommodate a fully loaded modern cargo ship. And apparently, we won't be able to do so until 2026. Once in Gothenburg, traditional Swedish exports such as wood, paper, machinery and other engineering products are loaded onto the ship. But like I said, they can only be loaded half-full in Sweden's and the Nordic countries' largest container ports. The ships will thus be larger, more modern and more efficient, requiring huge investments, while the Port of Gothenburg will at best be able to accommodate them and load them full in five years' time. Can't they speed up the process? 0 Comments SHARE The irresponsible decision to shut down Bromma Stockholm Airport in the midst of a pandemic By: Thomas Ström 5/3/21 It has now been confirmed that the Swedish government intends to shut down Bromma Stockholm Airport, without yet having presented a plan on the expansion and development of Arlanda Airport. In fact, the government hasn't even guaranteed that Arlanda will at all be expanded. This is a rash decision, and the fact that it has been made in 2020, the year of the pandemic, is preposterous. In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation sector is now facing their greatest challenge to date. And then comes the decision to shut down Bromma airport. It is widely known that the Green Party (Miljöpartiet) don't take kindly to aviation. No news there. But no matter what opinion you might have on the matter, we must agree that it is deeply irresponsible to use the current crisis as an excuse to make this decision. Regular readers of my blog know that I oppose this shutdown. Our last hope is the Centre Party (Centerpartiet), who have yet to decide on the matter. This is a rare opportunity for a political party – to have the chance to stand up for a political issue that has been as defining as the Centre Party’s compassion for rural Sweden. It just so happens that this very group that will be hit hardest if the airport will be shut down. So, the real question is whether the Centre Party can stand their ground or not. As recently as April 27th, municipal commissioner Anders Ågren from the Moderate Party (Moderaterna) wrote an op-ed in Swedish local paper Västerbottens-Kuriren, declaring that this was a rash and unfair decision, seeing as it was founded on the state of the air traffic in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. He continues to express that it is: "deeply irresponsible and a blow to the whole nation which has come to depend on good airport infrastructure back and forth from the capital for work, business and growth." In his op-ed, Ågren also states that Bromma Airport is a nation-wide concern, which I have also mentioned in previous blog posts. The whole of Sweden – especially the business sector – is dependent on functional domestic flights and efficient flight connections to and from Stockholm. Bromma is a key complement to Arlanda for cities like Umeå. According to Ågren, a substantial part of the flights back and forth from Umeå Airport go through Bromma. If you have read my previous blog posts, I'm sure you’re aware that I fully agree with Ågren's view that this decision shows that the government lacks fundamental understanding of the importance of efficient flight connections around the country. Furthermore, Ågren states that it's remarkable that the government hasn't consulted any politicians or local businesses in Umeå or other parts of the nation, who will be deeply affected by this decision. Supposedly, not even the aviation sector has been consulted. If this is correct, it is a truly catastrophic! Odds are that the Centre Party will again turn their coats and show that they are not a trustworthy political party. Before the government decides on shutting down Bromma Airport, there are a lot of us who need guarantees combined with concrete decisions and investments in the Arlanda expansion. THOMAS STRÖM 0 Comments SHARE Let ACR take over the operation of Bromma Stockholm Airport! By: Thomas Ström 3/18/21 As I have previously written on the blog, Swedavia has contacted Ibrahim Baylan, Sweden's Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation, during an internal investigation to notify him that it is not possible to run Bromma Airport with profit during the ongoing pandemic. Therefore, they want to discontinue operations and invest in Arlanda Airport instead. Private operator ACR (Aviation Capacity Resources AB) has now emerged with the opposite approach and wants to take over the operation of the airport. And so, I ask myself this important question: why not let this operator take over Bromma Airport? ACR is already established in air traffic management and currently manages the air traffic at 17 Swedish airports. Along with the new group, Bromma Airport Group (BAG), ACR has advocated a take-over of the operation of Bromma Airport. Wilhelm Wohlfart, CEO at ACR, shares my exact view and considers Bromma Airport a key hub for the whole country, and not just Stockholm. I completely agree. In a press release, Wohlfart says: “Large investments have been made in Bromma Airport these last years to make the airport more accessible and better adapted to a larger number of air travellers.” “In addition, there are better conditions for sustainable air-traffic at Bromma Airport than at Arlanda Airport, as the traffic at Bromma largely consists of propeller traffic and traffic of other speed schedules (smaller aircraft).” “With our experience and Bromma Airport Group's combined knowledge, ACR can smoothly take over operations and make Bromma an attractive and profitable airport again.” Like I said, Bromma Airport is very important when it comes to access to the capital for smaller cities around the country, not least cities in the far north. As the rail services are so poor, these cities' local economy is extremely dependent on regional airports with quick flight connections back and forth from Stockholm. Bromma has been developed into a distinct and smart domestic airport with a passenger-friendly and easy-to-access profile. Furthermore, large sums have been invested in recent years to allow the airport to function for a long time to come. Another aspect to consider is Bromma's size and location close to the city centre, which is critical for essential transportation such as air medical services and organ transport, which fully depend on quick and safe flight connections. ACR confirms that there are a number of investors, collaborators and other interested parties behind them who will guarantee a smooth operation of the airport, would a take-over occur. If you add to this the costs of dismantling Bromma Airport and developing Arlanda Airport, I can't help but wonder – why not just let ACR take over the operations of the airport? Thomas Ström 0 Comments SHARE SELECT LANGUAGE RECEIVE RSS UPDATES About Ströms blogg Welcome to my blog. Here I will write about transport and logistics and much more ... If you want to contact me, feel free to send an e-mail to thomas.strom@ntex.se or call me on +46 (0)708-61 42 90. Read more about Thomas Ström Visit www.ntex.se Blog archive November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014