The Eastern main line opens up new possibilities for growth

"This is a big project that will affect residents and businesses in the city for a long
time,” says Niklas Borg (conservative), Vice-Chairman of the City Executive Board. “It
is an investment for the future that will determine the conditions for Linköping to
continue to develop as an attractive and life-friendly city and a strong engine for
growth in the region. Many new attractive locations will be created in the city - parks,
housing and business premises.”

The fact that the route is settled means new, attractive neighbourhoods for businesses
and homes and a more cohesive city without barriers. Shortened travel times and a
new modern central station are all positive effects that will contribute to growth in the
city for many years, changing Linköping's position, perhaps forever.

Attracting new businesses

The announcement of the rail route creates momentum for other important
developments. Several new roads are in the works, including a new exit from the E4.
That supports the development of nearby housing and business areas, but will also
help avoid congestion in the city centre when the construction of the East Link really
gets under way.

"Interest from companies in relocating here is increasing significantly,” says Louise
Felldin, Director of Economic Development in Linköping Municipality. “They often cite
our strong profile in innovation, access to expertise, and our perfect location as the
reason,” she adds. “The new East Link will make it easier to conduct business in
Linköping, drawing on expertise from the entire Greater Stockholm area, and vice
versa,” says Felldin.

The location of the current central station creates a barrier. Thanks to the new
location, the inner city can expand around and across the river Stångån and remain a

cohesive part of the city, while inviting more people to take part of the beautiful area
around the water and the adjacent green space at Stångebro.

A city centre of the future

Another important factor to the city’s continued growth is the city centre, which is
important not only for those who live here but also for attracting visitors. We know that
a good variety attracts more visitors, which benefits all businesses and merchants in
the central district. We like to think of it as the living room of Linköping, where you
meet up with family and friends to spend time together. However, since our city centre
was built, the needs and expectations of customers have changed. E-commerce, for
example, continues to flourish and got an even bigger boost during the pandemic.
To keep up with the future, the municipality together with the business community,
property owners and associations, have agreed on a common vision on how our city
centre should further be developed. It should feel just as relevant, modern and cosy
when the city centre expands alongside construction of the East Link.

What has become increasingly clear in recent years is that more and more people are
looking for a central district that offers more than just shopping.

“Central districts in general, including Linköping, have increased competition from the
outside world due to, for example, the digital transformation and online shopping. If we
want to be the first choice for our customers, we need to offer something unique. It
can be an experience, a service or unique products, says Jessica Stille Törnqvist,
CEO of Citysamverkan.

One ambition is to have more people active in the city centre for a larger part of the
day, creating a safe, attractive environment. To achieve this, more people need to live
and work in the area. Another way to create a more vibrant city centre is to enable a
more varied shopfront offer. That means including culture, public services and offices
in addition to shops and restaurants.

Linköping - Future Now

These initiatives will make Linköping a continuous life-friendly city – one that is close
to everything, with a vibrant city centre where people thrive and want to be. The
construction of the East Link will impact the city during the construction period, but
above all when the construction is complete. When the trains start rolling in 2035, we
will see a partially new inner city, with a greater use of the area by river Stångån and

increased flows of people within, to, and from Linköping. The business community will
have a place to grow with access to both new attractive locations, new customers and
new skills. Then the next chapter begins.