“Companies in Leksand have a net turnover of approximately SEK 17 billion, and around SEK 13.5 billion passes through the Insjön terminal at some point.”

While many Swedish municipalities struggle with workforce supply, one of the success stories is Leksand, according to Sebastian Larsson, Chairman of the Municipal Executive Committee.

“We are fairly strong and have seen growth over the past 15–20 years. It looks like this will continue, which is a rare privilege these days. Many people are choosing to move to Leksand Municipality, and we’re very happy about that.”

As Sweden’s population ages, many towns are in desperate need of workers. Leksand’s trump card is a high influx of new residents, which gives the municipality a great starting point to tap into the region’s vibrant business landscape, something Tobias Mårtensson, the Head of Business Development, fully agrees with.

Sebastian Larsson describes the intermodal terminal as the lifeblood and heart of the local business community. It brings the world to Leksand and Leksand to the world—making it absolutely central.

“Companies in Leksand have a net turnover of about SEK 17 billion, and around SEK 13.5 billion flows through the terminal in Insjön,” Tobias Mårtensson adds. “It’s quite remarkable, and we can directly link 600 jobs at our larger companies to the intermodal terminal.”

Sustainability is a key concern, and both see rail transport as a welcome relief for the roads from heavy truck traffic. The environmental aspect is crucial, but so are road safety and other factors that benefit from direct rail links between Insjön and Gothenburg. In a region where winters take a toll on the road network, Sebastian Larsson welcomes anything that increases rail capacity.

“There are several major export companies in the region that are entirely dependent on this capacity. One anecdote is how a large exporter using the Port of Gothenburg was overjoyed when the capacity doubled—they could send two trains instead of one. In other words, capacity is a critical issue,” says Sebastian Larsson.

Reliability is also key, and Larsson emphasizes the national responsibility to ensure that trains are dependable, depart on time, and provide the right opportunities for businesses. If, for example, the rail line between Insjön and Gothenburg is strengthened and expanded, there’s greater potential to tap into volumes in and around Leksand. Or as Larsson puts it: 

“When train traffic is doing well, Sweden is doing well.”

Rail is absolutely essential for the regional transport system to function, and the intermodal terminal protects the road network from a meltdown. The goal is for rail to handle an increasing share of long-distance transport, while roads are used primarily for local deliveries.

“We have a very good dialogue with those handling local transport. They’re incredibly skilled and ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainability and transitioning to fossil-free transport. For instance, charging stations for heavy transport will soon be available in Insjön and Leksand,” says Tobias Mårtensson.

Leksand Municipality has already transitioned to a fossil-free vehicle fleet and uses procurement as a driver for change, by setting clearer requirements on contractors.

“I find that the business community is very aware and proactive. One example is Leksands Knäckebröd, which began its sustainability journey decades before it became a major societal issue. I believe all actors take this seriously and are doing their part,” says Sebastian Larsson.

“And I’d argue that our procurement requirements help many companies realize that being advanced in sustainability is a competitive advantage,” says Tobias Mårtensson.

Sebastian Larsson nods and concludes:

“Businesses see this as something that gives back to their operations. Their customers want products developed in an ethical and environmentally sustainable way. There’s a strong focus on cutting emissions and climate impact. Companies take this issue very seriously and do what they can—and in that effort, rail freight is a huge advantage.”

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