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Just over three years ago, the Stockholm traffic management region terminated an agreement with Italy’s Ansaldo STS, which was the supplier of a new signaling system for the metro’s red line. The signal system was a central part of the line upgrade that would give Stockholmers more frequent trips in traffic.
Traffic management It was very clear: Ansaldo could not fulfill and, therefore, there were reasons to terminate the contract. The project was delayed for several years and the administration put all the blame on the company, something that was also agreed with by the region’s traffic councilor, Kristoffer Tamsons (M).
– We share the conclusion they have made. It has been important to have facts on the table. This is based on sound analysis, Tamsons said when the decision was made to terminate the deal.
Ansaldo, which is now part of Hitachi Rail, appealed to the arbitral tribunal of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce and in February the verdict that granted the company the right came.
The verdict is not public nor can it be appealed. But sources with knowledge of the verdict tell DN that it claims the Swedish Transport Administration did not have a factual basis to rescind the deal.
It’s also the image DN got when we looked at the story a couple of years ago. Later, the sources pointed out that Ansaldo made mistakes, but the big problem was not with the company but with the traffic administration.
Photo: Mickan Palmqvist
How DN was able to reveal he warned an internal whistleblower that there was chaos at the project. Project managers were replaced and various parties did not coordinate their activities, while additional orders were delayed and made Ansaldo’s work difficult. The image that was given was of a disorderly organization where it was also unclear what powers the different managers and project managers had.
This image has been reinforced rather through interviews with several people who have had an idea of the work with the rearmament of the red line.
The verdict is an understatement for the traffic administration and its political leadership under Tamsons. But in addition, taxpayers in the Stockholm region now face the risk of having to pay compensation and damages of more than one billion Swedish crowns.
Since Hitachi Rail took over from Ansaldo STS after the termination of the agreement, it is also this company that can now claim damages.
DN experiences that Hitachi will file its claims for damages after Easter. But at the same time, the company warns that it would like to continue with the project, according to information from various sources to DN.
Can with in other words, instead of paying for the damages, the traffic administration can return the deal to Hitachi, which can then terminate the severely delayed project.
What speaks for itself is that Hitachi Rail already has an agreement with the traffic administration. Hitachi is one of the providers for the continuous renewal of Roslagsbanan.
Hitachi has also delivered driverless trains to the Copenhagen metro, and according to information from DN, the company is also interested in reaching the Stockholm metro.
Photo: Fredrik Sandberg / TT
The problem is the lack of mutual trust points our sources. Hitachi is hesitant to take this on unless it is convinced that traffic management has the required competency of a customer and with a clear mandate for project managers.
– It should not be another failure, as a source says.
But is not only Hitachi that must have confidence in the customer. Three years ago, the traffic administration’s confidence in Ansaldo disappeared when the agreement was terminated. The question is whether Hitachi can restore it. Otherwise, taxpayers risk losing more than one billion kronor.
The fact that the upcoming negotiations will be delicate is shown by the fact that neither Hitachi Rail nor Kristoffer Tamsons want to comment on them. Through its press secretary, Tamsons refers all questions regarding the arbitration procedure to the press service of the traffic administration.
– The policy cannot be allowed or commented on the specific legal process, says press secretary Emil Johansson.
DN has contacted management with questions about the information, but has not yet received a response.
