This research report documents the findings from the pre-study project STAPLA-F, conducted by Linköping University and Trafikverket via the research program KAJT. The purpose has been to investigate how strategic facility planning for balancing of maintenance and train traffic could be done, especially regarding switches and crossings (S&C). The project has also investigated the potentials for network simplifications and the removal of (redundant) S&C. Specifically, the station Katrineholm have been used as a case study.

The results show that the economic potential for reducing the S&C maintenance spending can be in the range of 10% for midsize and larger stations, which translates to 70-80 MSEK per year, and that net traffic delays can be reduced by removal of redundant S&C. Furthermore, this is an interesting research problem, which has not yet been addressed in the research literature. Hence, it is recommended to continue with a PhD research project.