Østfold kollektivtrafikk intends to enter into a contract with Hvalersambandet AS for an extension of the current contract for one year until 1 January 2024. A feasibility study has been previously carried out on the electrification of the route. This has since been supplemented and updated. Support from ENOVA for charging infrastructure has also been granted. A RFI was sent out in summer 2021 in which the question of a possible start-up on 1 January 2023 was raised, amongst other things. Based on feedback from the RFI, as well as political discussions on questions related to the organisation and financing of the new contract, we would like to extend the current contract for one year. We believe that this is necessary in order to have sufficient time to have a real contest and a good process up until the start-up of a new long term contract. The political decision on the route is available on
www.viken.no, which includes the decision in the county council dated 4 March (matter 50/21) on guidelines for further operation, and 28 October (matter 233/21) on zero emission ferry operation at Hvaler.