The SuRuMo pilot in Östergötland has ended – here’s what happened

From September 2025 to June 2026, Östgötatrafiken ran the SuRuMo pilot in Östergötland, across the areas of Hannäs, Karlsby, and Nykil/Gammalkil, as part of the Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027. Unlike the on-demand transport service tested in Kurzeme and Riga, the Östergötland pilot focused on carpooling – connecting residents who share similar journeys and travel together in private cars. In two of the pilot sites, participants were also given the opportunity to carpool using existing school transport services.

During the pilot:
• 277 people joined the app
• 836 travel suggestions were created
• 91 carpool trips were completed
• 53 school trips were booked

The results demonstrate a genuine need for flexible mobility solutions in rural areas – and that digital tools can be a key to meeting that need. Surveys conducted among residents in the pilot areas show that the concept is widely perceived as relevant and valuable, particularly for young people, commuters, and those without access to a private car. In the words of one participant, the carpooling app is seen as a promising solution for improving mobility in areas where public transport options are limited.

School trips stand out as a concrete success. With 53 booked rides for children and young people, the service is not only addressing adult transport needs but also contributing to safe and practical everyday logistics for rural families. In Karlsby, the school transport function received particular appreciation, while Hannäs showed the highest overall app activity.

The pilot has also generated important insights into what it takes for a service like this to work in practice. The most consistent challenge was that of critical mass: for the app to feel useful, enough people need to participate. Residents described a classic problem – without enough trips in the app, motivation to add your own decreases. Improved push notifications, technical refinements, and clearer incentives for drivers emerged as key lessons for the future.

Although the pilot activity has now concluded, the Freelway app will remain available. Östgötatrafiken will continue to operate the service independently, and residents in Hannäs, Karlsby, and Nykil/Gammalkil are encouraged to keep using the app for carpooling and school transport.