Last update for this page: 15 June 2007.
National Railway System: Railway infrastructure is owned and maintained by Banverket and most train services are operated by SJ AB. Most SJ activities are being devolved into three subsidiaries:
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SJ AB – Passenger services |
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Green Cargo AB (GC) – Freight |
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Swedcarrier AB – Service divisions - Now privatised. |
Various residuary activities remain with Statens Järnvägar.
The other major passenger operators are Arlanda Express, Arriva, Merresor, Stockholmståg, Svenska Tågkompaniet (TKAB) and Veolia Transport. Banverket and SJ are government-owned, the others private. Merresor is jointly owned by SJ and PTG. Stockholmståg is a subsidiary of SJ. Norwegian NSB is the owner of TKAB. More information under Other Railways below. Many local passenger services are operated on behalf of regional transport authorities. In most cases the operator is SJ, for exceptions see below. Banverket owns former SJ lines, plus those of Trafikaktiebolaget Grängesberg Oxelösunds Järnvägar (TGOJ). TGOJ is now a subsidiary of GC. It owns some locomotives used on freight services. Certain SJ passenger services are branded under other names, such as "Kustpilen", "Kust till Kust", and "TiM" (Trafik i Mälardalen). “TiB” (Tåg i Bergslagen) is now operated by TKAB.
DSB run through trains to Ystad, to connect with passenger ferry services to Bornholm.
Through services Stockholm – Oslo are operated by SJ, Oslo – Göteborg are operated by NSB in cooperation with TKAB.
The following are regional transport authorities responsible for the provision of local train services. They contract with SJ or another train operator to run the trains for them. Services crossing regional transport authority boundaries are usually jointly-sponsored. A few are joint operations with SJ long-distance services. In several cases a separate brand name, shown in brackets, is used to promote some or all services.
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Blekinge Länstrafik: Malmö – Karlskrona |
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AB Dalatrafik: Ludvika – Västerås, Borlänge – Malung (both TiB, operator TKAB) |
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Hallandstrafiken: Varberg – Borås (Viskadalen), Halmstad – Nässjö (operator Merresor) |
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Jönköpings Länstrafik: Nässjö – Halmstad, Nässjö – Vetlanda, Nässjö – Hultsfred , Stockaryd – Sävsjö – Nässjö – Tranås, Jönköping – Vaggeryd – Värnamo - Växjö (all branded as LÄNSTÅGEN or Krösatågen, operator Merresor), Nässjö – Töreboda (operator SJ) |
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Kalmar Län Trafik AB: Linköping – Kalmar, Linköping – Västervik (all operated by SJ) |
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Länstrafiken i Jämtlands län (Z-trafik AB): Östersund – Sundsvall (MittLinjen, Operator Veolia) |
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Skånetrafiken: Malmö – Landskrona – Helsingborg – Ängelholm, Malmö – Höör, Malmö – Karlskrona, Malmö – Teckomatorp – Helsingborg, Malmö – Ystad - Simrishamn, Helsingborg – Kristianstad (all except the Kristianstad and Karlskrona services branded as Pågatågen and operated by Arriva) |
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Storstockholms Lokaltrafik: Stockholm to Bålsta, Södertälje, Märsta, Gnesta and Nynäshamn (all operator Stockholmståg), plus metro services (see below) |
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Södermanlands Läns Trafik: Eskilstuna – Västerås (TiM) |
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Upplands Lokaltrafik: (Upptåget), Upplands Väsby – Arlanda C – Uppsala – Tierp – Gävle from 21 August 2006, Uppsala – Sala – Västerås |
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Värmlandstrafik: Karlstad – Torsby, Karlstad – Arvika – Charlottenberg, Karlstad – Kristinehamn – Grängesberg/Ludvika (operator Merresor) |
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Västtrafik: Hallsberg – Herrljunga (- Göteborg) via Mariestad (Kinnekulletåget, operator Veolia), Töreboda – Nässjö (Vättertåg), Skövde – Göteborg: Göteborg – Strömstad , Göteborg – Kungsbacka , Göteborg – Alingsås (GL TÅGET) |
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Västernorrlands Läns Trafik: Sundsvall – Östersund (MittLinjen, Operator Veolia) |
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Västmanlands Lokaltrafik: Västerås – Sala – Uppsala , Västerås – Fagersta (TiB), Västerås – Eskilstuna |
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X-trafik AB: Gävle – Ljusdal, Gävle – Sundsvall (X-tåget, Operator TKAB) |
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Östgötatrafiken: Norrköping – Tranås, Linköping – Hultsfred and Linköping – Västervik (operator SJ) |
The following unprofitable services have been contracted out by Rikstrafiken (a government body) to operators other than SJ:
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Göteborg and Stockholm to Umeå, Luleå and Narvik: Veolia |
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Sundsvall – Östersund : Veolia |
Language: Swedish. The Sami, who live in the extreme north, have their own language, which is related to Finnish.
Currency: Swedish Kronor
UIC code: 74
Timetable: The national timetable is labelled RESPLUS and is divided into three parts: 1) Maps (SEK 40) appears once per year. The detailed maps are now more comprehensive and much improved. 2) Rail services (free of charge). 3) Inter-urban buses and certain ferries (SEK 40). Parts 2) and 3) appear two times per year. Urban bus and tram services are not shown. Apart from an explanation of abbreviations, the timetable is entirely in Swedish – but it is probably the most clearly-presented timetable for any European railway. Rail timetables include details of engineering work involving diversions or bus substitution, but information is not comprehensive. The Scandinavian summer timetable period is of much shorter duration than elsewhere in Europe, running from mid-June to mid-August. There is a timetable revision in December, but a new issue of the timetable may not be issued if changes are minor or allowed for in the August edition. Geographic maps bound into the timetable show railways and bus routes. A pair of small-scale maps give a national over-view, with a further sixteen maps showing the whole country in greater detail. Lakes, rivers and ferry services are also shown. All railway stations are marked, except in the Malmö and Stockholm areas, which are fully covered by further enlargements.
PDF-downloadable timetables (linjetidtabeller) and the facility to make timetable enquiries are available, also in English, at www.resplus.se. It is recommended that anyone travelling in the spring does not rely on the printed timetable, but to download all relevant new timetables from this site.
Gauge: Standard. SJ used to operate several 891mm gauge lines, but these have all been closed or converted to standard gauge. There are tourist operations on a few ex-SJ narrow-gauge lines, but the only 891mm gauge line still with regular passenger services is the SL Roslagsbanan (with operator Roslagståg, owned by TKAB and Danish DSB).
Electrification: 15kV 16.7 Hz. The Öresund bridge is 25 kV 50Hz (DSB system). The SL Roslagsbanan is 1500V dc and the SL Saltsjöbanan is 900V dc.
Rule of the road: Left, but most lines in Sweden are single track. All lines with two or four tracks have CTC and full bi-directional signalling. The Öresund trains Malmö – København use the Danish right hand rule from Malmö C.
Other railways: Apart from tourist lines and industrial concerns, the only significant private railway is the Inlandsbanan from Mora to Brunflo and Östersund to Gällivare.
Malmtrafik AB (and Norwegian company Malmtrafik AS) was jointly-owned by SJ, NSB and the mining company LKAB, but is now a fully owned subsidiary of LKAB. They operate iron ore trains over Banverket (in Sweden) and Jenbanestyrelsen (in Norway) lines from Gällivare, Kiruna and Svappavaara to Narvik and Luleå.
Among other companies operating freight (and, in some cases, passenger) trains over Banverket lines are: Hector Rail, Inlandsgods, Stena Gotthard, TX Logistik Tågåkeriet i Bergslagen and Vida Timber . Some operations are on behalf of Green Cargo and others at the private companies' own risk.
Tourist lines: Due to weather and daylight hours, most tourist lines have a very short operating season, typically from mid-June to mid-August:
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Anten-Gräfsnäs Järnväg (891mm gauge) |
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Böda Skogsjärnväg: Fagerrör – Trollskogen (600mm gauge) (Öland) |
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Bläse Kalkbruksmuseum: Kalkbruket – Kalkbrottet (600mm gauge) (Gotland) |
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Dal-Västra Värmlands Järnväg: Bengtsfors – Mellerud (see timetable 204) |
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Engelsberg – Norbergs Järnväg (see timetable 278) |
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Gotlands Hesselby Jernvägar: Hesselby – Eken (891mm gauge) |
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Jädraås-Tallås Järnväg: Jädraås – Tallås – Svartbäcken Nedre (891mm gauge) |
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Munkedals Jernväg: Åstorp – Munkedals hamn (600mm gauge) |
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Nora Bergslags Veteran Jernväg: Ervalla NBVJ – Nora Stad – Käppsta (Gyttorp – Pershyttan – Gyttorp) No service west of Käppsta. |
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Norrbottens Järnvägsmuseum: Gammelstad – Karlsvikshyttan (only limited excursions) |
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Ohsabanan: Ohs Bruk – Bor norra (600mm gauge) |
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Östra Södermanslands Järnväg: Läggesta – Mariefred (600mm gauge), Läggesta – Taxinge (standard gauge) |
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Skåne – Smålands Jernvägsmuseiförening: Traryd – Markaryd (only limited excursions) |
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Skånska Järnvägar: Brösarp – Sankt Olof |
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Skara-Lundsbrunns Järnvägar (891mm gauge) |
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Svanskogsbanan: Åmal – Svanskog (only limited excursions) |
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Tjustbygdens Järnvägsförening: Hultsfred – Västervik (891mm gauge - see timetable 290) |
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Upsala-Lenna Jernväg: Uppsala Östra – Faringe (891mm gauge - see timetable 292) |
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Wadstena-Fogelsta Jernväg: Vadstena – Fägelsta (891mm gauge) – a small part of the line is now reopened, see website www.wfj.se |
The Res Plus public timetable no longer contains information about most museum and tourist railways, but a free guide to preserved railways in Sweden, "Tågsommar", is published each spring by JärnvägsInfo-Förlaget, Box 1134, S-171 22 Solna. Telephone +46 8 82 27 35, e-mail jinf@rocketmail.com, web site www.sjk.se. Click on “Tågsommar” where you can find the websites for most lines above, some also with English text.
There is a large listing of Scandinavian narrow gauge tourist lines at www.ozemail.com.au/~srsoc/frame/nordng.htm
Metro: Stockholm. In addition to the Tunnelbanan, Storstockholms Lokaltrafik operates two local lines, the Roslagsbanan (891mm gauge), and the Saltsjöbanan (both operated by Veolia), plus two suburban services using tram-style vehicles on former tram routes, the Nockebybanan and the Lidingöbanan.
Trams: Göteborg, Malmö (Malmö Stads Spårvägar Museiförening, summer weekend museum trams only www.ss.se), Norrköping, Stockholm: Nockebybanan: Alvik – Nockeby, Lidingöbanan: Ropsten-Gåshaga, Tvärbanan: Alvik – Liljeholmen – Gullmarsplan – Sickla udde (all operated by Veolia), Stockholms Museispårväg: (the tramway museum line in Stockholm): Norrmalmstorg – Valdemarsudde www.ss.se. Museispårvägen Malmköping is a tramway museum near Eskilstuna with a 2.6km operating line (also www.ss.se).
Recent and future changes:
Several cut offs, addition of a second track and new lines have opened in recent years to enable faster train services.
Kristianstad – Karlskrona re-opens after electrification on 17 June 2007. Vetlanda – Åseda and Berga – Oskarshamn have lost their passenger service. Work is in progress to double-track the remaining single-track sections of the West Coast line (Ängelholm – Göteborg) line, with the last section, the trouble-ridden Hallandsås tunnel planned for completion in 2012. Hallsberg – Mjölby (mainfly for freight, target 2010-2011?) and Göteborg – Öxnered are also being rebuilt to dual track. The Bothnia line www.botniabanan.se (click on English in top right corner), upgrading of Sundsvall – Kramfors and a new line Kramfors – Örnsköldsvik – Husum – Umeå (190 km), including a new yard at Umeå, is being built, with Örnsköldsvik – Husum as the first section (to be used by freight from Husum) which is to be completed in 2008. The entire line (equipped with ERTMS) is expected to be completed in 2010. The City Tunnel in Malmö www.citytunneln.se (in Swedish only) is expected to be completed in 2011. The building of the tunnel from Stockholm Södra station to Tomteboda is the largest of all projects. It has just started and completion is at the moment planned to be between 2013 and 2016 - see www.banverket.se/sv/Amnen/Aktuella-projekt/Projekt/1867/Citybanan-i-Stockholm.aspx.
Special Notes: Sweden pioneered the split in railway management between infrastructure ownership and train operation. Banverket is subsidised by the government so that it can provide train paths at a cost comparable with access to the road system (for which there is an equivalent road authority).
Seat reservations are compulsory on X2000 and overnight trains, and recommended on other long distance services. Tickets for long distance journeys are issued for specific trains, but will usually be accepted on others, subject to seats being available. Reservations are not indicated on seats so finding a seat that will not be claimed en route is something of a lottery – better to obtain a seat reservation at an open booking office. If someone else has the reservation to the seat you are using, they might request you to move. Special fares apply to X2000 high speed trains and a meal is provided to passengers holding premium fare tickets. A few non-X2000 services are for practical reasons operated using X2000 rolling stock, but with standard fares.
On some lines, particularly around Malmö and Helsingborg, tickets for local and main line trains are not inter-available, but there are exceptions in respect of particular trains and destinations.
SJ passenger carriages are larger than UIC standard vehicles and, apart from workings into Norway, carry passengers outside Sweden only to and from Berlin (the Berlin Night Express, via the Trelleborg – Sassnitz train ferry). Passenger-carrying access to København was only available by train ferry as there are no Swedish carriages – apart from the joint Öresund fleet – which are allowed to have passengers on board when using the Öresund bridge/ tunnel. Rebuilt SJ X2000-sets operate Stockholm – København.
It is possible to purchase a complete set of timetable graphs, showing passenger and freight trains on all BV lines, from Banverket HK, Kopieringscentralen +46 243 44 50 00 (PBX). The price is now SEK 450 (>GBP 33) incl. VAT for one year, including P&P, at least for buyers within Sweden. A CD version is now said to be available at around 350 SEK.
Banverket has reorganised its website. The key page is now: banportalen.banverket.se/banportalen/templates/bvSubPage.aspx?id=712&subject=351&epslanguage=SV. This dictionary may be useful: lexin.nada.kth.se/swe-eng.html. Click on the timetable you are interested in to the left (Fastställd means set, förslag means suggested), and a new page will open. When the timetable has been set, it will likely contain:
The graphical timetable may also be available as one file in PDF-format from website tdt.surbrunn.net. This site is not official and completely independent of Banverket and there is thus no guarantee that there will be future updates, or that updates will be available before a new timetable is valid. Note the large download sizes 33.5 - 60 MB. Always right-click and 'save target as' on your own computer.
On many local lines trains call at stations by request. Bus-style push buttons are provided in many diesel railcars, to request the train to stop. Passengers wishing to join a train at an unstaffed, request halt need to operate a hand-worked disc signal on the station platform.
Accented vowels come at the end of the Swedish alphabet, with Å, Ä and Ö following Z in that order. Accordingly, Öxnered comes last in the index of Swedish railway stations and Nässjö is further down the list than Nynäshamn.
There is a bulletin board, Postvagnen, for questions also in English, at www.sjk.se. Most native Swedes speak at least some English.
Banverket has an online service where you can see if the train you are interested in is on time. Start with www.banverket.se: click Trafikinfo (top left corner). It is in Swedish only, but should be easy to understand anyway. Select a station and click OK. You’ll see trains within an hour. Beräknas means expected at. All passenger trains except SL commuter trains and Arlanda Express are included. Information on what track is to be used in the station and the possibility to search a particular train (using train number) have been added during spring 2006.
The graphic real time service provided by Skånetrafiken (the most southern County transport company) remains at www.skanetrafiken.skane.se. Click on the text ‘Är tåget I tid?’ (bottom right corner). A new window will open. Click on the text ‘Klicka här för att se aktuell tågstatus’ (in the centre). Another window will open. Trains included in the Skånetrafiken timetable can be seen here (not X2000, some other long distance – and freight). When you can see the main window 'Aktuell tågstatus Skåne kl hh.mm' you can click on most stations and halts, and a local timetable will appear. When clicking on major locations another (more detailed) live map will also appear.
In Stockholm, the displays shown at the commuter train (Pendeltåg) stations can be seen at www.sl.se/realtidsinformation. Click on Pendeltågstider, and select the station you want to see and click Sök (search). These pages are only available in Swedish.
Maps: Banverket published a "Järnvägskarta" showing all Swedish railways. This is small scale (1:1700000) with no enlargements of complex areas.
Maps are available from the Banverket website: www.banverket.se/sv/Banverket-Produktion/Amnen/Kontakt/Kartor.aspx. There is comprehensive technical information available in English in the “Network statement” www.banverket.se/en-gb/Amnen/The-railway/Network-Statement/Issues.aspx. Right-click and "save target as”.
Last complete update 6 June 1999; updated "Recent and future changes" (1 August 1999), minor updates (19 September 1999 & 6 October 1999); Arlanda Airport details altered (3 January 2000); narrow gauge tourist lines link added (10 January 2000); "timetable maps" added (11 January 2000); minor update (3 May 2000); general update (5 November 2000 and 21 March 2001); trolleybus details amended (3 February 2002); general updates (26 June 2002, 1 December 2002, 23 December 2002, 16 June 2003, 16 August 2003, 2 January 2004, 15 June 2004, 4 January 2005, 6 February 2005, 1 June 2005, 10 June 2005); general update (16 June 2006 & 23 February 2007); general update (15 June 2007).
Copyright © 1999 - 2007. All rights reserved. Copies of this document, whether made electronically or otherwise, must be for personal use only and shall not be used for commercial purposes. The information supplied in this document is for general reference only and should not be relied upon without further specific enquiry. You may alter the formatting and content of this document only to suit your own computer or printer.