Rail transport in Sweden
Encyclopedia
Rail transport in Sweden uses a network of 13,000 km of track, the 20th largest in the world. Construction of the first railway line in Sweden
began in 1855. The major operator is the state-owned SJ AB
.
Sweden is a member of the International Union of Railways
(UIC). The UIC Country Code
for Sweden is 74.
(usually just called SJ), and the cargo transport operator, Green Cargo, are both fully owned by the state. A private company Tågkompaniet
operates in central Sweden, and there are a number of regional companies. Tram
systems are used in Gothenburg
, Norrköping
and Stockholm
. There is a metro
system in Stockholm, the Stockholm Metro
.
SJ has a monopoly to operate passenger trains where they can be run profitably from a commercial point of view. This is mostly the case for X2000
trains and some regional trains around Stockholm. Most other railways are not profitable. Average speed is an important factor regarding profitability (more distance per hour means more income per hour). For regional trains (within one county
or up to about 100 km distance) the counties
buy traffic by signing a contract with an operator. The operator is often SJ, but sometimes another operator, either Swedish or from one of the other EU countries, provides the service. For these regional trains the county transport authority sells tickets. For long-distance trains (i.e., longer than the regional trains) that are not profitable, a national authority "Rikstrafiken" signs a contract with an operator to move traffic on each line (Public Service Obligation
). In this case each operator markets and sell tickets. The operator for unprofitable services usually rents trains from the county transport authority or a special state organisation. This is because trains are expensive, take from two to three years to buy (from tender to delivery), and are hard to sell if the operator loses the contract. However, for the SJ monopoly traffic, SJ usually own the trains.
A decision was made in March 2009 to cancel the monopoly for SJ. Already in the autumn 2009 free competition will be allowed on Saturdays and Sundays when there is more room on the tracks, and to a full extent all days in the autumn 2010.
Rail traffic is supervised by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), a government agency
.
was opened in 1849.
In 1853 the Swedish Parliament
decided that the state would build main line railways, but that other lines would be built by private enterprises (often with cities as main owners), and in 1856 the first stretch, between Örebro
and Nora
(a private railway), was opened for traffic.
The main line railways were of major importance for the development of the Swedish industry. The first two main line railways were the Southern, stretching from Stockholm to Malmö in the south, and the Western, to Gothenburg in the west. These line railways were finished between 1860-1864. The Northern railway runs parallel to the Baltic coast (but not along it) up to Boden
in northern Sweden, and was finished in 1894. The Inland Railway
runs from Gällivare
in the north to Kristinehamn
in the center of the country, through the central parts of northern Sweden, and was built between 1908-1937. It was a part of the 1853 decision that the railways should avoid coasts, and not make detours to pass medium size cities along the route. The reason for avoiding coasts (most evident for the railway to northern Sweden) was to protect it from military attacks, and because steam boats were already established along the coasts as a much faster transport method than before.
The construction of the early main lines provided a fast and safe connection from the mines in the north to the rest of Sweden. It also facilitated business (and private) travel, which had earlier required horse-drawn carriages.
Also these lines have for a period been called main lines:
The principle was that the main lines were built by the state, but all others by private companies, often owned by cities to support their local need. In the period 1930-1950 most lines were purchased by the state, making the main line term less well defined.
Today, changes have been made in the terminology making the number of main lines four. The northwestern main line is not considered a main line anymore and is renamed Värmlandsbanan. The southern main line between Nässjö and Falköping is also degraded since now what was the Eastern main line (Nässjö - Katrineholm) is considered a part of the southern one. The Norrland cross line is not a main line anymore, but a regional railway. Finally the northern main line south of Ockelbo
refers to another and shorter way than that through Avesta. Sometimes the Ostkustbanan
Stockholm-Sundsvall is now considererd a main line, since it has the majority of the passenger traffic into Norrland. Inlandsbanan was considered a main line for a few decades, but is now a tourist railway only. The main lines are still owned by the state, except Inlandsbanan which is owned by the counties.
Sweden and Norway have the same ATC
system and the same voltage, meaning that trains can generally cross the border without being specially modified. Sweden and Denmark have different ATC systems and different voltage, so only specially modified trains can cross the border. The Oresundtrain
s (X31) and some of the X2000 trains can do that.
Train ferries never have electric overhead lines onboard, so diesel must be used to get trains onboard/offboard. Generally locomotives are not transported on these ferries, only trains cars.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
began in 1855. The major operator is the state-owned SJ AB
SJ AB
SJ is a government-owned passenger train operator in Sweden. SJ was created in 2000, out of the public transport division of Statens Järnvägar, when the former government agency was divided into six separate government-owned limited companies.-Overview:SJ's operations fall broadly into subsidised...
.
Sweden is a member of the International Union of Railways
International Union of Railways
The UIC , or International Union of Railways, is an international rail transport industry body.- Brief history :The railways of Europe originated as separate concerns. There were many border changes after World War I and the Treaty of Versailles. Colonial railways were the responsibility of the...
(UIC). The UIC Country Code
UIC Country Code
The UIC Country Code is a two digit number used to identify member countries of the International Union of Railways . The UIC has issued numbering systems for rolling stock and train stations that both contain the UIC Country Code. The values are defined in UIC leaflet 920-14.-Table of Codes:-...
for Sweden is 74.
Operators
The monopoly of the state owned railway operator has to some extent been cancelled. Major national passenger train operators SJ ABSJ AB
SJ is a government-owned passenger train operator in Sweden. SJ was created in 2000, out of the public transport division of Statens Järnvägar, when the former government agency was divided into six separate government-owned limited companies.-Overview:SJ's operations fall broadly into subsidised...
(usually just called SJ), and the cargo transport operator, Green Cargo, are both fully owned by the state. A private company Tågkompaniet
Tågkompaniet
Tågkompaniet or Svenska Tågkompaniet AB is a Swedish railway company that operates franchises in Northern Sweden and Greater Stockholm. The company was founded in 1999 by three former railway employees in Statens Järnvägar and the investment company Småföretagsinvest/Fylkinvest...
operates in central Sweden, and there are a number of regional companies. Tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
systems are used in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Norrköping
Norrköping
Norrköping is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County. The city has a population of 87,247 inhabitants in 2010, out of a municipal total of 130,050, making it Sweden's tenth largest city and eighth largest...
and Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. There is a metro
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system in Stockholm, the Stockholm Metro
Stockholm Metro
The Stockholm Metro is a metro system in Stockholm, Sweden. The first line opened in 1950, and today the system has 100 stations in use, of which 47 are underground and 53 above ground. There are seven lines numbered from 10 to 19, in three groups identified by a color: the Green, Red and Blue lines...
.
X2000
X2000 is a 1998 short film directed by François Ozon.-Plot:A naked man wakes up in a luxury loft, which is a residential building in an unidentified European city, after a particularly wild New Year's Eve party of the year 2000. He finds a naked woman in his bed, and obviously he does not...
trains and some regional trains around Stockholm. Most other railways are not profitable. Average speed is an important factor regarding profitability (more distance per hour means more income per hour). For regional trains (within one county
Counties of Sweden
The Counties of Sweden are the first level administrative and political subdivisions of Sweden. Sweden is divided into 21 counties. The counties were established in 1634 on Count Axel Oxenstierna's initiative, superseding the historical provinces of Sweden to introduce a modern administration...
or up to about 100 km distance) the counties
Counties of Sweden
The Counties of Sweden are the first level administrative and political subdivisions of Sweden. Sweden is divided into 21 counties. The counties were established in 1634 on Count Axel Oxenstierna's initiative, superseding the historical provinces of Sweden to introduce a modern administration...
buy traffic by signing a contract with an operator. The operator is often SJ, but sometimes another operator, either Swedish or from one of the other EU countries, provides the service. For these regional trains the county transport authority sells tickets. For long-distance trains (i.e., longer than the regional trains) that are not profitable, a national authority "Rikstrafiken" signs a contract with an operator to move traffic on each line (Public Service Obligation
Public Service Obligation
In transport, public service obligation or PSO is an arrangement in which a governing body or other authority offers an auction for subsidies, permit the winning company a monopoly to operate a specified service of public transport for a specified period of time for the given subsidy...
). In this case each operator markets and sell tickets. The operator for unprofitable services usually rents trains from the county transport authority or a special state organisation. This is because trains are expensive, take from two to three years to buy (from tender to delivery), and are hard to sell if the operator loses the contract. However, for the SJ monopoly traffic, SJ usually own the trains.
A decision was made in March 2009 to cancel the monopoly for SJ. Already in the autumn 2009 free competition will be allowed on Saturdays and Sundays when there is more room on the tracks, and to a full extent all days in the autumn 2010.
Rail traffic is supervised by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), a government agency
Government agencies in Sweden
The Government agencies in Sweden are state controlled organizations who act independently to carry out the policies of the Swedish Government. The Government Ministries are relatively small and merely policy-making organizations, allowed to control agencies by policy decisions but not by direct...
.
History
The first Swedish railroad for public transport using horse-drawn carriages, the Frykstads railroad in VärmlandVärmland
' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...
was opened in 1849.
In 1853 the Swedish Parliament
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
decided that the state would build main line railways, but that other lines would be built by private enterprises (often with cities as main owners), and in 1856 the first stretch, between Örebro
Örebro
-Sites of interest:Örebro's old town Wadköping is located on the banks of Svartån . It contains many 18th and 19th century wooden houses, along with museums and exhibitions....
and Nora
Nora
Nora or Norah may refer to:*Nora , an English and Irish feminine personal name* Nóra , a Hungarian feminine personal name-People:*Nora Aunor, a multi-awarded Filipino actress-singer-producer*Norah Baring, a British movie actress...
(a private railway), was opened for traffic.
The main line railways were of major importance for the development of the Swedish industry. The first two main line railways were the Southern, stretching from Stockholm to Malmö in the south, and the Western, to Gothenburg in the west. These line railways were finished between 1860-1864. The Northern railway runs parallel to the Baltic coast (but not along it) up to Boden
Boden, Sweden
Boden is a locality and the seat of Boden Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 18,680 inhabitants in 2005.- History :The town of Boden started as a railway junction where the Northern Line met with the Ore Line from the rich iron ore fields in northern Sweden.The town experienced...
in northern Sweden, and was finished in 1894. The Inland Railway
Inlandsbanan
-External links:* - Official site* - Information for railpass travellers...
runs from Gällivare
Gällivare
Gällivare is a locality and the seat of Gällivare Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 8,480 inhabitants in 2005. The town was founded in the 17th century...
in the north to Kristinehamn
Kristinehamn
Kristinehamn is a locality and the seat of Kristinehamn Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden with 17,836 inhabitants in 2005.- Geography :Kristinehamn is situated by the shores of lake Vänern...
in the center of the country, through the central parts of northern Sweden, and was built between 1908-1937. It was a part of the 1853 decision that the railways should avoid coasts, and not make detours to pass medium size cities along the route. The reason for avoiding coasts (most evident for the railway to northern Sweden) was to protect it from military attacks, and because steam boats were already established along the coasts as a much faster transport method than before.
The construction of the early main lines provided a fast and safe connection from the mines in the north to the rest of Sweden. It also facilitated business (and private) travel, which had earlier required horse-drawn carriages.
Network
- Total: 12,821 km (includes 3,594 km of privately owned railways)
- standard gaugeStandard gaugeThe standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
: 12,821 km of gauge (7,918 km electrifiedRailway electrification systemA railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
and 1,152 km double trackDouble trackA double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
(1998) - narrow gauge: 221 km of gauge (2001)
Main lines
There used to be six main lines (stambanor), all nationally owned:- Västra stambananVästra stambananThe Western Main Line is the main railway line between Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden. The line is electrified and consists entirely of double track, except the four-track sections between Gothenburg Central Station and Olskroken , in Järna Station , and south of Stockholm, between...
(Western main line), 453 km, StockholmStockholmStockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
-GothenburgGothenburgGothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
through KatrineholmKatrineholmKatrineholm is a locality and the seat of Katrineholm Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 21,386 inhabitants in 2005.-Early history:The name Katrineholm comes from a ducal residence with this name, after Catherina Gyllenhorn who lived there...
-HallsbergHallsbergHallsberg is a bimunicipal locality and the seat of Hallsberg Municipality, Örebro County, Sweden with 7,122 inhabitants in 2005. It is also partly located in Kumla Municipality.-Overview:...
-LaxåLaxåLaxå is a locality and the seat of Laxå Municipality, Örebro County, Sweden with 3,307 inhabitants in 2005.-History:The town was founded in the mid-19th century when the main line railway between Gothenburg and Stockholm was built in 1883. Laxå is situated exactly 226 km from both those...
-FalköpingFalköpingFalköping is a locality and the seat of Falköping Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 15,821 inhabitants in 2005.-History:The city of Falköping most likely emerged during the 15th century but earlier the town was an important site of pilgrimage due to its 12th century church... - Södra stambananSödra stambananThe Southern Main Line is a long electrified railway between Malmö and Katrineholm in Sweden. The first parts of the line opened in 1856 between Malmö and Lund, and the last parts in 1874. The line entirely consists of double track...
(Southern main line), 381 km, MalmöMalmöMalmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
-Falköping through NässjöNässjöNässjö is a locality and the seat of Nässjö Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 16,463 inhabitants in 2005.-History:Nässjö was for a long time only a rural village with agriculture as the dominant occupation. The turning point was the construction of the Swedish railway system. The southern...
-JönköpingJönköping-Notable people:*Lillian Asplund, RMS Titanic survivor*John Bauer, illustrator, painter*Amy Diamond, singer*Agnetha Fältskog, ABBA*Carl Henrik Fredriksson, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Eurozine*Anders Gustafsson, kayaker, Olympian... - Östra stambanan (Eastern main line), 216 km, Nässjö-Katrineholm through MjölbyMjölbyMjölby is a city and the seat of Mjölby Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 11,927 inhabitants in 2005.Mjölby is located by the rivulet Svartån. The name "Mjölby" is derived from "Mölloby", which comes from mylna or mölna -- meaning "mill"...
-LinköpingLinköpingLinköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County...
-NorrköpingNorrköpingNorrköping is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County. The city has a population of 87,247 inhabitants in 2010, out of a municipal total of 130,050, making it Sweden's tenth largest city and eighth largest...
) - Norra stambananNorra stambananThe Northern Main Line is long electrified railway in Sweden, between Gävle or Storvik and Ånge. The railway consists of single track except the parts between Mo grindar and Holmsveden, Kilafors and Bollnäs, and Ramsjö and Ovansjö, a total of double track....
(Northern main line), 484 km, Stockholm-ÅngeÅngeÅnge is a locality and the seat of Ånge Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden with 2,956 inhabitants in 2005.Ånge is a railway junction where the northern main line railway connected with the central main line railway .- References :...
through UppsalaUppsala- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
-Avesta Krylbo - Stambanan genom övre NorrlandStambanan genom övre NorrlandThe Main Line Through Upper Norrland is a long railway line between Bräcke, Jämtland County and Luleå, Norrbotten County in Sweden. For military and regional policy reasons, it was built in very sparsely populated areas, far away from the more densely populated coast...
(Main line through upper Norrland), 629 km, BräckeBräcke MunicipalityBräcke Municipality is a municipality in Jämtland County in northern Sweden. Its seat is located in Bräcke.The present municipality was formed in 1974 when "old" Bräcke Municipality was amalgamated with Kälarne and Revsund. The three former municipalities had been created in 1952. The number of...
-BodenBoden MunicipalityBoden Municipality is a municipality in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden. Its seat is located in Boden.In 1919 the evolving garrison town of Boden was detached from Överluleå and instituted as a city municipality of its own. In 1967 the rest of Överluleå was merged into the city together with...
through LångseleLångseleLångsele is a locality situated in Sollefteå Municipality, Västernorrland County, Sweden with 1,620 inhabitants in 2005....
-VännäsVännäsVännäs, from Wendenäs, ‘where the river changes it path’ is a locality that have existed since 1539. Vännäs is the seat of Vännäs Municipality in Västerbotten County, Sweden and had roughly 4,100 inhabitants in 2005.... - Nordvästra stambananVärmlandsbananThe Värmland Line , previously known as the Northwestern Main Line is a long railway line between Laxå and the Norway–Sweden border at Charlottenberg Station. In Norway, the line continues as the Kongsvinger Line....
(Northwestern main line), 209 km, Laxå-Norwegian borderNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
through KarlstadKarlstadKarlstad is a city, the seat of Karlstad Municipality, the capital of Värmland County, and the largest city in the province Värmland in Sweden. The city had 61,685 inhabitants in 2010 out of a municipal total that during the first quarter 2010 was 84,885 inhabitants...
-KilKil MunicipalityKil Municipality is a municipality in Värmland County in west central Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Kil.The local government reform of 1971 amalgamated Stora Kil, Järnskog and a part of Brunskog, thus forming Kil Municipality....
-CharlottenbergCharlottenbergCharlottenberg is a locality and the seat of Eda Municipality in Värmland County, Sweden with 2,048 inhabitants in 2005.Situated some 7 km from the Norwegian border, the town has a population of around 3,000. Charlottenberg railway station is the last station in Sweden before the Norwegian border,...
Also these lines have for a period been called main lines:
- MittbananMittbananThe Central Line is a long railway line between Sundsvall and Storlien in Sweden. It continues as the long Meråker Line through Norway to Hell Station and onwards to Trondheim. The railway shares line with Inland Line between Brunflo and Östersund while the line between Ånge and Bräcke is double...
(Norrland cross line), about 500 km, SundsvallSundsvall-External links:* - Official site from Nordisk Familjebok - Sundsvalls tourist information bureau. - The alternative guide to Sundsvall. - Blog with photos from Sundsvall....
-Norwegian border through Ånge-Östersund - InlandsbananInlandsbanan-External links:* - Official site* - Information for railpass travellers...
, about 1300 km, Kristinehamn-Gällivare through Mora-Östersund
The principle was that the main lines were built by the state, but all others by private companies, often owned by cities to support their local need. In the period 1930-1950 most lines were purchased by the state, making the main line term less well defined.
Today, changes have been made in the terminology making the number of main lines four. The northwestern main line is not considered a main line anymore and is renamed Värmlandsbanan. The southern main line between Nässjö and Falköping is also degraded since now what was the Eastern main line (Nässjö - Katrineholm) is considered a part of the southern one. The Norrland cross line is not a main line anymore, but a regional railway. Finally the northern main line south of Ockelbo
Ockelbo
Ockelbo is a locality and the seat of Ockelbo Municipality, Gävleborg County, Sweden with 2,709 inhabitants in 2005.The name Ockelbo, spelt "De oklabo" in 1314, contains an old marine name *Ukle, referring to modern- day lake Bysjön. The name derives from the old Swedish word "ukla" meaning swell,...
refers to another and shorter way than that through Avesta. Sometimes the Ostkustbanan
Ostkustbanan
The East Coast Line is a long mainline railway in Sweden, linking the cities of Stockholm, Uppsala, Gävle and Sundsvall, as well as the suburbs north of Stockholm.-Electrification:...
Stockholm-Sundsvall is now considererd a main line, since it has the majority of the passenger traffic into Norrland. Inlandsbanan was considered a main line for a few decades, but is now a tourist railway only. The main lines are still owned by the state, except Inlandsbanan which is owned by the counties.
Railway links with adjacent countries
- DenmarkRail transport in DenmarkThe rail transport system in Denmark consists of about 2,600 km of railway lines, of which only the Copenhagen S-train network and the main line Helsingør-Copenhagen-Padborg are electrified...
- yes - Öresund bridgeOresund BridgeThe Øresund or Öresund Bridge is a combined twin-track railway and dual carriageway bridge-tunnel across the Øresund strait.The bridge connects Sweden and Denmark, and it is the longest road and rail bridge in Europe. The Øresund Bridge also connects two major Metropolitan Areas: those of the...
- same gauge - voltage change 15kVAC/25kVAC and train ferryTrain ferryA train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
Göteborg - Frederikshavn. - FinlandRail transport in FinlandThe Finnish railway network consists of a total of 5,919 km of railways built with Russian gauge track. Passenger trains are operated by the private state-owned VR Group. They serve all the major cities and many rural areas, though railway connections are available to fewer places than bus...
- yes, but break-of-gaugeBreak-of-gaugeWith railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
/ (short dual gaugeDual gaugeA dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
track between the two stations closest to the border, without overhead linesOverhead linesOverhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
. Train ferryTrain ferryA train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
Stockholm - TurkuTurkuTurku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
(Finland). - GermanyRail transport in Germany, Germany had a railway network of 41,315 km. 19,857 km are electrified. The total track length was 76,473 km. Germany is a member of the International Union of Railways . The UIC Country Code for Germany is 80.-Overview:...
- yes - train ferryTrain ferryA train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
- same gauge - no electric propulsion onboard. Train ferryTrain ferryA train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
Malmö - Travemunde, Trelleborg - Sassnitz(Mukran) and Trelleborg - Rostock. - NorwayRail transport in NorwayThe Norwegian railway system comprises 4,087 km of track of which 2,622 km is electrified and 242 km double track. There are 696 tunnels and 2760 bridges....
- yes - same gauge - same voltage (three electric lines and one non-electric) - PolandRail transport in PolandThe Polish railways network consists of around of track as of 2008, of which the vast majority is electrified using a 3 kV DC overhead line system.Poland is a member of the International Union of Railways...
- Yes, train ferryTrain ferryA train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
Ystad - Swinoujscie - same gauge - no electric propulsion onboard. - Some of the train ferriesTrain ferryA train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
and routes.
Sweden and Norway have the same ATC
Automatic Train Control
Automatic Train Control is a train protection system for railways, ensuring the safe and smooth operation of trains on ATC-enabled lines. Its main advantages include making possible the use of cab signalling instead of track-side signals and the use of smooth deceleration patterns in lieu of the...
system and the same voltage, meaning that trains can generally cross the border without being specially modified. Sweden and Denmark have different ATC systems and different voltage, so only specially modified trains can cross the border. The Oresundtrain
Oresundtrain
Oresundtrain or Øresundståg is a regional rail network serving the Oresund Region. The train consists of multiple units manufactured by Bombardier Transportation in Kalmar, previously known as Kalmar Verkstad and lately in Hennigsdorf by LEW Hennigsdorf...
s (X31) and some of the X2000 trains can do that.
Train ferries never have electric overhead lines onboard, so diesel must be used to get trains onboard/offboard. Generally locomotives are not transported on these ferries, only trains cars.
Swedish railway network
Current lines- Ådalsbanan
- Älmhult-Olofström railway
- Älvsborgsbanan
- Bastuträsk-Skelleftehamn railway
- BergslagsbananBergslagsbananThe Bergslagen Line is a railway line consisting of two sections, from Gävle via Falun, Ställdalen to Kil, and from Ställdalen to Frövi. Although not officially, the Norway/Vänern Line is also often regarded part of the Bergslagen Line, because it was before the renaming 1990...
- Bergslagspendeln
- Blekinge kustbana
- Bofors-Strömtorp railway
- BohusbananBohusbananThe Bohus Line is a long railway line from Gothenburg via Uddevalla and Munkedal to Strömstad. The line is single track and electrified at . Bohus Line has seventeen stations; Strömstad, Skee, Överby, Tanum, Rabbalshede, Hällevadsholm, Dingle, Munkedal, Uddevalla C, Uddevalla Östra, Ljungskile,...
- Bollnäs-Furudal
- BotniabananBotniabananThe Bothnia Line is a high-speed railway line in northern Sweden. The long route, from Kramfors airport via Örnsköldsvik to Umeå, was opened in 2010 and will carry trains at speeds up to .-Introduction:...
- DalabananDalabananThe Dala Line is a single-track railway line in Sweden, linking the city of Uppsala to the villages of Sala, Avesta-Krylbo, Hedemora, Säter and Borlänge. In Uppsala, the line joins the East Coast Line, which goes south to Stockholm. In Borlänge, smaller lines connect to the villages of Mora and...
- Forsmo-Hoting railway
- Fryksdalsbanan
- Godsstråket genom Bergslagen
- Godsstråket genom Skåne
- Göteborgs hamnbana
- Halmstad-Nässjö railway
- HaparandabananHaparandabananThe Haparanda Line is a long railway line between Boden and Haparanda in Sweden. A long branch from Morjärv to Kalix is also considered part of the line, as is the long section from Haparanda to Torneå, which is on the Finnish side of the Finland–Sweden border. The line is the only Swedish...
- InlandsbananInlandsbanan-External links:* - Official site* - Information for railpass travellers...
- Jönköpingsbanan
- KinnekullebananKinnekullebananKinnekulle Line is a long unelectrified single track railway line from Håkantorp via Lidköping and Mariestad to Gårdsjö in Sweden. At Gårdsjö, it connects to the Western Main Line and at Håkantorp it connects with the Älvsborg Line. The line lacks both automatic train protection and centralized...
- KontinentalbananKontinentalbananThe Continental Line is a long railway between Malmö and Trelleborg in Sweden. At Trelleborg the railway terminates at a railway ferry quay allowing rail cars to be ferried to Sassnitz in Germany. A part of the railway is also part of the line between Malmö and Copenhagen via the Oresund Bridge...
- Kristinehamn-Persberg railway
- Kust till kustbanan
- Lilla Edet-Alvhem railway
- Lysekilsbanan
- MalmbananMalmbananThe Iron Ore Line is a long railway line between Riksgränsen and Boden in Norrbotten County, Sweden. The line contains two branches, from Kiruna to Svappavaara and from Gällivare to Koskullskulle. The term is often colloquially used to also include the Ofoten Line, from Riksgränsen to Narvik in...
- Markarydsbanan
- Mellansel-Örnsköldsvik railway
- MittbananMittbananThe Central Line is a long railway line between Sundsvall and Storlien in Sweden. It continues as the long Meråker Line through Norway to Hell Station and onwards to Trondheim. The railway shares line with Inland Line between Brunflo and Östersund while the line between Ånge and Bräcke is double...
- Mora-Märbäck railway
- Morjärv-Karlborgsbruk railwayHaparandabananThe Haparanda Line is a long railway line between Boden and Haparanda in Sweden. A long branch from Morjärv to Kalix is also considered part of the line, as is the long section from Haparanda to Torneå, which is on the Finnish side of the Finland–Sweden border. The line is the only Swedish...
- MälarbananMälarbananThe Mälaren Line is a railway line from Stockholm via Västerås to Örebro in Sweden. The section from Stockholm to Kolbäck and from Valskog to Arboga has double track. The line was upgraded to high-speed in 2005. The line is mostly used by passenger trains, although it is also served by some...
- Nässjö-Åseda railway
- Nässjö-Oskarshamn railway
- Norge/VänerbananNorge/VänerbananNorway/Vänern Line is a Y-shaped railway line in Sweden. The main section runs from Gothenburg Central Station to Kil Station, mostly along the west shore of Vänern. There is a branch from Erikstad to Kornsjø, which continues as the Østfold Line in Norway. The lengths of the line are from...
- Norra stambananNorra stambananThe Northern Main Line is long electrified railway in Sweden, between Gävle or Storvik and Ånge. The railway consists of single track except the parts between Mo grindar and Holmsveden, Kilafors and Bollnäs, and Ramsjö and Ovansjö, a total of double track....
- Nynäsbanan
- Örbyhus-Hallstavik railway
- Öresundsbanan
- Österlenbanan
- OstkustbananOstkustbananThe East Coast Line is a long mainline railway in Sweden, linking the cities of Stockholm, Uppsala, Gävle and Sundsvall, as well as the suburbs north of Stockholm.-Electrification:...
- Piteåbanan
- Rååbanan
- Sala-Oxelösund railway
- Skånebanan
- Stambanan genom övre NorrlandStambanan genom övre NorrlandThe Main Line Through Upper Norrland is a long railway line between Bräcke, Jämtland County and Luleå, Norrbotten County in Sweden. For military and regional policy reasons, it was built in very sparsely populated areas, far away from the more densely populated coast...
- Storuman-Hällnäs railway
- Stångådalsbanan
- SvealandsbananSvealandsbananSvealandsbanan is the Swedish name of the Svealand Railway, which runs between Södertälje and Valskog via Mariefred Läggesta, Strängnäs and Eskilstuna. The length is 115 km....
- Söderhamn-Kilafors railway
- Södra stambananSödra stambananThe Southern Main Line is a long electrified railway between Malmö and Katrineholm in Sweden. The first parts of the line opened in 1856 between Malmö and Lund, and the last parts in 1874. The line entirely consists of double track...
- Tjustbanan
- Viskadalsbanan
- Vännäs-Holmsund railway
- VärmlandsbananVärmlandsbananThe Värmland Line , previously known as the Northwestern Main Line is a long railway line between Laxå and the Norway–Sweden border at Charlottenberg Station. In Norway, the line continues as the Kongsvinger Line....
- Västerdalsbanan
- VästkustbananVästkustbananThe West Coast Line is a railway line between Gothenburg and Lund, which runs along the West Coast of Sweden....
- Västra stambananVästra stambananThe Western Main Line is the main railway line between Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden. The line is electrified and consists entirely of double track, except the four-track sections between Gothenburg Central Station and Olskroken , in Järna Station , and south of Stockholm, between...
- Ystadbanan
See also
- Rail transport by countryRail transport by countryThis page provides an index of articles on Rail transport by country.Other indexes available include:*List of railway companies by country*List of countries by rail transport network size*Rail usage statistics by country...
- High-speed rail in SwedenHigh-speed rail in SwedenIn Sweden many trains run at 200 km/h. Train types which currently attain this speed include the X2 tilting trains for long distances, the Regina widebody trains, the X40 double-decker regional trains, and the Arlanda Airport Express X3. Since both the X2 and X3 are allowed to run at...
- Transportation in Sweden
- RoslagsbananRoslagsbanan-SL southern network:*Stockholms östra–Djursholms Ösby–Roslags Näsby–Vallentuna–Lindholmen–Kårsta *Stockholms östra–Djursholms Ösby–Roslags Näsby–Åkersberga–Österskär...
, the oldest electrified railway line for personnel transportation in northern Europe. - MalmbananMalmbananThe Iron Ore Line is a long railway line between Riksgränsen and Boden in Norrbotten County, Sweden. The line contains two branches, from Kiruna to Svappavaara and from Gällivare to Koskullskulle. The term is often colloquially used to also include the Ofoten Line, from Riksgränsen to Narvik in...
, railway line between LuleåLuleå- Transportation :Local buses are run by .A passenger train service is available from Luleå Centralstation on Sweden's national SJ railway service northbound to Narvik on the Norwegian coast, or southbound to Stockholm. See Rail transport in Sweden....
, Sweden, and NarvikNarvikis the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
, Norway. Inaugurated on July 14, 1903. The stretch between Kiruna and Riksgränsen was the first major railway line in Sweden to be electrified in 1915.