Trains in Sweden

The national railway company of Sweden is called SJ (State Railways - Statens Järnvägar). Visit the SJ website.

Sweden has an extensive railway network. Visitors travel smoothly and comfortably across the countryside on some of Europe’s most modern trains. Swedish rail moves between the major cities of Malmo, Helsingborg, Gothenburg and Stockholm every hour throughout the day. Take a look at the table of travel distances by train, offered by visitsweden.com.

Private railway companies

In addition to travel with the SJ, a Eurail pass is also valid for travel with the private railway companies listed below. Show your pass when you board.

• Arlanda Express
• Arriva
• DSB First
• Inlandsbanan
• JLT (local train services in Småland)
• Norrtåg
• Skånetrafiken
• Tågkompaniet
• Värmlandstrafik (local train services in Värmland)
• Västtrafik (local train services in Western Sweden) 
• Veolia 
   

Railway services

Swedish regional and inter-regional trains have 1^st and 2^nd class cars with refreshments available on board and seats adapted for disabled travelers. Some trains also have a family car with a play corner including a slide etc, where children can play during the journey.

You can reach Sweden by train from three countries:

• Denmark: Trains depart from Copenhagen for Malmö every 20 minutes. The train goes over the Öresund Bridge and arrives in Sweden in less than 30 minutes. Direct trains (SJ High Speed trains) leave from Copenhagen to Stockholm.
• Norway: There are connections between Oslo, Stockholm and Gothenburg as well as connections between Trondheim – Åre – Östersund and Narvik – Kiruna – Boden – Stockholm.
• Germany: You can travel from Berlin to Malmö with the Berlin Night Express. Reservations are compulsory. 

View bigger rail map of Sweden

Train types

The Swedish built SJ high-speed train enables you to travel the country with Stockholm as the central point. The SJ high-speed train operates on existing tracks at speeds up to 200 km/h (124 mph). SJ have managed to achieve considerably shorter traveling times with this train.

In addition, other comfortable Intercity, regional and local trains provide access to almost every other destination. Night trains will take you to the northern part of Sweden and abroad.

Domestic night trains:

• Göteborg – Östersund/Åre
• Stockholm – Östersund/Åre
• Malmö – Sundsvall/Östersund/Åre
• Malmö – Stockholm
• Stockholm – Luleå/Kiruna/Narvik
• Göteborg – Luleå/Kiruna/Narvik

International night trains:

• Malmö – Oslo (summer season only)
• Malmö – Berlin (Berlin Night Express)

Domestic trains

For most domestic trains in Sweden seat reservations are not required, so you can just hop on the train with your Eurail pass. For the SJ, high-speed train reservation is compulsory for Eurail pass holders. For InterCity and regional trains reservation is not required, but recommended if you want to be sure of a seat in busy times. See the reservation fees for domestic trains.

International trains

There are some international trains from Sweden that require a reservation fee. Examples are the InterCity from Stockholm to Oslo (Norway) and the SJ high-speed train to Denmark and Norway. See the reservation fees for international trains.

How to make reservations

Seat reservations for trains in Sweden can be made at the bigger train stations or online at SJ.se. To reserve online, enter the desired route in the journey planner. In the section Customer cards, select pass 2^nd cl (InterRail/Eurail) or pass 2^nd cl (InterRail/Eurail).
For more details, see the page train reservations Sweden.

Examples of travel times

• Copenhagen – Göteborg (3 hrs 30 min 7 dept/day)
• Copenhagen – Stockholm (5 hrs 6 dept/day)
• Malmö – Stockholm (4 hrs 30 min 14 dept/day)
• Stockholm – Göteborg (3 hrs 16 dept/day)
• Stockholm – Karlstad (2 hrs 30 min 9 dept/day)
• Stockholm – Falun (2 hrs 30 min 9 dept/day)
• Stockholm – Sundsvall (3 hrs 20 min 8 dept/day)
• Stockholm – Åre (7 hrs 3 dept/day)

Scenic routes

• Inlandsbanan (Kristinehamn – Gällivare)
   

Airport - station link

From Stockholm Arlanda airport, there are train connections to Stockholm Central (train every 15 minutes) and many other destinations. More details on the airport website.

Eurail aid office in Sweden

For questions about Eurail, you can go to the international ticket office at Stockholm central station. See the page Eurail aid offices for opening times and more aid offices in Europe.

SJ lounges

Holders of a Eurail pass 1^st class have free access to the SJ lounges at the main stations in Stockholm and Göteborg.

Boat travel from Sweden

With your Eurail pass you get:

• 50% discount from Stockholm to Helsinki (Finland), Turku (Finland), Riga (Latvia) or Tallinn (Estonia) on ferries from Tallink Silja Oy.
• 25% discount from Göteborg to Fredrikshavn (Denmark) or from Varberg to Grena (Denmark) on ferries from Stena Line.
• Free transportation (if your pass is valid in Sweden and Denmark) from Helsingborg to Helsingør (Denmark) on ferries from Scandlines.
• 50% discount from Stockholm to Turku / Helsinki (Finland) on ferries from Viking Line.

More information on discounted shipping lines in Sweden can be found on the pass benefits page.