Rail transport in Sweden
Rail transport in Sweden uses a network of 10,912 kilometres (6,780 mi), the 24th largest in the world. Construction of the first railway line in Sweden began in 1855. The major operator of passenger trains has traditionally been the state-owned SJ, though today around 70% of all rail traffic consists of subsidised local and regional trains for which the regional public transport authorities bear responsibility. Passenger traffic has increased significantly since the turn of the millennium, and in 2019 Sweden ranked number five in the world (as measured in passenger kilometres per capita) and number three in the European union, as well as number sixth in the world when measured by passenger share.
| Sweden | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation | |||||
| National railway | SJ | ||||
| Infrastructure company | Swedish Transport Administration | ||||
| Major operators | Arlanda Express, FlixTrain, Inlandsbanan, Krösatågen, MTR, Mälartåg, Norrtåg, Storstockholms lokaltrafik (SL), SJ, Snälltåget, Tågab, Tågkompaniet, Pågatågen, Värmlandstrafik, Vy, Västtrafik, X-trafik, Øresundståg, Östgötapendeln | ||||
| Statistics | |||||
| Ridership | 264.6 million | ||||
| System length | |||||
| Total | 10,912 kilometres (6,780 mi) | ||||
| Double track | 2,058 kilometres (1,279 mi) | ||||
| Electrified | 8,186 kilometres (5,087 mi) | ||||
| Track gauge | |||||
| Main | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||||
| 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | 10,846 kilometres (6,739 mi) | ||||
| 891 mm (2 ft 11+3⁄32 in) | 66 kilometres (41 mi) | ||||
| Electrification | |||||
| Main | 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC | ||||
| Features | |||||
| Longest tunnel | Hallandsås Tunnel (8.7 km) | ||||
| Longest bridge | Öresundsbron (7.8 km) | ||||
| Highest elevation | 601 m a.s.l. | ||||
| at | Storlien | ||||
| Lowest elevation | 30 m b.s.l. | ||||
| at | Stockholm City Station | ||||
| |||||
In 1988, driven by significant deficits at Swedish State Railways, the Swedish parliament pursued a separation strategy that involved partitioning the ownership of rail infrastructure from train operations. This move, which made Sweden the first European country to undertake such a separation, also involved opening the railway system to private train operators, including open-access operators, and introducing competitive bidding for regional service contracts.
Sweden is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Sweden is 74.