Rail transport in Sweden

Swedish rail transport is a network of 13,000 km of track (18,230 km including access and station tracks - 2009), of which 9,400 km are electrified . The construction of the first railway line in Sweden began in 1855 . The main operator is the state-owned company SJ AB , but there are several others: Veolia Transport - passenger transportation, Green Cargo - freight, Jernhusen - owns several stations.

Content

1 History
2 Main lines
3 Operators
4 Traction rolling stock
5 Rail links with related countries
6 Interesting Facts
7 See also

History

The main lines of Sweden were built between 1860-1930.

The first Swedish railway was opened in 1849 at Fruksta in Vermland and used horse-drawn power .

In 1853, the Swedish Parliament decided that the state would participate in the construction of the main iron lines and in 1856 a movement was opened between Örebro and Nura .

Railways greatly influenced the development of Swedish industry. The first two main railways extended from Stockholm to Malmo in the south and to Gothenburg in the west. These line railways were built between 1860 and 1864. The northern railway stretched parallel to the Baltic coast to Budyon in northern Sweden, and was completed in 1894 . An inland railway stretches from Gallivare in the north to Kristinehamn in the center of the country, through the central part of northern Sweden, built between 1908 and 1937 .

The construction of these lines provided a quick and safe connection from mines in the north of the country and the rest of Sweden. She also stimulated the development of business and tourism. The main routes were built in Sweden between 1860 and 1930 .

Main Lines

There are six main lines, all in state ownership.

Vastra stambanan (West Main Line), 453 km, Stockholm - Gothenburg via Katrineholm - Hallsberg - Lauxo - Falköping .
Sodra stambanan (South Main Line), 381 km, Malmö - Falkoping through Nessjo - Jonkoping .
Ostra stambanan (East Main Line), 216 km, Nessjo - Katrineholm via Mjölby - Linköping - Norrköping .
Norra stambanan (Northern Main Line), 484 km, Stockholm - Onga via Uppsala - Avesta .
Stambanan genom (Main line through Norrland ), 629 km, Brecke - Boudin via Longsele - Vennes .
Nordvastra stambanan (north-western main line), 209 km, Lakso - Norwegian border through Karlstad - Chil - Charlottenberg .

Today, the number of main lines has changed, the north-western main line is not considered the main line and it is renamed Varmlandsbanan . The southern line between Nessjo and Falköping has been abolished and is considered part of the Eastern main line. The Norwegian is now a regional railway. And the northern main line south of Okkelbu now runs along a different, shorter path.

Total length: 12,821 km (including 3,594 km of private railways).
Standard gauge : 12,821 km 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 + 1/2 in), (7,918 km electrified and 1,152 km of double-track sections (1998)
Narrow gauge: 221 km 891 mm (2 feet 11.1 in), (2001).

Operators

SJ Electric Train

The monopoly of the state railway operator was limited. The main national passenger operator SJ AB and freight Green Cargo , are wholly owned by the state. Tagkompaniet is a privately owned company located in central Sweden, and there are also many regional companies. Trams are used in Gothenburg, Norrkoping and Stockholm . There is a metro in Stockholm .

SJ has a monopoly on the management of trains X2000 and some others. Heads of districts sign contracts with an operator, most often SJ, but there may be another Swedish operator or an operator from European Union countries, who in turn provide services. Respectively, tickets for regional trips are sold by the district authorities, and the state regulates the movement around the country.

The railway is controlled by a government agency, the Swedish National Railway Administration ( Swede. Banverket ).

Traction rolling stock

Electric locomotive Rapidlok
Electric locomotive Rc
Locomotive T43
Locomotive T44

Rail links with related countries

Denmark - the Öresund railway with a gauge of 1435 mm was laid across the Öresund bridge , voltage change from 15 kV to 25 kV.
Finland - between Haparanda and Tornio , change of gauge from 1435 mm to 1524 mm.
Germany - ferry, 1435 mm.
Norway - 1435 mm gauge (three of four lines are electrified).
Poland - ferry, 1435 mm.

Interesting Facts

On June 10, 2013, the drivers of some electric trains went to work in women's skirts in protest against the ban on wearing shorts in hot weather, which the company management looked calmly and made no complaints. [one]