What is it like travelling by night train in Sweden? We took a sleeper train from Lund to Stockholm on our way home from our sailing trip in Poland and Germany. This is the first time we have travelled by sleeper in a very, very long time and here are our experiences.
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Travelling by night train in Sweden
I (Helena) travelled a lot on night trains in Sweden when I was younger. For example, I went to the mountains a few times with my parents. When I was a bit older, I travelled by night train from Stockholm to Kiruna, and then continued to the North Cape by minibus. Now it was time again for the first time in ages!
On the way down to the sailing trip in Poland, we travelled regular daytime train. When we returned from the sailing trip, we took the night train up to Stockholm. The interesting thing was that it felt like nothing had changed.
Pushchair, pram or sleeper?
When travelling by night train in Sweden, you can book a seat carriage, couchette carriage or sleeper carriage. The couchette car has six beds, the comfort is a bit more basic and you make your own bed. The sleeping cars have three ready-made beds. You can also choose between first and second class, sleep in a mixed compartment, single-sex compartment or book your own compartment.
We chose a sleeping car (2nd class) and booked a compartment for ourselves as we wanted to have good conditions to sleep well - I was going straight from the train to work!
Beds in a sleeping car
There were three beds in our compartment, and we used the bottom two. To crawl up to the top one you have to make a bit of an effort, but there is a ladder ... In both the middle and upper bed you can tighten a small safety net so you don't fall out. And maybe that's a good thing, considering that the train heaves a lot!
Storage and electrical outlets in sleeping car
There was a small strap in the compartment so we could secure at least one of our suitcases. There were also electrical outlets so we could charge our mobile phones.
Sink and toilet
Inside the compartment we had a sink. In the bathroom cabinet there were also six small tetra packs of drinking water, as well as mugs.
We had a toilet in the corridor. Apparently there was a shower room somewhere too, but we managed with some water and deodorant, haha. Note the wooden walls and the thermometer, which seems to be from a bygone era. Maybe there are more modern night trains in Sweden too, what do we know?
How did we feel about travelling by night train in Sweden?
I (Helena) slept really well, although I woke up a few times when we were turning and thought I was on a sailboat. Peter found it difficult to sleep, because of the twists and turns.
I have to admit that I was a bit surprised that the night train looked exactly like it did when I last travelled, some 20 years ago. On the other hand, we weren't really missing anything, and I was pretty well rested when I got to work. And as I said, there might be newer night trains as well.
Have you ever travelled by night train in Sweden and what did you think?
Facts about night trains in Sweden
- Lines: Night trains in Sweden run Göteborg/Stockholm-Östersund, Åre, Duved and Göteborg/Stockholm-Boden, Luleå, Kiruna, Abisko, Björkliden, Riksgränsen, Narvik and Stockholm-Malmö.
- Electricity/WiFi: Electrical outlets are available in all compartments. WiFi is being introduced and is available in some couchette and sleeper carriages.
- Pets: Pets are allowed in the animal compartment in the seating carriage and in dedicated sleeping carriages.
- Smoking: Smoking is not allowed on board night trains in Sweden.
The compartments of night trains in Sweden
- Doors and locks: unlocking the door of the sleeping compartment and the shower compartment with the key cards provided in the compartment.
- Embedding: In the sleeping carriages, the beds are made up and in the couchette carriages you can make your own bed with bedding provided in the compartment.
- Luggage: Both sleeping and couchette cars have luggage racks. In most carriages it is also possible to store luggage in luggage compartments in the corridors. However, luggage may not be stored elsewhere in the corridor. You are responsible for your own luggage.
Shower and toilet
- Sleeping car: In the sleeping car, the shower and toilet are in the compartment (1 class) or at the end of the corridor (2 class). The key to the shower is in the compartment, as are the towels.
- Caravan: In the caravan you will find a toilet at the end of the corridor.
Service on night trains in Sweden
- Waking up/sleeping in: You can request a wake-up call if you wish, otherwise you will be woken up about 30 minutes before arrival. On some trains it is possible to stay overnight after arrival.
- Food and drink: If there is a bistro on the train, it is usually open between 06:30 and 23:00. Check the SJ website to see what applies on your train. If you are travelling in a 1 class compartment or with a Gold Card, breakfast is included in the bistro.
- Other: There is a button in the cabin to contact staff.
- Read more: You can find more information at SJ website.
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4000mil says:
The only time I have travelled "in modern times", it was new and nice, and had its own toilet and shower. But then the Norrland train is always nice too. 🙂
I didn't realise there was a dog bed.
21 August 2019 - 7:10
Helena says:
Then there are more modern trains too! 🙂 And you must have travelled first class then, because there was a private toilet!?
21 August 2019 - 18:33
åsa says:
Actually never "slept" on trains 😉 at the time I travelled by train between Örnsköldsvik - Stockholm or Örnsköldsvik - Gothenburg I chose the cheapest imaginable and that was a seat carriage, and yes it worked 😀.
I've been wondering if I should take Elin on the train,
she has never travelled by train ... but considering that we have to take a bus to Umeå (about 2 hours one way) to get to the nearest train station, it feels awkward.
21 August 2019 - 7:31
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
I have travelled both in a sleeping car to Kiruna for mountain hiking and in a first class sleeping car from Umeå to Skövde on a business trip. The latter was a really wonderful experience with breakfast when we left Stockholm in the morning.
Then I have travelled by night train in both India and Vietnam, but those are completely different experiences.....
21 August 2019 - 9:07
Helena says:
Britt-Marie, sounds like comfortable train journeys! Possibly with the exception of Vietnam and India then... but certainly an experience there too! 🙂
21 August 2019 - 18:37
Helena says:
Åsa, a stroller works of course if you have to! But I do not know if I would have been able to go and work a whole day after a night sitting, however 😉 Understand that it is a bit far for you to the train!
21 August 2019 - 18:35
Nils-Åke Hansson says:
The advantage of night trains when travelling for work was that I had a first class sleeping car, i.e. my own compartment.
21 August 2019 - 8:11
Helena says:
Nice and comfortable when travelling for work! We also had our own compartment (in second class), but no toilet inside the compartment.
21 August 2019 - 18:36
Lena says:
Many years ago I travelled in a sleeping car between Västerås and Kalmar, 1st class. There was a tray with some night food waiting. There was both own toilet and shower. Slept comfortably. When I arrived in the morning, it included breakfast at the nearest hotel. Such a luxurious trip.
Have also tried night trains in Thailand. Haha, it was different. A hammock for a bed and people walking through the aisle. Did not dare to fall asleep.
21 August 2019 - 8:27
Helena says:
It sounds really luxurious! 🙂 Understand that the trip in Thailand was less luxurious ... but interesting trip in its own way of course! 😉
21 August 2019 - 18:38
Anna / boihusbil.se says:
I have never travelled by night train. But it will certainly happen as I really want to avoid flying as much as I can. Then I know I can get information here from you when the time comes, thank you!
21 August 2019 - 10:52
Helena says:
Night trains are an alternative that works!
21 August 2019 - 18:39
Ditte says:
I used to take a lot of night trains to the mountains and the pictures you showed looked just as I remembered the night trains. I often travelled first class. Today I fly more often because unfortunately you are not really sure if the trains will arrive on time. But in principle I like to travel by train.
21 August 2019 - 17:01
Helena says:
The risk of delays has an impact, of course. I find that flights are delayed from time to time as well.
23 August 2019 - 19:03
Lena - gott för själen says:
Yes, a friend and I travelled by night train to Åre a couple of years ago. We had a sleeping car with our own shower and toilet. We added a few kronor to get it. Slept well enough. Had some difficulty with the bends too. In addition, I was about to have a cardiac arrest, kind of. The friend had put his suitcase on wheels in the aisle. In a sharp turn, it rolled at high speed and knocked over the ladder with a bang! How scared we were!
Hug Lena
21 August 2019 - 19:00
Helena says:
Then you travelled first class I think? Can of course be worth it sometimes! We settled for booking a sleeping car and our own compartment and thought it was ok. And haha, understand that you woke up in horror when the ladder collapsed !!!
23 August 2019 - 19:04
Johnny Friskilä says:
Have never travelled the night train between Malmö and Stockholm, but apparently it is also a possibility. But have just thought that it is such a short distance anyway, although the night train goes slower than other trains there I guess.
22 August 2019 - 7:37
Helena says:
It is of course a shorter distance than northwards, but still takes quite a few hours. When I needed to be at work the next morning, it fit perfectly! 🙂
23 August 2019 - 19:05
Mias Mix says:
Not travelled by night train since the 80's and then it looked like you show 🙂 We thought about going by train to Austria now when we were hiking but found it difficult to find tickets, timetables etc. You who are professionals in travel can write posts about different train companies you travel with in Europe. Maybe you have already done that by the way? Glad you could sleep and were reasonably rested. Have a nice weekend!
23 August 2019 - 11:49
Helena says:
The subject of trains in Europe is a good one to write about! Unfortunately, it doesn't seem easy so it probably requires a lot of research. Maybe in the future at some point!
23 August 2019 - 19:06
kerstin says:
and how was the standard of the toilet for the 2 class sleeping car - well cleaned or stinking from dried urine. The standard of train toilets should always be stated.
24 August 2019 - 10:31
Helena says:
Good point! We thought the toilet was just fine. No problems with odour or similar, but ordinary and simple.
24 August 2019 - 10:41
Jonas says:
There is a more modern set of sleeping cars that also only have a toilet in the corridor, here is more info about themhttps://www.jarnvag.net/vagnguide/wl6:. But I don't think they run on the Stockholm-Malmö route.
07 October 2020 - 0:11