SJ is the primary

passenger train A passenger train is a train used to transport people along a railroad line, as opposed to a freight train that carries goods. These trains may consist of unpowered passenger railroad cars (also known as coaches or carriages) push-pull train, ...

operator in

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

. A wholly

state-owned State ownership, also called public ownership or government ownership, is the ownership of an industry, asset, property, or enterprise by the national government of a country or state, or a public body representing a community, as opposed to ...

company operated

for-profit Business is the practice of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and selling products (such as goods and services). It is also "any activity or enterprise entered into for profit." A business entity is not necessari ...

under market conditions, SJ operates various services across Sweden. SJ's operations include high-speed trains, intercity trains,

night trains Night, or nighttime, is the period of darkness when the Sun is below the horizon. Sunlight illuminates one side of the Earth, leaving the other in darkness. The opposite of nighttime is daytime. Earth's rotation causes the appearance of su ...

, and regional trains, with some services extending into

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

and

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

. SJ traces its roots back to 1856, however was established in its current form as a passenger train operator (SJ AB) in 2001, following the restructuring of ''

Statens Järnvägar The Swedish State Railways () or SJ, originally the Royal Railway Board (), was the former Government agencies in Sweden, government agency responsible for operating the state-owned railways in Sweden. History The Swedish State Railways wa ...

'', the former government agency responsible for the Swedish railways. SJ AB also has subsidiaries such as '' SJ Götalandståg'', '' SJ Stockholmståg'', and ''SJ Norge AS'', which operate procured regional services in Western Sweden, Stockholm County and

, respectively. In 2018, SJ carried 31.8 million passengers.

Overview

SJ AB was formed in 2001, following the restructuring of ''Statens Järnvägar.'' This restructuring divided the agency into six separate state-owned limited companies, including SJ for passenger trains, Green Cargo for freight, and Jernhusen for railway buildings. SJ's operations fall broadly into subsidised and unsubsidised services. The unsubsidised services ran until the 2011 monopoly. The subsidised trains are awarded through competitive bids. However, some trains fall in between these categories, since public transit agencies can pay SJ to allow transit pass holders access to SJ's trains. SJ received a government bailout a few years after its creation, but has since had profit margins of up to ten percent. All train operators in Sweden pay low track access charges to the track authority,

Trafikverket The Swedish Transport Administration () is a government agency in Sweden, government agency in Sweden, controlled by the Riksdag and the Government of Sweden. It is responsible for long-term infrastructure planning for transport: road, rail, ship ...

Rolling stock

Current

X2

The X2 trains (Operated by SJ as X 2000) launched in 1990, and are used for higher-speed services and have a top speed of 200 km/h (125 mph). Built in Sweden by Kalmar Verkstad, later ADtranz, they feature tilting technology to reduce the effects of high-speed turns. These trains serve several routes, including Stockholm-Gothenburg ( Västra Stambanan) and Stockholm-Malmö-Copenhagen ( Södra Stambanan and Öresund Line). They have also previously served the Stockholm-Sundsvall, Stockholm-Strömstad, Stockholm-Oslo, and Stockholm-Östersund-(Duved) lines, with seasonal services on some of these routes. Currently, about 40 X2 sets are in operation. Since 2021 the X2 fleet has been undergoing refurbishment, due for completion in 2026. File:X2000 i originalfärg.jpg, X2000 in original 1990s livery File:X2000, Lund C.JPG, X2000 in updated livery (2008) File:SJ nya X 2000 08.jpg, Refurbished X2000 (2022) File:Nya X2000, insidan, 20220819.jpg, X2000 refurbished interior

X40

The X40 is a double-decker Coradia Duplex train built by

Alstom Alstom SA () is a French multinational rolling stock manufacturer which operates worldwide in rail transport markets. It is active in the fields of passenger transportation, signaling, and locomotives, producing high-speed, suburban, regional ...

used for regional services, launched in 2006. It typically serves shorter routes, such as the Stockholm-Uppsala line (Uppsalapendeln), which is often composed of eight cars. These trains are typically used for services that do not travel longer than 4 hours, with some exceptions like the Coast to Coast (Gothenburg-Kalmar) and Stockholm-Gothenburg via Västerås. The X40 has no catering service, and most of these trains are composed of second-class cars, with the exception of some services that feature some compartments designated first-class. The X40 fleet is undergoing refurbishment by

VR Group VR-Group Plc (, ), commonly known as VR, is a government-owned railway company in Finland. VR's most important function is the operation of Finland's passenger rail services with 250 long-distance and 800 commuter rail services every day. With ...

Oulu Oulu ( , ; ) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of North Ostrobothnia. It is located on the northwestern coast of the country at the mouth of the Oulujoki, River Oulu. The population of Oulu is approximately , while the Oulu sub-regio ...

, due to be complete in 2027. File:Goteborg centralstation X40.jpg, X40 at Gothenburg Central Station File:Sj X40, 20230618 - 2.jpg, X40 upstairs interior File:Coradia Duplex SJ X40.jpg, SJ X40

X55

The X55 (operated by SJ as '' SJ 3000'') is a newer train model built by Bombardier introduced in 2012. It has a top speed of 200 km/h and serves various routes, often north of Stockholm, including Stockholm-Östersund-(Duved) (Mittbanan-Norra Stambanan), Stockholm-Uddevalla (Västra Stambanan and Bohusbanan), Stockholm-Gothenburg, Stockholm-Sundsvall-Umeå (Ostkustbanan, Botniabanan), Gothenburg-Malmö (Västkustbanan), Stockholm-Oslo, Stockholm-Karlstad (Västra Stambanan and Värmlandsbanan/Kongsvingerbanen), and Stockholm-Falun/Mora (Dalabanan). File:Regina X55 in Örnsköldsvik.jpg, X55 in Örnsköldsvik File:SJ X3 (X3000) interior.jpg, X55 interior File:SJ X55.jpg, SJ X55

X50 and X52

The X50 and X52 trains are used for regional services and are part of the push-pull trainset configurations. These trains generally do not serve meals or drinks, and are used on routes that do not exceed four hours in duration. While most SJ trains have first-class compartments, the X50 and X52 sets typically do not. File:SJ 3276.JPG, SJ X52 (2007)

Rc-hauled Trains

Many InterCity services are often operated using Rc-hauled trains, which are paired with various carriages, such as the SJ B7, or other first class, second class, and sleeper carriages. The Rc-hauled trains often also feature an onboard bistro car. File:SJ Rc6 1413 + train, Stockholm C, 2019 (01).jpg, SJ Rc6 File:Sj fjärrtåg.jpg, SJ Rc-hauled carriages File:I11 465 SJ-Großraumwagen.jpg, SJ carriage interior

Future

Alstom Zefiro Express (SJ Zefiro Express)

Twenty-five high-speed Zefiro Express high-speed trains (currently named/called the SJ Zefiro Express), scheduled to enter service in 2027, will operate on routes including Stockholm–Malmö, Stockholm–Gothenburg, and be certified for cross-border services to Denmark and Norway. The trains, with a top speed of 250 km/h, and are designed to handle running at temperatures of -40 degrees. The contract, valued at SEK 7 billion (EUR 630 million), was awarded to Bombardier (now part of

) by SJ in 2021.

CAF Civity Nordic

25 CAF Civity Nordic, scheduled to enter service in 2027, will operate on regional routes including Stockholm-Västerås-Örebro-Skövde-Gothenburg, Linköping-Norrköping-Stockholm-Arlanda-Uppsala-Gävle-Ljusdal and Kalmar-Gothenburg. The trains are designed for cold weather conditions in Sweden, and can operate with a top speed of 200 km/h. The contract, valued at EUR 300 million, was awarded to CAF by SJ in 2022.

Table

Services

Sleeper services - SJ Nattåg

The SJ overnight train services (Swedish: ''SJ Nattåg'') are Rc locomotive-hauled trains with both sleeper wagons as well as standard wagons. All services except for the Stockholm-Malmö route have a bistro wagon.
As of 2022 SJ has in collaboration with DSB and RDC begun to operate night train services between Sweden and Germany through Denmark. Three different locomotives are used due to compatibility issues with the electrification and signaling systems between the three countries.
Within Sweden SJ Rc locomotives are used, and in Denmark DSB EA locomotives are used, and in Germany DB 101 locomotives are used.
The night-trains operate on the following lines:

SJ InterCity

The InterCity services are Rc-hauled trains with standard-seating carriages in both first and second class. There is always a bistro car available in the trainset. Lines with InterCity service:

SJ Regional

Most of the SJ Regional network was concentrated in the area around lake

Mälaren Mälaren ( , , or ), historically referred to as Lake Malar in English, is the third-largest freshwater lake in Sweden (after Vänern and Vättern). Its area is and its greatest depth is 64 m (210 ft). Mälaren spans from east to west. The l ...

. Operated with either Rc-hauled trainsets, X12/X14 or X40 EMUs. These trains have no catering on board. The X40 is equipped with free 4G WiFi. Both first and second-class are usually offered. Most of this network has been incorporated into the new Mälartåg franchise, although some services remain outside of it. Routes listed below are the satellite routes which are not subject to franchising.

Franchised operations

SJ operate a couple of regional rail franchises held by public transport authorities around the country. The most significant of these are Mälartåg and Västtågen serving the Mälaren valley and the region of West Götaland respectively. SJ AB also started operating the Öresundståg franchise for the 2020 timetable, taking over from Transdev. But due to serious inconsistencies between partners the contract will be terminated as of December 2022 where Transdev will take over again . MTR took over the Mälartåg contract in December 2021. The stretch Malmö Central to Copenhagen Central is operated 50/50 alongside Danish State Railways (DSB) and Copenhagen to Østerport/Nivå by DSB only. The initial contract for the Mälartåg franchise states that the operator may use their own fleet f X12, X40 and X50 stockuntil the delivery of ER1 Stadler Dosto 200 EMUs is completed. The Upptåget franchise will be merged into Mälartåg onwards from the 2022 timetable, meaning that services from Gävle gain additional stations inherited from the termination of the Upptåget franchise.

SJ higher speed trains

SJ higher speed trains (Swedish: ''SJ Snabbtåg'') are X2 or X55 trains operating on the main routes in Sweden. The trains are equipped with WiFi and have a bistro. Stops at Arlanda and Uppsala are for boarding northbound or alighting southbound respectively, although passengers with railcards are exempted from this rule. Some services do also allow both boarding and alighting at Arlanda and Uppsala respectively.

SJ Norge

On 7 June 2020 SJ Norge commenced operating services on the Trøndelag Commuter Rail, as well as the Meråker, Røros, Rauma,

Nordland Nordland (; , , , ) is one of the three northernmost Counties of Norway, counties in Norway in the Northern Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Trøndelag in the south, Norrbotten County in Sweden to the east, Västerbotten County to t ...

, the Saltpendel Line and the Dovre Regional Line under a 10-year contract with the Norwegian Railway Directorate. SJ operates trains owned by Norske Tog (Norwegian Trains) and these are: * Class 76 or Stadler FLIRT Bio-Modes (hybrid electric EMUs) as well as Di - 4 diesel-electric locomotives and Class 92 Duewag DMUs * EL18 electric locomotives, Class 93 Bombardier Talent DMUs, and Class 73 ADtranz EMUs. The rail routes SJ Norge operate are: * Steinkjer – Trondheim Central * Steinkjer – Lerkendal/Trondheim Outskirts * Steinkjer – Lundamo * Steinkjer – Melhus * Lerkendal/Trondheim Outskirts – Trondheim Central * Trondheim Central – Heimdal * Trondheim Central – Melhus * Trondheim Central – Lundamo * Trondheim Central – Røros * Trondheim Central – Stjørdal/Værnes Airport * Heimdal – Storlien (interchange with Norrtåg toward Östersund * Trondheim Central – Bodø * Trondheim Central – Mo i Rana * Trondheim Central – Oslo Central * Rotvoll – Røros * Rotvoll – Støren * Steinkjer – Støren * Røros – Hamar * Saltenpendelen

Ticketing

Ticket prices on SJ trains vary, similarly to airfares, with the lowest prices typically available when booking ahead. SJ offers different ticket categories, such as non-rebookable and refundable tickets, each with varying levels of flexibility. Additionally, there are certain discounts for seniors, students, youths, and families. In September 2023, SJ removed its ticket machines from stations. The machines were phased out due to a decline in customer usage and the machines' reliance on older technology. SJ directs passengers to purchase tickets via their website, the SJ app, or through authorised agents. It is not possible to buy tickets on board SJ's trains. Additionally, since September 2009, passengers are required to carry an identity document while traveling on SJ trains.

References

External links

*
Swedish Transport Administration
{{authority control Railway companies of Norway Railway companies of Sweden Government-owned companies of Sweden Swedish companies established in 2001 Railway companies established in 2001 Swedish brands