Svenska 
English 
Finally, night train services confirmed for 2027–2028
After two failed procurement processes, the Swedish Transport Administration has now signed an agreement with SJ to operate Norrbotten’s only remaining night train all the way between Stockholm and Narvik in 2027 and 2028. This is a major improvement compared with today, when the night train only runs to Boden. There, at around six in the morning, passengers have to pack up, get off and continue their journey north in a seated carriage to, among other places, Gällivare, Kiruna, Abisko and Narvik.
– Better late than never, says Annika Fredriksson, CEO of Arctic Sweden Visitors Board, and continues.
– There has been a real risk of further cutbacks to our only remaining night train to Norrbotten. Now it is a relief that the night train will run in full between Stockholm and Narvik, round trip every day, and that SJ will be responsible for the service. It feels very reassuring.
At a meeting last week with the Swedish Transport Administration’s Director General Roberto Maiorana, Arctic Sweden Visitors Board had the opportunity to engage in a more in-depth dialogue about Norrbotten’s position as an international destination and our continued joint work to develop night train services. Arctic Sweden Visitors Board and the Swedish Transport Administration already have a joint letter of intent with the goal of increasing rail travel and contributing to sustainable development for business and society—regionally, nationally and internationally.
– Night train services to Upper Norrland are a vital part of the national infrastructure and are fundamental to strengthening both regional growth and tourism in the area. By safeguarding these journeys, we create opportunities for both travellers and businesses to travel and transport goods in a sustainable and efficient way, says Roberto Maiorana, Director General of the Swedish Transport Administration.
During the visit to Kiruna, the Director General also learned about developments at Camp Ripan to hear more about the company’s international growth, which in many ways reflects the county’s journey towards becoming an established Arctic destination. Ida Johansson spoke about the business overall, but also about the growing demand from guests and international tour operators to be able to travel by train to Kiruna and Camp Ripan.
– We can confirm that demand is increasing from the responsible and conscious traveller, who is also our priority target group. A recently conducted survey among international tour operators selling trips to the county shows that rail travel plays an important role when choosing a destination. Nearly 40 percent say they have guests who want to travel all the way to our Arctic destination by train from their home country. This shows that the night train to Norrbotten, together with other connecting modes of travel, attracts a broad international target group, says Johanna Ögren, Head of Marketing and Business Intelligence at Arctic Sweden Visitors Board.
In a press release, Jonas Abrahamsson, CEO of SJ, describes how night train services to and from northern Sweden and Norway serve an important function for both Swedish and international travellers.
– Demand is very high, and also increasing. SJ would very much like to help develop the service further. For us, it is an assignment that we understand comes with great responsibility.
For Arctic Sweden Visitors Board, the announcement is an important step forward, but the work to strengthen accessibility to northern Sweden continues.
– Now we can roll up our sleeves and continue working together with the visitor economy, local destination organisations and municipalities to highlight the night train as an opportunity to visit Sweden’s Arctic destination and try to get the second night train back in place, concludes Annika Fredriksson.
The Collaboration Group for night trains to Upper Norrland
The letter of intent has been drawn up between the Swedish Transport Administration and the “Collaboration Group for the development of night trains to Upper Norrland”, where the Collaboration Group consists of stakeholders with a shared mission to promote the development of infrastructure and night train services, such as municipalities and business development companies, business associations, regions and regional public transport authorities, and where Arctic Sweden Visitors Board is the convening body.
