The Main Train Lines of Sweden

The Main Train Lines of Sweden

Main train lines in Sweden have according to the 1854 Riksdag decision, classified main lines or main railways in Sweden, were the railways that were to be built by the state, unlike other railways that were to be built by private companies and consortia. The main lines were built from 1856 to 1892 (when the main line through Övre Norrland was completed).

The state's railway construction did not stop when the main lines were completed. Through nationalizations and transfers in cases of bankruptcy, the state assumed responsibility and ownership for more and more railway sections. At the beginning of the 20th century, new tracks were built, mainly in Norrland. However, these lines were not named main lines, for example the Inlandsbanan.

For a time in the middle of the 19th century, 70% of state spending went to railway construction, and the Swedish state had to pay interest for a long time to mainly German lenders, which, however, was solved when inflation hit during the First World War. It is still considered normal with several decades of depreciation time for railways.

Today, "Stambana" is not an official definition of a certain type of railway in Sweden. However, the term is included in the designations used for certain bands, which were established by the Norwegian Railways in 1990. These differ slightly from the original ones.

For example, Södra stambanan originally meant the railway from Malmö C via Nässjö to Falköping C, where it connected to the country's first main line, the western one. The Nässjö – Katrineholm railway was built later and was named Östra stambanan. Gradually, however, the stretch Malmö–Nässjö–Katrineholm (where it connects to the Western main line) has come to be called the Southern main line, which was finally established in 1990. Nässjö – Falköping has been named Jönköpingsbanan.

Norra stambanan once meant the route (Stockholm -) Uppsala – Krylbo – Ockelbo – Ljusdal – Ånge, but today the name usually refers to the railway via Gävle C instead of via Krylbo for the section between Uppsala C and Ockelbo.

Main Swedish Train Line Routes

• Western main line Stockholm–Katrineholm–Hallsberg–Skövde–Gothenburg
• Southern main line Katrineholm–Norrköping–Linköping–Nässjö–Sävsjö-Alvesta–Hässleholm-Malmö. Formerly called the Eastern main line between Katrineholm and Nässjö.
• Falköping–Jönköping–Nässjö used to be called Södra stambanan, but is now called Jönköpingsbanan.
• Northern main line Gävle–Ockelbo–Bollnäs–Ljusdal–Ånge
• The main line through upper Norrland Bräcke–Longsele–Vännäs–Boden
• The North-West Main Line Laxå–Karlstad–Kil–Charlottenberg. Today, the track goes by the name Värmlandsbanan

Main Train Lines in Finland

In Finland there is now a railway called Stambanan, which was opened in 1862 and now runs north from Helsinki Central Station via Tampere, Seinäjoki, Karloby and Oulu to Tornio, and is 812 km long. The main line forms one of Finland's main railways, together with the Savolax line (including the Kotka line), the Viborg–Joensuu line, the St. Petersburg line and the Turku–Helsinki coastal line.