SJ is Sweden's national passenger railway operator. It offers train travel across a network that spans the nation. SJ serves 160 stations every day – including international services that reach Oslo and Narvik in Norway and the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
SJ prides itself on offering climate-friendly travel solutions. It purchases electricity solely from renewable wind and hydropower sources, its electric trains generate zero emissions during journeys. On many routes, it is possible for SJ’s train drivers to “freewheel”, i.e. the driver does not use the train engines to propel the train forward – but gravity. On some routes, altitude differences between stations allow freewheeling for distances of more than 100 kilometres.
Did you know? SJ’s first train operated in 1856 leaving from Sweden’s west coast city of Gothenburg for the small factory settlement of Jonsered. On arrival, the exhilarated passengers reported how they had been “hurled forward” at speeds of thirty kilometres per hour. Today, SJ’s high speed services travel at up to 200 kilometres per hour.
Pictured: One of SJ’s X2000 high speed train sets hurtling through a Swedish summer landscape, credit: Stefan Nilsson, SJ press service.