Scandinavian rWs

In view of the growing rail business in Norway and Sweden, new railway connections are being installed on a lavish scale. Among these new transportation links are train ferries, connecting Scandinavia with the remainder of the continent, while very shortly it is probable long-distance ocean-going ferries between Sweden and Britain will convey through loads of freight and miscellaneous traffic.

Almost all the railways of Norway and Sweden are government owned and operated. The railway system of Scandinavia is unique in including in its make-up the most northerly railway in the world. This line connects the port-of Narvik, in Norway, with the northern-most extremity of Sweden, where it links up with the main line leading to Stockholm, Finland, Russia and the Far East.

On SJ's (Sweden) high speed train the X 2000 you travel comfortably at speeds of up to 200 k.p.h. These trainsets were among the first wave of high-speed tilting equipment to enter service in Scandinavia since 1990.The trip between Stockholm and Goteborg takes three hours and the route between Copenhagen and Stockholm about five. There are plugs for radio and music at all seats and headphones are available in the Bistro. In the Bistro you can also find warm and cold dishes, sandwiches, coffee, drinks, wine and other titbits. If you are a business traveller or appreciate a little more comfort then you can book a ticket in the first class. Then a light meal is included as well as extra service at your seat. Here you also have the opportunity to book a seat with a power outlet for your computer. All X 2000 trains are disabled-friendly.

On the Inter-city trains there is first and second class, a food and refreshments service and wheelchair lifts. Passengers with a first class ticket get a newspaper and free coffee and tea. Regional trains are another type of train making regular stops at smaller towns for regional trips. The fare level and ticket terms and conditions are the same on regional trains and Inter-City. Regional trains have a more basic service level and lower fares than the X 2000.

Travelling while you sleep is an excellent way of making the most of your time as you cover long distances. Feel rested on arrival and enjoy a good breakfast at one of the partner restaurants close to the station. Breakfast is included when you travel in first class.

Öresundstag train provides local and regional service in the suburbs of Copenhagen and in southern Sweden. This service is operated by a joint venture between Danish State Railways and U.K.-based First Group; the DSB the First logo on this Öresundstag car. Since then, the Swedish portion of the service has been contracted out to Veolia Transport. However, trains continue to operate through between their Swedish and Danish endpoints, and there are normally no border formalities to worry about.

The Öresundstag cars were built by Bombardier and are designated as Class ET in Denmark and Class X31K in Sweden; they can operate on the former's 25 kV, 50 Hz power supply, or on the latter's 15 kV, 16⅔ Hz system.

From Copenhagen, intercity trains operate to several European destinations including Hamburg, Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Basel, Switzerland; and Stockholm, Sweden.