lars' transport world
Unfortunately, no time for a Komplettbereisung of Gothenburg's tram network, even if I had loved to do so. @wrzlbrnft
The journey continues #Norrut with a classic SJ night train. It is again a calm ride through a wonderful landscape.
The journey continues #Norrut with a classic SJ night train. It is again a calm ride through a wonderful landscape.
Our night train journey ends in Ăstersund C. The number of departures in Ăstersund C is quite low compared to a Central European standard. (But we are quite far north, where distances and travel times between cities are long.) However, at around 7 am, the station is full with travellers. Within the next 60 minutes, the SJ NattĂ„g to Duved, the NorrtĂ„g to Storlien, the SJ SnabbtĂ„g to Stockholm as well as the Inlandsbanor to Mora and GĂ€llivare will depart. #Norrut
SjĂ€lvklart, two hours after leaving the night train, I find myself on the next train. It is a NorrtĂ„g towards Duved. This leg should rather be called BĂ€sterut than #Norrut, as our destination is Ă
re.
The train ride is almost too calm. Maybe because this train runs "only" 1.5 hours past the first train to Storlien. However, my train seems to run only on Saturday mornings in summer. The next train follows incredible 5 hours later. Maybe some of you know the backgrounds of this service pattern(?)
The train ride is almost too calm. Maybe because this train runs "only" 1.5 hours past the first train to Storlien. However, my train seems to run only on Saturday mornings in summer. The next train follows incredible 5 hours later. Maybe some of you know the backgrounds of this service pattern(?)
#Ă
re is not an untouched place in the Scandinavian Mountains. However, there is a wonderful view when you walk up the hill above Ă
re. Even the village itself is also picturesquely situated on the lakeshore. #Norrut
After wandering around Ă
re, it's time for the return journey to Ăstersund. I take what is probably the only Swedish Intercity train on this journey. Well, they are also much more difficult to come across than a SnabbtĂ„g. To my taste, a somewhat very warm, but otherwise comfortable journey of 1.5 hours back österut. #Norrut
Ăstersund is a lovely, rather calm town with about 50k inhabitants. It is beautifully located on the Storsjön. We are spending two nights here, before the trip goes further #Norrut.
Spoiler of the next leg... #Norrut
(Would have been obvious anyway, as there aren't many options.)
(Would have been obvious anyway, as there aren't many options.)
The next leg is #Inlandsbanan. Of course we choose the train on the line #Norrut towards GĂ€llivare. To my great joy, today's Y1 railcar has a grey-white livery. The past two times, I have only seen Y1 with (I guess) newer red-cream livery.
Edit: Thanks for the explanations regarding the light @sintzoff @violanders
The journey is pleasant, but the train almost full. Before the train got to the platform, a guide explained his group of ablut 15 people: "We are looking for coach number 1". It seems that other tourists would also expect a longer train.
On maybe ten years old pictures, I saw that most trains were operated with two railcars. Does someone of you why the trains are operared with only one railcar nowadays?
#Norrut
Usually, I prefer everyday trains over tourist trains. So, this train is rather touristy for my taste. But I am one myself, so I can't complain.
The group is not very diverse though. Most passengers in the 60's and 70's. I hear a lot of Swedish and English. The staff's explanations of the historical background are interesting. #Norrut
The group is not very diverse though. Most passengers in the 60's and 70's. I hear a lot of Swedish and English. The staff's explanations of the historical background are interesting. #Norrut
The wilderness (and forestry) rolling past #Inlandsbanan is stunning. Most of the times, there is no internet. So, I could even witness Swedes paying their fika from the bistro area with cash. đł
#Norrut
#Norrut
Anslutande buss, anyone? #Norrut
(Seems to be a relict from the 1960's or older, otherwise the door on the left side wouldn't make sense)
At Arvidsjaur, we leave the train like most travellers for a little break. 24 hours later, we are back again. #Norrut
The trip further north to GĂ€llivare is as beautiful as Ăstersund-GĂ€llivare. I could toot so many pictures, here are four of them. đ There are less passengers in the train, but more younger people. Even some families. The staff is kind as on the day before. #Norrut
My personal highlight of day 2 was the crossing of the PiteÀlven on a combined train-road-bridge, i.e. the bridge is a level crossing at the same time. There is a break for getting off the train and walk over the bridge. #Norrut
Inlandsbanan, northern section: Done â (for the 2nd time)
After a six hours ride from Arvidsjaur, we are reaching the northern terminus GĂ€llivare at late evening. #Norrut
GĂ€llivare seems to be creative in naming their parts of the city. "Andra sidan" is located... well, on the other side of the station and the river. #Norrut
Is the terminus of Inlandsbanan north enough? Nej, as there is a railway line going further north. Vy is taking us further #norrut to one of the most northern stations in Europe, where we are going to have something I'd call two-three days off. Bye for now đ
Welcome back! I have spent the last days in a wonderful region. You can find images of overwhelming landscapes online yourself. đ Instead, I want to resume the past days with a portrait of some randomly picked stations along the #Malmbanan / #Ofotbanen. It is a very remote đžđȘđłđŽ #CrossBorderRail line with two passenger trains daily, but a lot of freight trains. A 𧔠in a đ§”. (1/6) #Norrut
Abisko Ăstra - the functional station
The station has a long island platform that is accessed from the small station hall. It is both a staircase and a waiting room. There are a lift and toilets. The old station building is not open to the public. Two trains per day in each direction. (2/6) #Norrut
The station has a long island platform that is accessed from the small station hall. It is both a staircase and a waiting room. There are a lift and toilets. The old station building is not open to the public. Two trains per day in each direction. (2/6) #Norrut
Vassijaure - the northernmost station in đžđȘ Sweden
The railay infrastructure itself is rather simple. The area between the station building and the first track is covered with gravel. A tiny "platform edge" makes boarding the train easier. There is a waiting room in the building and even "toaletter". The plural is actually wrong, as there is only one "toalett". đ€ There is "outstanding" passenger information. One train a day in each direction. (3/6) #Norrut
The railay infrastructure itself is rather simple. The area between the station building and the first track is covered with gravel. A tiny "platform edge" makes boarding the train easier. There is a waiting room in the building and even "toaletter". The plural is actually wrong, as there is only one "toalett". đ€ There is "outstanding" passenger information. One train a day in each direction. (3/6) #Norrut
KatterjÄkk - the tiny station
KatterjÄkk's station building of today is a small hut. There is also a digital departure board outside on the gravel platform. Two trains per day and direction. (4/6) #Norrut
KatterjÄkk's station building of today is a small hut. There is also a digital departure board outside on the gravel platform. Two trains per day and direction. (4/6) #Norrut
RiksgrÀnsen - the simple station
RiksgrĂ€nsen station is located 700 metres from the border đžđȘđłđŽ. Half of the station is located in the gallery, but there are no other waiting facilities, not even a bench. A digital departure board in the covered area informs passengers on the two trains per day and direction. (5/6) #Norrut
RiksgrĂ€nsen station is located 700 metres from the border đžđȘđłđŽ. Half of the station is located in the gallery, but there are no other waiting facilities, not even a bench. A digital departure board in the covered area informs passengers on the two trains per day and direction. (5/6) #Norrut
BjĂžrnfjell - The museum station
BjĂžrnfjell is the đłđŽ border station of this #CrossBorderRail line. The station building has a large waiting room with magazines, books and even board games. There are plenty of toilets. The (former?) ticket office is separated by a glass partition. Tickets and cash are exchanged using small wooden drawers. Unfortunately, the passenger information consists only of a paper timetable from last year. Two trains per day and direction.
(6/6) #Norrut
BjĂžrnfjell is the đłđŽ border station of this #CrossBorderRail line. The station building has a large waiting room with magazines, books and even board games. There are plenty of toilets. The (former?) ticket office is separated by a glass partition. Tickets and cash are exchanged using small wooden drawers. Unfortunately, the passenger information consists only of a paper timetable from last year. Two trains per day and direction.
(6/6) #Norrut
Bonus, my favourite impression: It seems that the station staff at đłđŽ BjĂžrnfjell preferred alcohol from the đžđȘ neighbouring country. đ #Norrut
We are leaving Abisko region behind us and heading söderut towards Kiruna with one of two daily trains. Unfortunately, seat reservations are needed north of Kiruna for #Interrail, even for shorter trips. #Norrut
#Kiruna is a moving city! Due to mining, major parts of the city including the old center are being dismantled. As a consequence thereof, new city districts are built.
kiruna.se/stadsomvandling
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiruna
I will post some of my impressions. #Norrut
Parts of #Kiruna 's old city center have already been dismantled. The shops in the still existing buildings, have moved to the newer parts of the city. #Norrut
#Kiruna is building new residential areas of varying densities next to existing residential areas. I have to get used to seeing the entire courtyard of a new development covered with car parking. #Norrut
#Kiruna 's new centre is located on the eastern edge of the settlement. Shops have already been built here since 2022, while the residential areas in between have not yet been fully built. To the south is a large commercial and industrial area. I am curious to see what the spatial and transport connections will look like when the centre is no longer isolated. What surprised me: Above the Arctic Circle, heat islands are hardly an issue, but I would have liked to see some greenery. #Norrut
Well, #Kiruna, we need to talk about đ bus transport. As someone who lives in very dense Switzerland and can enjoy mild weather, I am aware that transport needs are somewhat different here. The distances are also very long within the city, and in winter it is dark for long periods and generally cold. As a transport planner, however, I have serious questions precisely for this reason: (1/3) #Norrut
There is a city bus system. The buses run every 70 minutes from Mon-Fri. But why is there not a single city bus on weekends during summer in a city with a population of 17k? The city is large-scaled. How is the population expected to use the city bus if they can't even go shopping once at the weekend? I counted eight taxis on my tour and there are scooters everywhere. What's more, why does only one of three lines run to the regional bus station? So, the services cannot be linked. (2/3) #Norrut
A "transferbus" connects the station with the town, whose centre of population is increasingly far away. The bus is free and coordinated with the trains. A great thing! But why isn't there a stop between station and bus station (3 km)? Of course, this is anecdotal evidence: during our journey, someone asked the driver if he could make an unscheduled stop halfway between the railway and bus station. Independently of each other, about 15 of the 20 passengers suddenly got off! (3/3) #Norrut
We leave Kiruna behind us and head towards Norrbotten's biggest city: LuleÄ. Of course, it is a Regina service. It is very quiet on this Sunday. We have some minutes delay, but the connecting NorrtÄg to UmeÄ is waiting for our passengers in Boden. #Norrut
Time is running. Because I have to return to the office at some time, #Norrut has turned into "Söderut". Two Reginas are taking us to Sundsvall. The ride is quiet. The trains are getting fuller while travelling southwards. I make use of the two hours waiting time in UmeĂ„ and buy a đ± kanelbulle. Regina and kanelbulle, my day could be worse... đ
#Sundsvall 's architecture differs from that of other Swedish cities of this size. Its city center is also known as "Stenstaden", because of the stone buildings from the late eighteen hundreds. #Norrut
Unfortunately, we have to continue southwards. Another Regina SnabbtĂ„g (this time with some free seats) takes us to Stockholm. đ #Norrut
(Picture taken from behind the buffer stop.)
(Picture taken from behind the buffer stop.)
In #SJ 's SnabbtĂ„g, you can preorder đ± vegansk frukost from the @diningcar. Of course I take advantage of it. đ In first class, it is even included in the ticket or interrail seat reservation before 9am. #Norrut
From Stockholm, a X2 SnabbtÄg takes us further south towards Malmö. After more than a week, we pass agricultural fields again. #Norrut
This is the 438th toot on very bad seat and window placement in the fediverse. Yes, I hate #SJ 's X2 windowless window seats, too. đ At least you can easily choose your seat online, even with interrail. đ #Norrut
Edit: Apparently, there are different seating versions currently and the online maps do not always match. đ Thank you for pointing this out, @partim @transpontus
We leave the X2 at HĂ€ssleholm for an Erstbefahrung (= my first trip on this line). đ A #PĂ„gatĂ„g takes us via Ă
storp to Helsingborg, where we spend the next two nights. The line is rather unspectacular though. #Norrut
As the weather is very rainy the following day, we don't do any outdoor activities. Instead, we take the #Ăresundslinjen ferry to neighbouring đ©đ° Denmark. Helsingborg-HelsingĂžr used to be an important train ferry before the opening of the Ăresund bridge in 2000. Even today, the ferry ports are perfectly located near the railway stations on either side. The ferries run quite often, usually every 20 minutes. #Norrut
Pas pÄ! There are #Lokaltog passing by in front of #HelsingÞr station!
I was well aware that #Lokaltog existed because of my đ©đ° Denmark rail network map (https://larstransportmaps.com/denmark-2024/).
However, I had never travelled with Lokaltog before. So, the programme is clear: my first trip with Lokaltog. đ I chose doing a round trip HelsingĂžr-Gilleleje-Kagerup-Tisvildeleje-HillerĂžd-HelsingĂžr. #Norrut
However, I had never travelled with Lokaltog before. So, the programme is clear: my first trip with Lokaltog. đ I chose doing a round trip HelsingĂžr-Gilleleje-Kagerup-Tisvildeleje-HillerĂžd-HelsingĂžr. #Norrut
Rainy northern SjĂŠlland landscape passing by...
The journey resembles a bus ride: low speed (75 km/h most of the time), high stop density, long diagrams with very short turning times (3 to 4 minutes), passing by buildings and houses very close, Diesel sound. #Norrut
The journey resembles a bus ride: low speed (75 km/h most of the time), high stop density, long diagrams with very short turning times (3 to 4 minutes), passing by buildings and houses very close, Diesel sound. #Norrut
Much rail traffic at request stop Kagerup. It is the junction station of the lines from HillerĂžd to Gilleleje and Tisvildeleje. #Norrut
Janrikard@larstransportworld #lokaltog and norra SjÀlland is nice
Tor Lillqvist@larstransportworld If you have time, take the roundabout route to Copenhagen via Gilleleje and HillerĂžd. Not hugely scenic (apart from surprisingly lots of forest, for Denmark) but still nice to tick off those linesâŠ
Or wait, this trip was some week ago already, wasnât itâŠ
@tml I am only some days behind, but I am glad to having almost followed your suggestion.
Leif SamuelssonThe story goes that Shakespeare had a friend who visited the Elsinore castle, where he met the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. Shakespeare got the character names Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from one of Brahe's books. There's an interesting Brahe museum on the island of Ven, outside Landskrona.
@larstransportworld One thing people perhaps often forget or ignore when expressing nostalgia about train ferries is how much time it took to split up a train and shunt the sections on board the ferry, and then the reverse on the other side. (And for HelsingborgâHelsingĂžr, and also RĂždbyâPuttgarden, trains usually had carriages that terminated/originated at the port station, only a part were through coaches that used the ferry.)
The IC3 DMU operation was a bit quicker.
@larstransportworld That was btw a nice LifeHack back in the days: instead of using a very cramped HamburgâKĂžbenhavn carriage, you sit in a HamburgâPuttgarden one, your train ticket is valid also as a foot passenger on the ferry, and then sit in a RĂždbyâKĂžbenhavn carriage in the same train as the through carriages.
Martin Hoffmann@tml @larstransportworld Last time I did Puttgarden it was insane how quick it went. We were a couple minutes late and the boat was waiting for us. We did the briefest of stops, then straight onto the boat. By the time I was up on deck, we were already beyond the breakers.
But naturally, you can only do this with very short trains.
@partim @tml @larstransportworld
On a class trip from Stockholm to Prague in 1973, the train went via Trelleborg - SaĂnitz, where we sat for hours. I don't know how much of that was for technical reasons, because all we saw were dogs and big mirrors searching underneath. Especially on the return trip. The East German train staff and officials were dour, but the Czechs on the train from Berlin were friendlier.
acb@larstransportworld I was thinking it looks like a tantalising place to build a railway tunnel.
You're passing near here. I'm by HĂ€ljarp station, near Landskrona. So after Helsingborg.
Oh, so no more Sweden after Hbg. Good choice.
@leffe We have passed HĂ€ljarp on our northbound trip. Unfortunately, HĂ€ssleholm-Helsingborg was the lst Swedish train on this trip.
@larstransportworld Arenât there two different models with different wall seats?
Roland Sivonen@larstransportworld yeah that's pretty much the ONLY thing you can complain about on the X2, especially with the current variations and inaccurate carriage maps
@larstransportworld @diningcar
Nice. I guess I can't have that margarine, though, because I'm not a professional anymore. Stupid PR people.
RĂ©mi Cardona@larstransportworld @diningcar is the bread as tasty as it looks? asking for a friend đ
@larstransportworld Are you catching the sleeper train to Hamburg/Berlin?
@acb No, we are taking the EuroCity.
@larstransportworld Tonight or tomorrow?
Sundsvall's stone buildings are a result of the largest fire in Swedish history.
Norra kommissionen@larstransportworld @dominicstucki For similar reasons as in Trondheim BTW.
Oskar@larstransportworld Or something to prevent cross country skiers from crossing the road without noticing and stopping. The âred crosses âmark a winter path. Not sure if there are different markings for snowmobile paths
@oskard
The previous red crosses had signs that were explicitly aimed at snowmobiles. Hence my assumption. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of that situation, but it was something similar to the one I've found near LuleÄ.
The previous red crosses had signs that were explicitly aimed at snowmobiles. Hence my assumption. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of that situation, but it was something similar to the one I've found near LuleÄ.
Jonas Boström@oskard It looks very much like traffic calming for snowmobiles. The portal on the other side has what looks like a snowmobile-sign. As well as a 30 km/h speed limit, and speed limits are rare on ski tracks. @larstransportworld
@larstransportworld Note, it is a "transferbus" (sic).
@tml Tack for pointing this out. I have mixed up the languages. In Swedish, they refer to it as "Transferbuss". That should be correct, shouldn't it?
@larstransportworld Yes, in Swedish it is one word, not in English. The sign on the bus is in English, so it is wrong.
Additionally, IMHO in Europe we should use British spelling, i.e. âcentreâ.