Stockholm - Narvik direct service

[Joseph T]

I was browsing on Google Maps when I came across a direct route from Stockholm to Narvik but I can't seem to find this particular train on any ticketing site. Does this train exist, if so, is it bookable?

 

[Iskra]

SJ

SJ

www.sj.se

It's bookable on the SJ website.

I have done this journey in both directions and it's well worthwhile, although I would personally recommend doing it in Winter. Famously, the train runs into the Arctic Circle.

 

[Joseph T]

SJ

SJ

www.sj.se

It's bookable on the SJ website.

I have done this journey in both directions and it's well worthwhile, although I would personally recommend doing it in Winter. Famously, the train runs into the Arctic Circle.

Thx

 

[JonasB]

I was browsing on Google Maps when I came across a direct route from Stockholm to Narvik but I can't seem to find this particular train on any ticketing site. Does this train exist, if so, is it bookable?

There is a direct overnight train from Stockholm to Narvik, it very much exists and has done so for decades. But when I follow the link it shows an odd route via Trondheim. The overnight train uses this route: https://signal.eu.org/osm/#locs=59.329875,18.057501;68.441639,17.440882 (I really hope the link works).

 

[TravellingPhil]

A wonderful journey. We did it both ways last October. Beautiful views, a small but very cosy and comfy sleeper cabin and a decent resturant car, right up into the Arctic Circle. Even some time to step off at a couple of stations and get a bit of fresh air in the morning once above the Arctic Circle.

I think the line has suffered quite a few problems since we did it, but I very much recommend it if you can go. A very unique experience.

 

[The exile]

There is a direct overnight train from Stockholm to Narvik, it very much exists and has done so for decades. But when I follow the link it shows an odd route via Trondheim. The overnight train uses this route: https://signal.eu.org/osm/#locs=59.329875,18.057501;68.441639,17.440882 (I really hope the link works).

The direct line was blocked for a while and may still be only open for the iron ore trains.

 

[Zerothebrake!]

I was browsing on Google Maps when I came across a direct route from Stockholm to Narvik but I can't seem to find this particular train on any ticketing site. Does this train exist, if so, is it bookable?

It's currently run by VY (Sweden) but SJ will taking it over again in Dec.

If you download either of their Apps you can follow the trains progress in their 'traffic' section.

I've booked travel from Kiruna to Abisko for the 8th of October last week as they generally don't release the tickets until 60 days before travel.

It's a fantastic journey best done in the autumn or winter time and the stretch from Kiruna to Narvik will fill you with wonder.

 

[Gloster]

The Stockholm-Narvik trains definitely do not run via Trondheim: there is no line between Fauske and Narvik that way, only a bus connection. There has been a lot of disruption recently, but the only one showing at the moment is a partial cancellation on 24 August.

My personal preference, as someone who has lived in Sweden, is around April. There is still lots of snow, but it is not just snow, and there is much more daylight.

 

[nwales58]

Was it really showing a through service or a series of changes including bus, I wonder? If anyone can get that route again please grab the train/etc numbers. It now shows only services via Boden for me.

BUT Google is showing both night trains, 94 which Vy doesn't seem to be running nowadays as well as 92/96 which does run. Anyone know what the F8 train/route number Google show actually means? International planner data (MERITS) shown in bahn.de seems to be correct.

This is yet another example of why not to use Google for public transport information. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it misleads. Clearly they do not use the authoritative source for european trains, presumably because they think everyone should write a GTFS source for them for free.

 

[tgsh2011]

I am booked on the overnight sleeper on 12 September departing Stockholm Central at 18:08 and arriving next day into Narvik at 12:40.

 

[Gloster]

Was it really showing a through service or a series of changes including bus, I wonder? If anyone can get that route again please grab the train/etc numbers. It now shows only services via Boden for me.

BUT Google is showing both night trains, 94 which Vy doesn't seem to be running nowadays as well as 92/96 which does run. Anyone know what the F8 train/route number Google show actually means? International planner data (MERITS) shown in bahn.de seems to be correct.

This is yet another example of why not to use Google for public transport information. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it misleads. Clearly they do not use the authoritative source for european trains, presumably because they think everyone should write a GTFS source for them for free.

F8 is the Timetable/Route number, possibly only the Norwegian one. Rutetabell in Norwegian and Tidtabell in Swedish.

Use the European Rail Timetable for planning and then check on line.

 

[nwales58]

I am booked on the overnight sleeper on 12 September departing Stockholm Central at 18:08 and arriving next day into Narvik at 12:40.

Yes, in the data for 10-13/09, 11-15/10 then 23,24/10 and so on.
Google think it runs every day - is the problem.

F8 is the Timetable/Route number, possibly only the Norwegian one ...

useful, so they use a national source but don't interpret the dates

 

[tel]

Just got hold of this thread, so before going through lots of checking on-line, i'll ask a question if i may. I can fly into Oslo then can i get a train from Oslo to Trondheim and then to Bode, then a bus to Narvik and a train back to Stockholm and do the trains from Narvik go via Ostersund? I could check on the timetable but you people seem to know. Thanks. Could be a very exciting trip for next year.

tel

 

[dutchflyer]

As such this is a VERY long standing service-but the topic comes on nearly daily on community.eurail (also for InterRail) and also the german DSO:
it is the ´iron ore´ railway-we even had to learn that in sec. school in geography-some 60 yrs ago.
BUT there has been NO through service-and also will not be till at least timetable change date dec.-its a replacement bus for last leg-start point for that varies a little, but has even be Boden (far east side-also about only point able to service the sleeping cars). Mostly Kiruna though. There was a derailment early this year and since then tracks have been made passable for these freight-trains, but apparently they do not risk pax-trains as for now yet.
Booking/reserving has also been a major PITA for many-VY (in fact a start-up branch from the old NSB from Norway) refuses to accept In-Rail for the more expensive sleepers or so.

 

[Gloster]

Just got hold of this thread, so before going through lots of checking on-line, i'll ask a question if i may. I can fly into Oslo then can i get a train from Oslo to Trondheim and then to Bode, then a bus to Narvik and a train back to Stockholm and do the trains from Narvik go via Ostersund? I could check on the timetable but you people seem to know. Thanks. Could be a very exciting trip for next year.

tel

You are fine as far as Narvik, although if you want you can change at Fauske to get the bus to Narvik instead of going all the way into Bodø and back out. However, the trains from NarviK to Stockholm run down close to the Baltic Coast (though out of gun range) and go via Kiruna, Gällivare, Boden, Sundsvall and Gävle. Östersund is closer to the Norwegian border and reached from Gävle or Sundsvall via Ånge: a possible side-trip. There is the Inlandsbanan from Gällivare to Östersund, bit this has a very limited service.

 

[dutchflyer]

Just got hold of this thread, so before going through lots of checking on-line, i'll ask a question if i may. I can fly into Oslo then can i get a train from Oslo to Trondheim and then to Bode, then a bus to Narvik and a train back to Stockholm and do the trains from Narvik go via Ostersund? I could check on the timetable but you people seem to know. Thanks. Could be a very exciting trip for next year.

tel

No-you have to adapt a little-that trusty old Th COok Europ. Rail TimeTabel would also show that:
get BUS to Narvik from FAUSKE=one but last stop going to Bod/o. Will connect/wait. Bus starts in Bod/o, but you loose half a day-or the whole day in that nothing to see tiny place ifyou want to really go all the way over the tracks.
As I just wrote in other response; Replacement bus till @ least dec. for leg from Narvik till some SE-place.
That overnite will NOT go via Östersund-that major svenska no-south railway does not pass there. I think they even do not make ´commercial´ stops for a long time in mid-nite. Pick up far north-set down Gävle and southbound.
And be aware of: its north of polar circle, that means 24 hrs daylight midtsommaren, 24 hrs darkness around Xmas.

 

[MarcVD]

There was a derailment early this year and since then tracks have been made passable for these freight-trains, but apparently they do not risk pax-trains as for now yet.

It's not a question of risk, though... while the line was blocked, following the derailment, the iron ore extraction continued, and there is now a large stockpile of ore waiting for shipping. Ore trains have been prioritized and take up all line capacity, until the ore at the mine is back to normal levels.

 

[rvdborgt]

It's not a question of risk, though... while the line was blocked, following the derailment, the iron ore extraction continued, and there is now a large stockpile of ore waiting for shipping. Ore trains have been prioritized and take up all line capacity, until the ore at the mine is back to normal levels.

It was a question of risk. The night trains continued to run to Narvik (for maintenance and provisioning), but empty because after the provisional repairs in spring, the derailment risk was still considered too high.

 

[JonasB]

As I just wrote in other response; Replacement bus till @ least dec. for leg from Narvik till some SE-place.
That overnite will NOT go via Östersund-that major svenska no-south railway does not pass there. I think they even do not make ´commercial´ stops for a long time in mid-nite. Pick up far north-set down Gävle and southbound.
And be aware of: its north of polar circle, that means 24 hrs daylight midtsommaren, 24 hrs darkness around Xmas.

No, there are no replacement buses. You can take the train all the way to Narvik again since June. And the trains do make a lot of stops during the night.

 

[tel]

No, there are no replacement buses. You can take the train all the way to Narvik again since June. And the trains do make a lot of stops during the night.

Not according to the European rail timetable, there are no train Narvik southbound.

 

[JonasB]

Not according to the European rail timetable, there are no train Narvik southbound.

But according to Vy (i.e. the company that actually runs the trains) there are trains. https://www.vy.se/aktuellt/nu-kor-vi-tag-hela-vagen-pa-malmbanan-igen

There might be temporary replacements buses though as there is some maintenance planned in the next months.

 

[tel]

But according to Vy (i.e. the company that actually runs the trains) there are trains. https://www.vy.se/aktuellt/nu-kor-vi-tag-hela-vagen-pa-malmbanan-igen

There might be temporary replacements buses though as there is some maintenance planned in the next months.

Yes brilliant that's great news.

 

[RailExplorer]

I've just booked Narvik to Stockholm departing Narvik 14th Sept. Wanted 15th September but sadly due to engineering works it's not running. And because I left it so late to book, I'm stuck with a seat for the 18 hour trip. At least it was cheap!

Very much looking forward to the trip though. Flying into Oslo on the 10th, travelling overnight to Trondheim, continue to Bodo with a stop along the way somewhere. Ferry to Lofoten, bus to Narvik and then train back down to Stockholm for a flight home.

 

[Meerkat]

Did it twenty odd years ago because we wanted to say we had been to the Arctic! It took 23 hours.
There was a cinema coach showing current films.
TBH it got a bit boring - the scenery is spectacular but after hours and hours it becomes a bit “ooh mountain, lakes, and a billion Christmas trees…haven’t we done this bit?”

 

[YorkshireBear]

That

I've just booked Narvik to Stockholm departing Narvik 14th Sept. Wanted 15th September but sadly due to engineering works it's not running. And because I left it so late to book, I'm stuck with a seat for the 18 hour trip. At least it was cheap!

Very much looking forward to the trip though. Flying into Oslo on the 10th, travelling overnight to Trondheim, continue to Bodo with a stop along the way somewhere. Ferry to Lofoten, bus to Narvik and then train back down to Stockholm for a flight home.

Sounds an amazing trip. I recently did Oslo to Bodo with a stop in Trondheim and was blown away by all of it.

 

[Gloster]

Did it twenty odd years ago because we wanted to say we had been to the Arctic! It took 23 hours.
There was a cinema coach showing current films.
TBH it got a bit boring - the scenery is spectacular but after hours and hours it becomes a bit “ooh mountain, lakes, and a billion Christmas trees…haven’t we done this bit?”

Much of the journey’s scenery is a mixture of silver birch, small lakes and bits of rock, with the last becoming the main feature as you go further north. It is not as if the towns are particularly interesting either, but it is a journey to be made in order to be made, rather than to a destination. Most of the spectacular scenery is in the fairly narrow bit of Norway at the end.

 

[takno]

Much of the journey’s scenery is a mixture of silver birch, small lakes and bits of rock, with the last becoming the main feature as you go further north. It is not as if the towns are particularly interesting either, but it is a journey to be made in order to be made, rather than to a destination. Most of the spectacular scenery is in the fairly narrow bit of Norway at the end.

The bus and train journey through Norway is a lot more interesting, but unfortunately also a lot less comfortable.

I'm a big fan of jumping straight on the bus to Tromso from Narvik. It's 4 hours, but there's plenty of scenery, and Tromso is a bit livelier once you get there.

 

[jamesontheroad]

Did it twenty odd years ago because we wanted to say we had been to the Arctic! It took 23 hours.
There was a cinema coach showing current films.
TBH it got a bit boring - the scenery is spectacular but after hours and hours it becomes a bit “ooh mountain, lakes, and a billion Christmas trees…haven’t we done this bit?”

At least one or two of the old S12 series cinema cars are still in use as bistros on the SJ night trains Umeå/Duved - Stockholm/Gothenburg, but with the screening room closed off. You can spot them by the interiors, which feel like a 1980s cinema lobby.

Info: https://www.jarnvag.net/vagnguide/s12

 

[Zerothebrake!]

Service update :- I passed through Narvik yesterday and today enroute to the Lofoten Islands and the 15.20 to Stockholm was a bus departing at 15.00 to Riksgransen where the train would be picked up and there was an Rc6 and three coaches in the sidings this morning at 10 am waiting to go ECS to Riksgransen to form the 10.20 Lulea service. So there are still no through trains for the foreseeable.

 

[tel]

Piece in Todays Railways Europe says the through service should start 15 December 2024.