![Sweden railways](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Sweden_railways.png)
The Inland Line
( sv, Inlandsbanan) is a
railway
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
line between
Kristinehamn
Kristinehamn is a locality and the seat of Kristinehamn Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden, with 17,839 inhabitants in 2010.
Geography
Kristinehamn is situated by the shores of lake Vänern where the small rivers ''Varnan'' and ''Löt'' dr ...
and
Gällivare
Gällivare (; fi, Jällivaara; se, Jiellevárri or ; smj, Jiellevárre or ; fit, Jellivaara) is a locality and the seat of Gällivare Municipality in Norrbotten County, province of Lapland, Sweden with 8,449 inhabitants in 2010. The town was ...
in
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
.
It runs through the central parts of northern Sweden, and was built between 1908 and 1937.
History
There were several reasons for constructing the railway. The original main line to the north of Sweden ran relatively near the east coast, but inland connections were poor to non-existent; the inland regions, rich in natural resources (mainly timber) needed opening up. However, there was a strategic aspect to be considered; should Sweden be invaded from the east (which at the time was a serious possibility) the belligerents would certainly try to cut the main line to the north as quickly as possible; thus a second reserve route further inland was deemed highly important. In 1907 the
Riksdag
The Riksdag (, ; also sv, riksdagen or ''Sveriges riksdag'' ) is the legislature and the supreme decision-making body of Sweden. Since 1971, the Riksdag has been a unicameral legislature with 349 members (), elected proportionally and se ...
decided that the first link between
Östersund
Östersund (; sma, Staare) is an urban area (city) in Jämtland in the middle of Sweden. It is the seat of Östersund Municipality and the capital of Jämtland County. Östersund is located at the shores of Sweden's fifth-largest lake, Storsjön, ...
and
Ulriksfors was to be built. The next stage
Ulriksfors–
Volgsjö (today Vilhelmina) was conceived in 1911; the year after that the
Sveg
Sveg () is a locality and the seat of Härjedalen Municipality in Jämtland County, Sweden with 2,547 inhabitants in 2010.
Overview
Sveg is the largest urban area in Härjedalen and the fourth largest in the county of Jämtland. The Ljusnan river ...
-
Brunflo
Brunflo () is a locality situated in Östersund Municipality, Jämtland County, Sweden with 3,890 inhabitants in 2010. It is situated some 15 km south-east of Östersund
Östersund (; sma, Staare) is an urban area (city) in Jämtland in the ...
stage was given the go ahead. The northernmost stage
Vilhelmina
Vilhelmina ( sma, Vualtjere) is a locality and the seat of Vilhelmina Municipality in Västerbotten County, province of Lapland, Sweden with 3,657 inhabitants in 2010.
Climate
Vilhelmina has a subarctic climate that is less severe than typical ...
–Gällivare was given the go-ahead in 1917. Finally, by purchasing the private railway lines between
Sveg
Sveg () is a locality and the seat of Härjedalen Municipality in Jämtland County, Sweden with 2,547 inhabitants in 2010.
Overview
Sveg is the largest urban area in Härjedalen and the fourth largest in the county of Jämtland. The Ljusnan river ...
and
Kristinehamn
Kristinehamn is a locality and the seat of Kristinehamn Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden, with 17,839 inhabitants in 2010.
Geography
Kristinehamn is situated by the shores of lake Vänern where the small rivers ''Varnan'' and ''Löt'' dr ...
the entire 1288 km stretch stood clear.
It was to take many years for the navvies to build this line. Originally it was to be inaugurated in 1924, but due to the effects of WW1, the post-war recession and labour shortages it was not finished until 1937, opened on 6 August that year.
The line was thereafter operated by SJ, but never proved profitable, suffering a gradually decreasing service until 1992, when it was mothballed entirely. By this time the far southern section from
Mora
Mora may refer to:
People
* Mora (surname)
Places Sweden
* Mora, Säter, Sweden
* Mora, Sweden, the seat of Mora Municipality
* Mora Municipality, Sweden
United States
* Mora, Louisiana, an unincorporated community
* Mora, Minnesota, a city
* M ...
to
Filipstad
Filipstad is a locality and the seat of Filipstad Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden, with 10,644 inhabitants in 2019.
Filipstad was granted city privileges in 1611 by Charles IX of Sweden, who named it after his son Duke Carl Philip (1601&n ...
had already been closed.
The remaining track was subsequently sold off to the municipalities along the route. Today Inlandsbanan AB operates a passenger service for about 3 months each summer and 4 months in winter as for 2022, primarily for tourists. For 2022 the service consists of one train daily on each section (Östersund-Mora-Östersund and Östersund-Gällivare-Östersund) The
Östersund
Östersund (; sma, Staare) is an urban area (city) in Jämtland in the middle of Sweden. It is the seat of Östersund Municipality and the capital of Jämtland County. Östersund is located at the shores of Sweden's fifth-largest lake, Storsjön, ...
–
Gällivare
Gällivare (; fi, Jällivaara; se, Jiellevárri or ; smj, Jiellevárre or ; fit, Jellivaara) is a locality and the seat of Gällivare Municipality in Norrbotten County, province of Lapland, Sweden with 8,449 inhabitants in 2010. The town was ...
section, a journey of around 14 hours; likewise a single train pair makes the round trip Östersund–Mora–Östersund, taking about 6 hours each way. The line has also been re-opened to freight and sees a considerable amount of traffic, mainly logging traffic. Also for 2013 the line between Kristinehamn and Mora has been refurbished and is once again open throughout, served by one train pair per day for the peak period (for exact times check Inlandbanan's web site); otherwise a coach service is provided along the route. The southernmost , Kristinehamn–
Nykroppa
Nykroppa is a locality situated in Filipstad Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden with 846 inhabitants in 2010.
Riksdag elections
Being an industrial village, Nykroppa has been dominated by the Social Democrats
Social democracy is a pol ...
, also has a sparse all-seasons passenger service operated by
Värmlandstrafik Värmlandstrafik AB is the public transport authority for Värmland
Värmland () also known as Wermeland, is a '' landskap'' (historical province) in west-central Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland, and Närk ...
as part of a line from Kristinehamn to
Ludvika
Ludvika () is a bimunicipal city and the seat of Ludvika Municipality, Dalarna County within the country of Sweden, with 14,498 inhabitants in 2010.
Overview
The conurbation of Ludvika extends over the border of Smedjebacken Municipality, where a ...
.
Image:Inlandsbanan_Train_IBAB.jpg, Train on Inlandsbanan
Image:Inlandsbanan Dorotea railway station.jpg, Dorotea
Dorotea (Southern Sami: ''Kraapohke'') is a locality and the seat of Dorotea Municipality in Västerbotten County, province of Lapland, Sweden, with 1,543 inhabitants in 2010. European route E45 and the Inland Line both pass through Dorotea.
His ...
station
Inlandsbanan Y1 1356 in Gällivare station (DSCF0862).jpg, Y1 railcar in Gällivare
Image:Inlandsbanan Steam locomotive.jpg, Steam locomotive on Inlandsbanan
Image:Kabdalis Gedenkstein 11.08.04.jpg , KÃ¥bdalis
KÃ¥bdalis () is a small locality in Jokkmokk Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom o ...
memorial
References
External links
{{Commonscat-inline, Inlandsbanan
Inlandsbanan- Official site
Railway lines in Sweden
Railway lines opened in 1908
1908 establishments in Sweden