HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Southern Main Line () is a long
standard gauge A standard-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge of . The standard gauge is also called Stephenson gauge (after George Stephenson), international gauge, UIC gauge, uniform gauge, normal gauge in Europe, and SGR in East Africa. It is the ...
electrified Electrification is the process of powering by electricity and, in many contexts, the introduction of such power by changing over from an earlier power source. In the context of history of technology and economic development, electrification refe ...
railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...
between
Malmö Malmö is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, third-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg, and the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, sixth-largest city in Nordic countries, the Nordic region. Located on ...
and
Katrineholm Katrineholm (pronunciation: or ) is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality and the seat of Katrineholm Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 24,271 inhabitants in 2018. It is located in the inland of Södermanland and is the third largest ur ...
in
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
. The trains continue further on to
Stockholm Central Station Stockholm Central Station (), is the main Train station, railway station in Stockholm, and largest railway station in Sweden in terms of passenger numbers and train traffic. It is located in the Norrmalm district of central Stockholm on Vasagat ...
along the Western Main Line and terminate there (at platforms 16–19). The line also connects to other lines, most notably in
Malmö Malmö is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, third-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg, and the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, sixth-largest city in Nordic countries, the Nordic region. Located on ...
the Öresund line to
Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
, and in
Lund Lund (, ;"Lund"
(US) and
) is a city in the provinces of Sweden, province of Scania, southern Swed ...
to the West Coast Line towards
Gothenburg Gothenburg ( ; ) is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, second-largest city in Sweden, after the capital Stockholm, and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by the Kattegat on the west coast of Sweden, it is the gub ...
.


History

The first parts of the line opened in 1856 between Malmö and
Lund Lund (, ;"Lund"
(US) and
) is a city in the provinces of Sweden, province of Scania, southern Swed ...
, and the last parts in 1874. An unusual route was chosen as the line passed far from many of the bigger towns at the time, such as
Hörby Hörby () is a locality and the seat of Hörby Municipality, SkÃ¥ne County, Sweden with 15 631 inhabitants in 2019. 6 km (3.7 mi) south-east of the center of Hörby is at least since 1959 the location of a radio and TV transmitter. S ...
and
Kristianstad Kristianstad ( , ) is a Urban areas in Sweden, city and the seat of Kristianstad Municipality, Scania County, Sweden with 41,198 inhabitants in 2023. Since the 1990s, the city has gone from being a garrison town to a developed commercial city, ...
. This was an attempt to "colonize" the countryside and populate it. Another strategic choice was to put it far from the coast to minimize vulnerability to military attacks. A number of new towns sprung up or grew as the line brought access to the area, such as Eslöv and Hässleholm. Initially the route Katrineholm–Nässjö was called ''Eastern Main Line'', whereas the original definition of ''Southern Main Line'' was kept and thus reserved for Malmö–Nässjö–Falköping. Not until 1990, the newly founded railway authority
Banverket The Swedish National Rail Administration () was a Swedish state administrative authority which acted as owner on behalf of the State and maintained virtually all main railway lines in Sweden; except for short sidings for freight, heritage railwa ...
changed the official definition according to modern use. (Nässjö–Falköping became known as '' Jönköping Line''.)


Present

The line entirely consists of at least double track, with four tracks on the section Malmö–Arlöv. Today higher-speed
X 2000 X 2000, officially designated X2, is an electric high-speed tilting train operated by SJ in Sweden. It has a top commercial speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) and a top design speed of 210 km/h (130 mph) but has achieved a maximum speed of 276 k ...
trains travel at for large parts of the way.


Stations

This is a list of stations along the line where the long-distance trains stop: *
Katrineholm Katrineholm (pronunciation: or ) is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality and the seat of Katrineholm Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 24,271 inhabitants in 2018. It is located in the inland of Södermanland and is the third largest ur ...
*
Norrköping Norrköping ( , ) is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County, about 160 km southwest of the national capital Stockholm, 40 km east of county seat Lin ...
*
Linköping Linköping ( , ) is a city in southern Sweden, with around 167,000 inhabitants as of 2024. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality and the capital of Östergötland County. Linköping is also the episcopal see of the Diocese of Linköping (Chu ...
*
Mjölby Mjölby ( ) is a city and the seat of Mjölby Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 28,544 inhabitants in 2024. Mjölby is located by the rivulet Svartån. The name ''Mjölby'' is derived from ''Mölloby'', which comes from or , meani ...
*
Nässjö Nässjö () is a locality and the seat of Nässjö Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 31,782 inhabitants in 2024. History For many years, Nässjö was a rural village with agriculture as the dominant occupation. The turning point wa ...
*
Alvesta Alvesta () is a locality and the seat of Alvesta Municipality in Kronoberg County, Sweden, with 8,017 inhabitants in the urban area in 2010. Alvesta is an important railway junction, joining the Stockholm–Malmö–Copenhagen railway wi ...
*
Hässleholm Hässleholm is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality and the seat of Hässleholm Municipality, Scania County, Sweden with 18,500 inhabitants in 2011. Overview Hässleholm was gradually developed from 1860 in connection with the construction of the m ...
*
Lund Lund (, ;"Lund"
(US) and
) is a city in the provinces of Sweden, province of Scania, southern Swed ...
*
Malmö Malmö is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, third-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg, and the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, sixth-largest city in Nordic countries, the Nordic region. Located on ...
Here is a list of all the stations along the line: *
Katrineholm Katrineholm (pronunciation: or ) is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality and the seat of Katrineholm Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 24,271 inhabitants in 2018. It is located in the inland of Södermanland and is the third largest ur ...
*
Norrköping Norrköping ( , ) is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County, about 160 km southwest of the national capital Stockholm, 40 km east of county seat Lin ...
*
Kimstad Kimstad is a locality situated in Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 1,510 inhabitants in 2010. On 12 September 2010, Kimstad became the scene of a railway accident when an X 2000 high-speed train collided with a crane uti ...
* Linghem *
Linköping Linköping ( , ) is a city in southern Sweden, with around 167,000 inhabitants as of 2024. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality and the capital of Östergötland County. Linköping is also the episcopal see of the Diocese of Linköping (Chu ...
* Mantorp * Mjölby *
Tranås Tranås () is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality and the seat of Tranås Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 14,197 inhabitants in 2010. Overview It is close to the lake Sommen in the north of Småland. Its main commercial center is locat ...
* Aneby *
Nässjö Nässjö () is a locality and the seat of Nässjö Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 31,782 inhabitants in 2024. History For many years, Nässjö was a rural village with agriculture as the dominant occupation. The turning point wa ...
* Bodafors *
Sävsjö Sävsjö is a locality and the seat of Sävsjö Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 5,122 inhabitants in 2010. Geography Sävsjö is located on the main line railway between Stockholm and Malmö. The distance to Malmö is about 220 kilo ...
* Stockaryd * Lammhult *
Moheda Moheda is a locality situated in Alvesta Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden with 1,824 inhabitants in 2010. Notable natives * Sven Nykvist * Torsten Ullman *Torsten Hägerstrand *Mats Wilander (from Torpsbruk in Moheda Parish A parish is ...
*
Alvesta Alvesta () is a locality and the seat of Alvesta Municipality in Kronoberg County, Sweden, with 8,017 inhabitants in the urban area in 2010. Alvesta is an important railway junction, joining the Stockholm–Malmö–Copenhagen railway wi ...
*
Vislanda Vislanda () is a locality situated in Alvesta Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway ...
*
Diö Diö () is a locality situated in Älmhult Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden with 899 inhabitants in 2010. Diö is situated 10 km north of the town Älmhult Älmhult () is a locality and the seat of Älmhult Municipality in Kronoberg ...
*
Älmhult Älmhult () is a locality and the seat of Älmhult Municipality in Kronoberg County, Sweden with 17950 as of 2024 It was in Älmhult that the first IKEA (the Swedish furniture company) store was built. IKEA continues to have a large corporate pr ...
* Killeberg * Osby *
Ballingslöv Ballingslöv is a locality situated in Hässleholm Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norwa ...
*
Hässleholm Hässleholm is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality and the seat of Hässleholm Municipality, Scania County, Sweden with 18,500 inhabitants in 2011. Overview Hässleholm was gradually developed from 1860 in connection with the construction of the m ...
*
Sösdala Sösdala () is a locality situated in Hässleholm Municipality, Scania County, Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway ...
* Tjörnarp *
Höör Höör (formerly spelled Hör, ) is a locality and the seat of Höör Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 7,865 inhabitants in 2010. Name The town was previously known as Hørg (in the 12th century), Hørgh (in the 15th century), and later ...
*
Stehag Stehag () is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality situated in Eslöv Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 1,261 inhabitants as of 2018.
*
Eslöv Eslöv (;) is a town and the seat of Eslöv Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 19,598 inhabitants as of 2018. Eslöv is part of the Öresund Region, and the Malmö Metropolitan Area. History According to a map from 1717, Eslöv village ...
* Örtofta * Stångby *
Lund Lund (, ;"Lund"
(US) and
) is a city in the provinces of Sweden, province of Scania, southern Swed ...
* Klostergården * Hjärup *
Ã…karp Ã…karp () is a locality situated in Burlöv Municipality, SkÃ¥ne County, Sweden with 5,617 inhabitants in 2010. It is situated approximately 8 km northeast of Malmö and 13 km southwest of Lund. It has a railway station Rail tra ...
* Burlöv *
Malmö Malmö is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, third-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg, and the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, sixth-largest city in Nordic countries, the Nordic region. Located on ...


Future

As of 2018, the Arlöv–Lund segment is being rebuilt from two to four tracks. The project includes lowering the tracks through
Ã…karp Ã…karp () is a locality situated in Burlöv Municipality, SkÃ¥ne County, Sweden with 5,617 inhabitants in 2010. It is situated approximately 8 km northeast of Malmö and 13 km southwest of Lund. It has a railway station Rail tra ...
and Hjärup for a total of in order to decrease noise pollution, as well as an expansion of Burlöv station allowing it to accommodate
Øresundståg Øresundståg (, ) is a passenger train network operated by Transdev in the transnational Øresund Region of Denmark and Sweden. The name is a hybrid of the Danish ''Øresundstog'' and the Swedish ''Öresundståg'', both meaning "Øresund train ...
, and a new station in in the south of Lund. Construction on a section between Arlöv and south of Lund began in 2017, while Flackarp–Lund is still under planning. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2024. Around year 2020–2030 a new high-speed line for 300 or 320 km/h is planned to be opened between
Linköping Linköping ( , ) is a city in southern Sweden, with around 167,000 inhabitants as of 2024. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality and the capital of Östergötland County. Linköping is also the episcopal see of the Diocese of Linköping (Chu ...
and
Södertälje Södertälje ( , ) is a Urban areas in Sweden, city in Stockholm County, Sweden and seat of Södertälje Municipality. It is also a part of Stockholm urban area, Greater Stockholm Metropolitan Area. As of 2020, it has 73,872 inhabitants. Södert� ...
. It is called Ostlänken and will cut travel time by 40 minutes. There are also plans to increase the permitted speed to between Nässjö and Hässleholm around 2020. Both plans are delayed until further notice by the government, both for cost reasons, and awaiting the political discussion of how to improve the railway network.


References


External links


Trafikverket page on the Southern Main Line

Järnväg.net page on Southern Main Line
{{in lang, sv Railway lines opened in 1856 1856 establishments in Sweden Rail transport in Östergötland County Rail transport in Kronoberg County Railway lines in Skåne County