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"](_blank)
(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"](_blank)
(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, Skåne 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"](_blank)
(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"](_blank)
(US) and ) is a city in the provinces of Sweden, province of Scania, southern Swed ...
* Klostergården
* Hjärup
* Ã…karp
Åkarp () is a locality situated in Burlöv Municipality, Skåne 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 Åkarp
Åkarp () is a locality situated in Burlöv Municipality, Skåne 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