Sweden has ordered 10 locomotives and 162 carriages for night trains to upper Norrland from Spanish manufacturer Talgo, according to multiple reports. The total procurement cost is 8.2 billion SEK, including the locomotives, carriages, and 10 years of maintenance. The contract was signed with Talgo, a Spanish train manufacturer known for its lightweight and high-speed trains.
However, there is a discrepancy in the number of carriages ordered. Trafikverket initially stated 91 carriages were ordered, but Talgo reported 162 carriages. Trafikverket later corrected the figure to 162 carriages, according to major media. The corrected order consists of eleven night train groups with nine carriages each and nine day train groups with seven carriages each, plus ten locomotives. The total vehicle budget is 5.2 billion SEK, resulting in a price per carriage of around 29 million SEK. The difference between the 8.2 billion SEK total procurement cost and the 5.2 billion SEK vehicle budget may be due to the inclusion of maintenance and other costs.
It will make passengers hesitant to take the night train.
The new trains will feature family compartments and premium compartments with private showers, according to major media. They will have four-bed compartments, two-bed premium compartments, and single-bed compartments. The current three-bed sleepers and six-bed couchettes will be phased out. The trains are designed to operate in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius, according to major media. They are designed to be flexible and durable for 30-40 years. The new trains will offer quieter, more comfortable, and more accessible carriages, including compartments adapted for passengers with disabilities.
The operator must run at least one daily round trip Stockholm–Narvik and one daily round trip Stockholm–Umeå, according to major media. The new trains will enter service from 2030. The procurement decision can be appealed for another ten days.
Night trains used to be everywhere. Some disappeared during the 1990s because high-speed trains made them redundant. If it only takes three hours to get from Amsterdam to Paris, or from Paris to Geneva, you don't need a night train.
The risk distribution was adjusted so that Trafikverket takes greater responsibility for the aging carriage fleet, according to major media. Lennart Kalander, deputy department head at Trafikverket, said in a press release that the risk distribution was adjusted to allow competitive bids.
Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson said at a press conference that the new trains are modern, robust, and future-proof night train traffic for a long time. Trafikverket's Director General Roberto Maiorana said in a press release that several solutions were considered and that the compartments will be better from a comfort perspective. According to Aftonbladet, Roberto Maiorana described that they are moving away from sharing a compartment with six people and that from a comfort perspective, this will be better. Rikard Granlund, result unit manager at Trafikverket, said according to SVT Nyheter that the new trains will be a huge improvement in comfort and noise level, comparing it to a car from 40 years ago versus today's modern cars. According to SVT Nyheter, Rikard Granlund also said that the current carriages were made long ago to transport conscripts, and that the new trains will offer four-bed compartments, premium compartments with two beds, and single-bed compartments.
The odds are against night trains.
Night trains are making a comeback in some parts of Europe, according to train expert Mark Smith, as reported by major media. However, according to Aftonbladet, Mark Smith is critical of Sweden's purchase, saying the compartment solutions will make passengers hesitant to take the night train. According to Aftonbladet, Mark Smith described that night trains used to be everywhere but disappeared during the 1990s because high-speed trains made them redundant. He also said that the odds are against night trains, and that the combination of factors makes people travel longer by train than they used to. According to Aftonbladet, Mark Smith noted that nobody cared in the 1950s, but in 2026 people don't want to lie down in a bed in a room with strangers, and it's a pity Sweden didn't see that when they placed the order.
Several unknowns remain about the procurement. It is unclear why Trafikverket initially communicated the wrong number of carriages (91 instead of 162). The exact total cost of the procurement including all components (locomotives, carriages, maintenance) has not been confirmed. It is also uncertain whether the new compartment solutions (single, double, four-bed) will be affordable for price-sensitive travelers, and how the new trains will affect ticket prices compared to current night trains. The timeline for the delivery of the 162 carriages and 10 locomotives has not been specified.
That combination makes people travel longer by train than they used to.
Nobody cared in the 1950s, but in 2026 people don't want to lie down in a bed in a room with strangers. It's a pity Sweden didn't see that when they placed the order.
I think it's early to make that assessment, but we are moving away from sharing a compartment with six people today. From a comfort perspective, this will be better.
With the new night trains, Sweden takes an important step towards modern, sustainable and future-proof night train traffic that strengthens the country's competitiveness, cohesion and climate transition.
The new night trains are designed to be flexible and durable for 30–40 years. This means they can be adapted to future needs, new traffic arrangements and changing demands from passengers, business and total defense.
It will be a huge lift. It will be a completely different comfort and noise level. It's like comparing a car from 40 years ago with today's modern cars.
They are specified for minus 40 degrees.
They were made long ago to transport conscripts. With this we will be able to offer four-bed compartments and premium compartments with two beds and a single-bed compartment.