The trains will initially be deployed on the Stockholm-Malmö route, the route with highest demand in Sweden, and then further to Copenhagen. At a later stage, the new trains will be redeployed to other lines in the Stockholm-Gothenburg-Malmö triangle as well as to Oslo. The trains are expected to enter commercial service between 2026 and 2028.
Passenger rail traffic growth rates in Sweden are twice as high as the EU average, and rail traffic is expected to continue growing. With this financing, the oldest long-distance trains will be replaced and the overall capacity of SJ’s fleet will be increased, offering more reliability and comfort for passengers.
EIB vice-president Thomas Östros said, “More investment in sustainable transport modes is crucial to mitigate the climate crisis. Hence, we are very happy at the EIB to be able to support SJ as they now invest in upgraded and modernized high-speed trains to meet the increasing demand in Sweden and some of its neighboring countries to travel by rail.”
SJ senior vice president and head of its rolling stock division, Arvid Fredman, added, “SJ has launched its biggest ever investment program, and in a few years we will have one of Europe’s most modern train fleets. It is necessary so that we can continue to contribute to both climate goals and growth in Sweden.”