Sweden’s SJ to End Night Train Service to Germany in 2026 Due to Subsidy Cuts, Snälltåget to Fill Gap
Sweden’s state-owned railway operator, SJ, has announced that it will discontinue its night train service between Stockholm and Berlin on August 31, 2026, once government subsidies for the service come to an end. The move follows ongoing challenges with profitability, delays, and a shortage of suitable rolling stock. SJ’s main competitor on the route, Snälltåget, plans to step in and expand its services to fill the gap left by SJ’s withdrawal.
The Challenges Faced by SJ
While the night train service between Sweden and Germany was popular among passengers, it has faced several operational hurdles. Since launching in 2022, the service has struggled to achieve profitability, despite the subsidies. Issues such as delays, difficulties with obtaining rolling stock approvals, and the high operational costs of the long-distance route have made the service challenging for SJ to sustain. The service also faced a significant shortage of available coaches in Europe, and the need for approval to operate trains through Denmark added an additional layer of complexity.
“The long route and limited seating capacity have been major challenges,” said Christer Litzell, SJ’s business manager. The process of securing approval for rolling stock from Denmark was another issue. “Half of the couchette cars were approved, but the other half were not, despite being identical,” he added. It took over two years for all the required approvals to be in place.
Snälltåget to Expand its Services
With SJ’s exit, Snälltåget, owned by Transdev, is set to increase its service offerings, particularly during the quieter November-March period when demand is lower. Snälltåget has been operating night trains since 2007 and has managed to remain profitable without relying on subsidies, unlike SJ.
“We’ve been running night trains without subsidies for years, and we understand what our customers want,” said Carl Adam Holmberg, CEO of Snälltåget. The company has developed a business model focused on customer needs and cost-effectiveness, something Holmberg believes SJ has not had to consider due to its subsidized operations.
Snälltåget’s approach differs from SJ’s in that it uses couchette cars for its night trains, which can accommodate more passengers than sleeper compartments. Holmberg noted that customers are often unwilling to pay the higher unsubsidized prices for sleeper berths, which is why couchette cars are more practical for Snälltåget’s services.
RDC Germany to Continue Operating Service
Railroad Development Corporation (RDC) Germany, which has partnered with SJ for the German portion of the night train service, also plans to continue operating the full Berlin-Hamburg-Stockholm route independently after SJ pulls out. RDC is preparing to take over the operations on the German side, ensuring that the service remains intact, even as SJ shifts its focus to other routes in Scandinavia.
Snälltåget welcomes the competition but insists that it should operate under the same conditions, as this will foster a healthy, sustainable market for night train services. “We are happy to have competition, as long as it is fair and based on the same commercial conditions,” Holmberg said.
The Future of Night Trains in Scandinavia
Despite the challenges faced by SJ, the decision to withdraw from the Germany-Sweden night train service signals a shift in focus for the company. Litzell explained that SJ would focus more on regional connections between Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen, with Copenhagen being the “gateway” to Europe. SJ has no immediate plans to resume night train services to Germany.
The departure of SJ from the route presents both challenges and opportunities for other operators like Snälltåget and RDC, who now have the chance to expand their services and capture a larger share of the night train market between Sweden and Germany. The evolving landscape of the night train sector in Scandinavia reflects the ongoing struggle to balance operational costs with customer expectations, while also facing the pressures of competition and changing funding models.
The post Sweden’s SJ to End Night Train Service to Germany in 2026 Due to Subsidy Cuts, Snälltåget to Fill Gap appeared first on Travel And Tour World.