Sweden May Introduce Overnight Sleeper Trains For Better Environmental Impact

The Swedish transport authority is planning to introduce long haul overnight trains that will connect with some of the key cities in other parts of Europe. Media reports quoted Trafikverket, the Swedish Transport Administration, as saying that to start with, the overnight trains will run from Malmö in the southern part of the country to Cologne (Germany) via Copenhagen (Denmark). Tentative plans indicate that the train will leave Malmö at 740 pm and reach Cologne next morning at 6 am. Passengers will then be able to avail already existing connections to Amsterdam, Munich, Paris, and London. It has also been pointed out that under the Cologne plan, London-bound passengers can take a high-speed German train to connect with the Eurostar.

The planned service is expected to begin in 2022 or 2023 after the authorities have taken a decision on the logistics part, including the procurement of carriages and who will operate the services.

Following the introduction of the train service between Malmö and Cologne, there may be services to Frankfurt, Brussels, Berlin, and Basel. Passengers travelling to Brussels will benefit by taking the Eurostar service which includes a stop at Brussels Midi, according to media reports.

Trafikverket believes with the introduction of overnight trains, passengers will have the option of choosing these trains over short-haul flights and thus, lower the effects of climate change.