Page 330 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

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Getting Around Sweden Travelling by Train
There is a well-developed train
Flying within Sweden has its advantages considering the network covering parts of
enormous distances between places, and in many cases Sweden from the Öresund
the fares are reasonably priced. The high standard of overnight Bridge in the south to
sleeper trains makes long journeys by train a comfortable Riksgränsen in the north. Stations
and services are good by inter-
option. The SJ high-speed train running between the major national standards. The
cities often competes well in terms of time and comfort with trains are run by a number
domestic flights. Elsewhere in the country, buses provide of competing companies.
much of the public transport. Travelling by boat offers The state-run SJ operates most
exciting opportunities to discover Sweden’s magnificent long-distance routes. Other
archipelagos and waterways. major players include Veolia
Transport and Tågkompaniet,
which have parts of the lines
in Norrland. At county level,
train services are run by local
train companies in partnership
with bus services and in some
cases ferry services.
Travel involving different
companies and forms of
transport is administered
by Samtrafiken, which is
part-owned by each of the
transport companies. Resplus
SAS, one of the companies offering domestic flights in Sweden is a unique cooperative service
offering travellers one ticket for
Domestic Flights can generally be paid for with a all journeys and all transport
The vast length of Sweden makes credit card, then printed out or operators in the country.
domestic flights a convenient saved on your smartphone. It is Since the 1990s, airlines have
option, and deregulation and worth searching for the lowest experienced tough competition
increased competition in recent prices, particularly if you book from the SJ high-speed train
years have made prices more a long way in advance. (formerly known as the
reasonable. Of the 45 airports Young people under X2000 Express),
offering scheduled flights, 26 can buy cheap which links the cities
12 belong to and are operated standby tickets. of Copenhagen/
by state-owned Swedavia. Travellers to Malmö Malmö, Gothenburg,
Visit the Luftfartsverket website could consider flying SJ logo Östersund and Falun
for links to information on all to Kastrup in to Stockholm. The
of Sweden’s airports, including Copenhagen, as there is a fast journey time is around 5 hours
flights and current arrivals train transfer to central Malmö from Malmö and 3 hours from
and departures. across the Öresund Bridge. Gothenburg. The trains offer
Stockholm/Arlanda Larger airports are served a business class service similar
dominates the domestic flight by airport buses, which operate to that of airlines.
scene, but several companies in conjunction with arrivals InterCity is the main long-
have chosen to fly from the and departures. distance alternative to the SJ,
capital’s more centrally located offering first- and
Bromma Airport. Landvetter, second-class seats.
outside Gothenburg, and The overnight
Sturup, outside Malmö, are sleeper trains are
other major airports. recommended for
Flight times are generally longer journeys such
short: Stockholm–Gothenburg as Gothenburg–
takes 55 minutes. The longest Östersund and routes
direct flight, Stockholm–Kiruna, in northern Norrland.
takes 1 hr 50 mins. The standard is high,
SAS is still the leading airline and you can often
in terms of passenger numbers. have your own
Other operators include Malmö compartment with
Aviation and Norwegian. shower, if you wish.
Tickets can be bought at travel Compartments
agents or directly from the Train passing through the village of Storlien in contain between
airlines. Tickets booked online Southern Norrland one and six beds.

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.6)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm