Sweden’s first railway, between Örebro and Nora, was opened to traffic in 1856. Sweden now has a railway network measuring almost twelve thousand kilometres. Of these, just over eight thousand kilometres are single track and barely four thousand are double or multiple track. The majority, more than eleven thousand kilometres, are electrified.

The railway’s role as regards passenger transport has changed in recent decades. From having been a means of transport primarily for longer journeys, today’s rail traffic is also an important part of the regional public transport systems. The railways, and the opportunities for commuting by train, have resulted in labour market regions growing and people being able to live further and further from their place of work or study. Regional rail travel is the sector that has increased most in the past decade. However, this also places greater demands as regards the punctuality and efficiency of the railway.

More freight is now transported by rail than ever before. There is also increased demand for freight transport by rail, and rail transport often constitutes an important link in the transport chains for freight to and from the ports or to loading and unloading points, from where the freight is transported onwards.

The railway is a natural part of the freight and passenger transport systems.