New Direct Train Hamburg – Copenhagen – Stockholm from May 4th
From today, independent rail operator Snälltåget launches a new direct daytime open-access service linking Hamburg, Copenhagen and Stockholm - three major European cities, now connected in one seamless journey.
NEW Daytime Passenger Rail Service Between Sweden, Denmark & Germany – Run by an Independent Operator
From 4 May 2026, the independent rail operator Snälltåget will introduce a brand new daytime direct service connecting Stockholm - Malmö - Copenhagen - Hamburg. Departures from both Stockholm and Hamburg in the late morning will bring passengers to their destination the same evening, offering a comfortable, relaxing and climate-friendly way to travel between Germany and Scandinavia.
PSO Subsidies For Me, But Not For Thee: SJ’s Curious Case Of Double Standards
In her interview with Swedish news outlet DN, SJ's CEO Monica Lingegård said: “Given the regions’ finances and the need to be careful with taxpayers' money, you need to ensure that you do not compete with commercial traffic unnecessarily. That we let commercial traffic live and grow in a good way”. However, it seems SJ's stance on taxpayer-funded competition changes depending on which side of the subsidy cheque they are on.
Kritik mot SJ:s krav
SJ:s krav på ekonomiskt stöd från Trafikverket och Jernbanedirektoratet har fått ALLRAIL att se rött. ALLRAIL, som har MTR, Flixtrain och Transdev, som medlemmar, kräver att de svenska och norska regeringarna stoppar det ”orättvisa skattefinansierade stödet” till SJ.
One Last Time Before The 4th EU Railway Package: Swedish Incumbent SJ Attempts To Get A New Direct Award Just Before The Deadline
Over the past two years, SJ has been actively lobbying authorities and the tourism industry in Jämtland (Sweden) and Trøndelag (Norway) for direct Stockholm-Trondheim services. While being presented as an SJ "investment", it would actually be funded by taxpayers and probably create a monopoly.