Inland Line

The Inland Railway ( swedish Inlandsbanan ) is a railway line in Sweden, which is mostly operated by the railway company Inlandsbanan AB. It leads over a length of more than 1288 km of Kristinehamn in the south to Gällivare in the north.

For many years, the Inland Railway for passenger only of secondary importance. Passenger transport was limited to the summer months - here tourists are transported in the main proceedings. Only slowly is here again there is a change. In addition, the track has a meaning for the wood, Bodenschatz, and transportation of goods. In Gällivare connects the Inland Railway to the iron ore railway, which connects Kiruna and the Norwegian Narvik in the north of Luleå and the Swedish Baltic Sea coast in the south.

History

Construction and operation

The first considerations to develop the north of Sweden by means of a railway line, go back to the year 1894. 1907, the first, 125 -km-long section was completed. On 6 August 1937, the track was opened to its full length of Crown Prince Gustav Adolf. A memorial stone in Kåbdalis recalled. During World War II the German Wehrmacht used the Inland Railway to relocate approximately two million soldiers by neutral Sweden to Norway, Finland and northern Russia.

Station Hammerdal (1920 )

Trollforsen Station (1965 )

During this time there have already been some cuts in passenger transport: From 28 May 1932 to the May 21, 1937 and from 1 September 1939 to November 30, 1943 drove between Jämtland Sikås and Hammerdal no trains. After 1950 the railway rapidly lost importance, to the same extent when the automobile and the European Route 45 ( then with other numbers, such as 242, 296, 343) gained in importance. On November 1, 1957, the passenger traffic was finally set after Hammerdal; it was followed by 1961, the transport of goods between Jokkmokk and Kåbdalis and 1964 between Kåbdalis and Moskosel.

1964 took place more line changes in the area of Filipstad. These were related to the closure of the old route between Nykroppa and Persberg. The trains were then of Hornkullen about Daglösen Filipstad on the former route of Bergslagernas Järnvägar. From Filipstad after Persberg an eight km long was built new circuit which nya banan.

First closures

In 1969, the passenger was adjusted to between Lesjöfors and Mora, 1982 between Ulriksfors and Strömsund. On 1 July 1983, the freight traffic ended after Hammerdal, and the line was dismantled in 1985. Passenger traffic between Kristinehamn and Lesjöfors ended in 1985. With the beginning of 1986 the freight met between Norra Kikkejaur and Moskosel the same fate, and about three years later it hit the connection Gällivare - Jokkmokk.

In 1990, the government planned decommissioning of the Inland Railway, which led to strong protests from the population. Since 1 April 1993, 15 riparian communities are the owners of the Inland Railway. Passenger traffic on the entire route takes place only during the summer months of June to August. Between Mora and Östersund usually a railcar is used, and between Ostersund and Gallivare is run in double traction. The scheduled crossing on the northern route takes place in Sorsele station. In the years 2010-2012 there were mainly in July, an additional train service between Östersund and Storuman, as well as between Östersund and Mora. These compounds were discontinued in 2013. In the winter timetable or out of season there was only one scheduled, which offered the Inland Railway in collaboration with Länstrafiken i Jämtland County: Mainly for students, there was the weekend trains between Östersund and Sveg and since 2010 to Mora. After the end of the summer timetable 2013, this connection has been completely deleted. First time in over twenty years, a daily connection Östersund- Mora was set up in the winter months of 2012/13.

On selected days, go to the travel agency of the Inland Railway (formerly Grand Nordic AB) trains on the Northern line, such as the winter market in Jokkmokk. Since fewer railcars are needed in winter, then some of them may be rented to other railway companies - the Y1 series is relatively winterized and has proven itself over the years. Thus, the use of domestic rail units, for example, on the relations Umeå and Lycksele Sundsvall- Storlien is occupied. A lively goods traffic on the route between Östersund and Storuman place, whereby foreign locomotives are used.

The State contract

With the acquisition of the railway line Mora to Gällivare and their branch lines of the Swedish State Railways ( SJ) Inlandsbanan AB is not the owner, but only "administrator behalf of the state " was. The government agency that is responsible for the Swedish railway network after the dissolution of SJ - Trafikverket in Borlänge - lists the Inland Railway now under the category of private railway on, but the track has its own track number 99, assigned. The train line north of Trafikverket based in Ånge is responsible for the entire range of Inlandsbanan AB.

South Range

In much of the traffic is set, only the sections between Kristinehamn and Persberg and between Mora and Vika are in managing Trafikverket and are currently of Tågåkeriet i Bergslagen AB ( Tagab ) and Green Cargo operated. On 19 October 2011 the newspaper Dala- Democrat published an article on the future of the section Persberg - Mora. Here is a resumption of freight transport is pulled at a speed of 40 km / h in consideration.

In the southwestern portion of the section Mora - Vika, the 4 km long distance piece between Lomsmyren and Vika, no more train service takes place due to superstructure defects for several years. Therefore Tarifverket suggested in October 2013, set the maintenance of this track piece. If the surveyed authorities, there is a route for three more years without maintenance. After this period, the stretch when no need exists, closed permanently.

Opening data

Northern part:

  • Lugnvik - Häggenås 35.3 km, October 1, 1911
  • Östersund- Lugnvik 2.8 km, November 13, 1912
  • Häggenås - Ulriksfors 77.2 kilometers, December 1, 1912
  • Jämtland Sikås - Hammerdal 9.4 km, December 1, 1912
  • Strömsund - Ulriksfors 4.3 km, December 1, 1912
  • Ulriksfors hoting 51.6 km, November 1, 1914
  • Hoting - Dorotea 21.1 km, November 1, 1915
  • Porjus - Gällivare 53.0 kilometers, December 1, 1917
  • Dorotea Vilhelmina 56.4 km, February 16, 1918
  • Vilhelmina Storuman 68.0 km, November 15, 1923
  • Jokkmokk Porjus 47.3 km, November 21, 1927
  • Storuman - Sorsele 72.0 kilometers, December 1, 1929
  • Sorsele - Arvidsjaur 87.5 kilometers, December 1, 1933
  • Arvidsjaur Jokkmokk 173.4 km, August 7, 1937

Central section:

  • Brunflo - Hackås 30.3 kilometers, December 15, 1916
  • Hackås - Svenstavik 21.3 kilometers, December 15, 1917
  • Svenstavik - Åsarna 15.3 km, July 1, 1918
  • Åsarna - Sveg 102.3 km, September 21, 1922
  • Mora - Noret Orsa 13.5 km, August 1, 1892
  • Orsa - Bäckedal 121 km, November 30, 1908
  • Bäckedal - Sveg 2 km, February 9, 1909

South:

  • Kristinehamn Storfors, June 3, 1873
  • Storfors - Gammalkroppa, December 11, 1875
  • Gammalkroppa-Persberg/Finnshyttan, December 1, 1876
  • Persberg - Oforsen, November 1, 1889
  • Oforsen - Vansbrosimningen, November 1, 1890
  • Vansbrosimningen Mora, November 1, 1891

Operational settings

Northern part:

  • Jämtland Sikås - Hammerdal, passenger (PV ) May 28, 1932 to May 21, 1937 and September 1, 1939 to November 30, 1943
  • Jämtland Sikås - Hammerdal, PV November 1, 1957
  • Jokkmokk Kåbdalis freight (GM) May 22, 1961
  • Kåbdalis - Moskosel, GA May 31, 1964
  • Ulriksfors Strömsund PV May 23, 1982 ( 2013 summer traffic )
  • Jämtland Sikås - Hammerdal, GV July 1, 1983
  • Moskosel - Norra Kikkejaur, GA January 1, 1986
  • Gällivare - Jokkmokk, GA May 25, 1989

South:

  • Persberg - Persbergs gruva, 1 km. PV January 1, 1917
  • Persberg - Persbegs gruva, GV 1923 - Connecting Railway
  • Filipstad Östra - Finnshyttan, 2 km. PV September 1, 1954
  • Filipstad Östra - Finnshyttan, 2 km. GM May 31, 1964
  • Nyhyttan - Filipstad Östra, 8 km. Total May 31, 1964
  • Nykroppa - Gåsgruvan, 16 km. Total May 31, 1964
  • Gåsgruvan - Persberg, 2 km. PV May 31, 1964
  • Mora - Vika, 11 km. PV September 1, 1969
  • Vika - Dalasågen, 59 km. Total September 1, 1969
  • Dalasågen - Vansbrosimningen, 2 km. Total September 1, 1969 - Connecting Railway
  • Vansbrosimningen Sågen, 31 km. Total September 1, 1969
  • Sågen - Lesjöfors, 33 km. PV September 1, 1969
  • Sågen - Oforsen, 19km. GV June 17, 1974
  • Gåsgruvan - Persberg, 2 km. GM June 1, 1975
  • Oforsen - Lesjöfors, 14 km. GV January 1, 1979
  • Lesjöfors Persberg, PV September 2, 1985
  • Lesjöfors Persberg, GV December 1, 1986 ( formally: October 1, 1989)
  • Persberg - Filipstad, PV June 26, 2000
  • Filipstad - Nykroppa, PV June 15, 2003
  • Lomsmyren - Vika: " Underhåll har upphört " - without traffic, but no official decommissioning

Route

The Inland Railway is divided into three sections. Large parts of the southern section of line between Kristinehamn and Mora have been decommissioned in the 1960s. The railway tracks are usually still present and can be explored by bicycle track cars. The passenger took over intercity buses here. Between Kristinehamn and freight Persberg still takes place, the more distance over Vansbrosimningen to Vika is shut down.

The central part of Mora to Östersund is served ( in July ) from a train in each direction daily twice. Just behind Orsa begins the characteristic of the domestic rail journey through the wilderness, mostly through dense forests, but by lakes, rivers and colored cottages are loosened.

Reindeer on the tracks

Piteälvsbron

The northern section of Östersund to Gällivare is the longest part. The journey takes about 13 hours and is operated in each direction of each one train per day. To the north, the forests are lights; partially traverses the web a moorland landscape. A few kilometers south of the town of Jokkmokk crossing the railway the Arctic Circle. Here in the far north the route is partially very easy to remove and had a low capacity ( track class A). In 2012, the track superstructure between Jokkmokk and Kåbdalis has been strengthened. The State introduced this 40 million Swedish crowns ready.

Since the majority of the passengers are tourists who journey is often interrupted to visit attractions ( for example, a bear's den at the breakpoint Björnidet ) or to take meals.

Special

The Inland Railway uses two combined rail-road bridges on which the railway and the road sharing a roadway. It is the Mankellbron ( Henning Mankell - Bridge ) in Sveg and Piteälvsbron ( bridge over the Pite River ) at Moskosel.

Previously, both bridges were occupied by a guard who stopped the traffic at train rides. Meanwhile, both bridges have a semi-automatic safety system which, when a train is approaching, turn on a red flashing light on the road. Only after the train and held a railroad worker is satisfied that the bridge is free, can with one touch the barrier system are closed and the railway signal turns green.

The only tunnel on the Inland Railway is located in Jokkmokk; he only has a length of 50 m. Between hoting Dorotea and the route goes for miles on the river island Långön, which thus became the largest Swedish inland island with a railroad.

The Moskosel railway station is one of the last Swedish railway stations, which is equipped with semaphore signals. For this purpose, a special investment in the route description is necessary because the form signals are no longer included in the signal book. In 2010, the entire local interlocking mechanism has been overhauled and there are some freight trains on the northern part of the route since 2013 on the road, the station is open weekdays hour occupied again.

The station Buddnakk is referred to in various guidebooks and on the Inland Railway itself as the smallest station in Sweden. The bus shelter is not much bigger than a portable toilet and there is a short, wooden platform. In the official schedules of the Inland Railway, in the past, is or was Buddnakk not included. However, there are in the sparsely populated northern Sweden, a common railway signaling, which tells the engineer the travel request. The yellow round disc with red border is still held to many, including former stations and can be rotated in the direction of the expected train when needed by travelers. The nearest train stops and the signal is reset.

Steam train in Arvidsjaur

Train with old carriages

Attractions in the area ( from north to south )

  • Aitik copper mine - 20 km from Gällivare
  • Hydropower plant Porjus
  • Muddus National Park - 30 km north of Jokkmokk
  • Steam train Arvidsjaur Slagnäs
  • Gimegoults - nature reserve 15 km north-east of Sorsele, about 5 km north of Heden
  • Auto Museum hoting
  • Large lake - Lake at Ostersund with steamship S / S Thomée
  • Elk Park Mosegården in Östersund
  • National Park Sonfjället - 60 km northwest of Sveg
  • Hamra National Park - 10 km south-east of Fågelsjö, 10 km north of Tandsjöborg
  • Orsa Bear Park - 13 km from the place
  • Siljan - Lake in Mora
  • Vasaloppsleden - (ski) trail from halls on Evertsberg to Mora
Grade (slope) Lit, Sweden Optand Tandsbyn Ljungan Ytterhogdal Ljusnan Mora, Sweden Karlstad Swedish Transport Administration Dala-Demokraten Draisine Siljan (lake)
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