The Swedish Night Train experience - First Class Sleeping Car review

[@mathiasab6144]

You missed the best part of the entire trip: the complimentary hotel breakfast buffet 😢 You actually have three breakfast options with a sleeper first class ticket: 1) pick it up from the dining car, 2) pick it up on the go from selected SJ partners at your destination or 3) enjoy a breakfast buffet at a SJ partner hotel. In Östersund that would be Best Western Hotel Gamla Teatern. Every time I go from Stockholm to Copenhagen, I always book the night train to Malmö and enjoy a nice long breakfast at Scandic Hotel Kramer before I book a regional train to Copenhagen only once I’m ready. The only time SJ delivers breakfast to your seat is with a first class “high speed train” ticket on X2000 and SJ 3000.

[@mathiasab6144]

SJ will also refurbish all their night trains to Östersund/Åre/Duved during 2025-2026 and plan to start going all the way to Trondheim approximately at the same time. So you will get plenty of reason to redo the trip. Lastly, thanks for a great video as always 😍

[@markoobid2005]

@@mathiasab6144 refurbish in what sense? Hopefully the wonderful old WL1 sleepers are staying.

[@jatterhog]

@@markoobid200512 WL1 are getting renovated, the other 12 seem to have an undecided fate

[@marie-francoisebarillot2658]

Thank you for this information added to my planning trip 😊

[@lagererik]

There´s another easter egg with the night trains to southern Sweden in first class. Depending on time table the train can arrive quite early on stations Hässleholm and Lund. A number of stops before end station Malmö. Don't leave the train in par example Lund. You can sleep all the way to Malmo, with no additional cost. Leave the train as late as possible. Take the High Speed Service back to Lund (15 minutes, included in ticket) and enjoy the breakfast at Grand Hotel in Lund. Free of charge. And it's worth mentioning that Grand Hotel has one of the top 5 hotel breakfasts in Scandinavia. An Easter Egg de luxe. Night train to Malmö, back to Lund for breakfast, and then high speed train to Copenhagen. Best of Scandinavia by train.

[@ellenkarlsson9490]

I'm a real life Princess and the Pea and I slept like a baby on the SJ sleeper. Very good beds!

[@barbaralcharles]

Sleeper train reviews are my favourite videos. Well done doc!

[@howardcobb4656]

Enjoyable video. Train travel is relaxing whether in person or on a video. 😊

[@EliasLarsson-ck6qn]

Yay another swedish trip report

[@Happymali10]

You filmed the train pull away from the platform towards a red exit-signal. It stopped at the signal (as it should). Pulling forward that short distance might count as "departed on time", or maybe they needed the space behind it for another train.

[@TheYarnPlanet]

The signal is for a railroad switch that at the time was faulty/not working, it's located right in that corner. So in order to continue we have to fill in a special form. There's no other trains at the station for about 2h and the train has to leave the "zone" that counts as the station in order to be marked (departed), all done by sensors. :)

[@Backwardlooking]

Although old the Swedish aesthetic makes the compartment light and attractive contributing to a restful experience. 👍🏻🇫🇷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿✌️

[@Edwin23333]

You should do a trip report on Snälltågets seasonal route from Stockholm to Austria!

[@downunderrob]

That's a bit of a Journey. I'd like to see that as well. 👍👏🇦🇺

[@Glacussia]

​@@downunderrobwrong austria😭

[@markoobid2005]

The wonderful SJ night train. One night and it climbed directly to my 1st place among the night trains. Even better than the Nightjet (it's my third now, VY Norrland is second). I travelled in the old WL1 second class sleeper from Östersund to Göteborg, and man, it was a perfect experience. SJ and VY really know how to run night trains efficiently and comfortable. A bistro is an icing on the cake.

[@doubledee9675]

One of the overnight trains from Sydney to Melbourne was strictly sleepers only. Each cabin had its own WC and handbasin, and the double compartments had their own showers (there were showers at the end of the carriages for single compartment users). That was in the early 1960's. The feature carried over to the transcontinental trains from Sydney to Perth

[@mc8627]

Okay?

[@doubledee9675]

@@mc8627 Thank for your enquiry. Yes, I'm perfectly ok thanks.

[@imdadshah7481]

Beautiful vlog Beautiful journey ❤️

[@amtrakharry]

Love your Night train video's...👍👍👍

[@theobrattinga500]

Great video.

[@akepax72]

Great video! But Sweden/SL seriously needs to upgrade/clean/restore our old trains. The amount of money we spend on tickets and taxes we pay do not reflect the state of our trains. While walking past it you can see how rusty and broken down it is, and its usually really dirty and dusty inside of SL trains.

[@johnmehaffey9953]

That looks classy, great post

[@trainlagged]

Fantastic video ! I should be in this train soon 👀

[@benhamena.mohamed3680]

Thank you for this beautiful tour

[@curtisdaniel9294]

When you were walking the corridors, the newer cars seemed to be quieter, better noise suppression. 😊

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

Yeah it was a knife in the back 😂

[@Rodoeht12345]

A peculiar detail about your train is that they switched around the consist in the middle of the night in Sundsvall. You see, there are two separate night trains going north to both Duved and Umeå each night. One originates in Gothenburg, train number 74, going to Umeå, the other originates in Stockholm, train number 70, going to Duved. Each has one half of the train going to each destination. So, in the middle of the night, the Duved cars from train 74, gets attached to train 70 and the Umeå cars from train 70 gets attached to train 74. And the opposite happens every night on the return journey, very peculiar, but it works! Also, you should come back and try the 2nd class WL1 when they have been refurbished, they're keeping the original 60's wooden details and giving them changing the dated 80's/90's details to new, modern designs and they're getting that sweet black paint scheme!

[@johan_johansson_]

*Rule #1* ➡ Watched 🎧 ➡ Pressed 👍🏻 ➡ Pressed 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 to the comments from others ✅

[@snuggles03]

thank you very much, I really enjoy that video, I live on the absolute opposite side of the world to this country, we don’t have trains like that in my country, the ones here seem a bit newer and more modern, the train you travelled on, looked very, very comfortable, and I’d be very happy to travel in that

[@LegoBrick916]

Amazing

[@cherylsemrau7100]

I would love to go on this trip. Greetings from Canada.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

excellent

[@BinxTheSuperCuteCat]

ive also been on this train in first class

[@BinxTheSuperCuteCat]

and i went from stockholm C

[@BinxTheSuperCuteCat]

but i think i was in the WL1

[@LoveLove-lz1cg]

Congratulations ! With Admiration, Vladimir Luchyan Dumitrescu.

[@Andrewjg_89]

Riding on a sleeper train in Sweden is just like being in another world. Sweden is still the best country in Europe that has better transport.

[@Waltaere]

Simply 😃

[@Rodoeht12345]

The X40 fleet is getting an overhaul soon, you should come do a new trip report when they've entered service, among other things, i've heard, they're getting a proper 1 class saloon with 2+1 seating configuration

[@rezaalan3991]

Great trip

[@gustavsturksteinwall4027]

5:32 slight correction, SJ also operates a few WL6 2nd class sleeper cars, the same type used by Vy. I personally find these quite boring, compared to the absolutely gorgeous WL1’s with their beautiful wooden panels and wonderful old school vibe. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, these are soon to be renovated along with the rest of SJ’s fleet, so if you want to ride on one you’ve got to do it now before it’s too late! SJ’s sleeper car fleet consists of 22 WL1’s, 21 WL4’s (first class) and 3 WL6’s if you’re curious.

[@Abnerbandanovotempoinscrito1mi]

Boa viagem simplys trein cama

[@marcogeurts9881]

@Simply Railway i really hope if you're in Romania again that you make a trip report on these ex NS DH2 sets

[@simonsv9449]

You should review the swedish open-access operator MTR Express.

[@RobertSK931]

@simplyrailway Great video. I live in Östersund 🙂 It was very interesting to see the 1:st class since I have been thinking about to go with that one. What is the name of the Nice iPhone stick that seams like perfect to film with ? I do enjoy your youtube videos since I always fly and if I do take a train in other countries, it’s perfect to watch your videos🙂👍👍

[@vipin_rahul]

very nice

[@sandrad81]

The high speed trains also go this route, they just take another way.

[@andrewg9457]

Quality content

[@suneolsson9815]

i was ride this every weekend then i was in army in östersund

[@marianmauritz8322]

Nice Video

[@hamwank]

I would never share with strangers

[@randall8379]

I did it when I was a student. Never again

[@JohnBerit69]

It's always signal fault here in Sweden

[@samtrak1204]

I wanted to see more of the bistro car.

[@rasseboy3356]

You should come again in finland and try pendolino this time

[@SeverityOne]

"...we are in Sweden..." Thanks for pointing that out. We hadn't already noticed from the over-abundance of attractive people with an understated elegant dress sense. 🙂

[@aaxanimex]

3:07 you dare to take our trains in the north SJ, so we take your trains at home 😝

[@YTnightspotter]

The Sweden blow dryers look like vacuums

[@ggreg2258]

Are those mosaics on the ceiling at Stockholm---or paint?? Can you request a specific room in the sleeper---as I believe that rooms in the middle of the coach would be more quiet and ride better?? Did you manage to get breakfast??? Very enjoyable and nicely shot---as usual.

[@jatterhog]

1) I think it’s paint. Mosaics aren’t that common in Scandinavia (sadly). 2) Yep of course. And SJ try to book the middle cabins before the ones at the end for that very reason. 3) IDK about him haha, but you can get a 4* hotel breakfast for free in 1st class in almost all arrival cities.

[@NordicRail]

Nice trip report. But why does it take 2+ years to be published?

[@primeshortsnow]

Train stopped due to a red light, it's waiting for another train to get in to the station that is currently running on the track it's about to leave on

[@CalinFR]

Is there carpeting in these cabins? I couldn't tell

[@Maax1200]

1970`s standard for 2023 prices.

[@SternenruferinPatchouli1]

a couschette is LIGVAGN

[@emilkarpo]

The black paint scheme on this older rolling stock is ver dignified and classy. But the cars still look like they were cobbled together by Sven and Ollie after a visit to a local DIY store or caravan supply shop very RVish. Still great travel Vlog! A shame the trip isn't longer the train would be comfortable even for a couple day journey.

[@christianwidelund-johansso1786]

Sorry that you missed out on how the breakfast works for 1st class travellers but now you know for the next time. I saw that you've got a description of how it works out 🙂 //traindriver at SJ Nattåg

[@kristinajendesen7111]

Very interesting. I haven't been since 1999 with a friend, we had free travel due to working on the railway here in England, just small discounted supplements for sleepers or seat reservations. I love architecture but I can't remember noticing how beautiful Central station was. I must have been a bit drunk from the bar across the street to the left while waiting for our train. The new NSB sleeper coach we booked on another journey was horrendously hot. The air conditioning wasn't working and the heat was stuck on high. Being a new 'air conditioned' coach we couldn't open the window either.

[@Warrior_168]

Can you please do a trip of m5 in Belgium

[@alexandrufrateanu]

6:00 why ya' breathing so hard. Did you fight a bear to enter the train :))

[@arnonuehm1]

Unfortunately after my recent experience with the sleeper between Stockholm and Hamburg I don't trust SJ anymore. I had reserved a first class compartment with en-suite shower for the two trips. Both times they failed to have a car there to accommodate that and put me into the standard couchette car instead. The first time I only was informed after I tried to board the train and my compartment was nowhere to be found. For the way back at least I was told a few days ahead of time, but still too late to make any alternative travel arrangements. They also only offer to refund me 50% of my seat reservation, but because I traveled with interrail (specifically booked just for that trip) they refuse to do anything about that. So I lost over 700€ for a mediocre couchette experience. I have heard so many horror stories about that route by now, I seriously wonder how they're even allowed to offer that anymore. It's a borderline scam.

[@Jay-vr9ir]

If couchette is anything like Italy to France , then it is really bad, having strangers in your compartment . Never know , what could happen with people you don't even know .

[@markoobid2005]

The Hamburg/Berlin route is done with leased sleepers/couchettes and they had quite a lot of teething problems. But when I travelled in August, I got my sleeping car compartment ant it was a very nice ride. Not so nice as on the Swedish national night trains though. You can trust SJ and VY for them, they are very very comfortable.

[@arnonuehm1]

@@markoobid2005 My trip was / is in mid September 2023, so it looks like the teething problems aren't done yet.

[@Kletterhaus]

The Interrail fee is just about 120 Euros, so how did you lose that much?

[@arnonuehm1]

@@Kletterhaus a 1st class 4 days global pass (the cheapest option for a 1st class cabin) is 328€ and I bought one for me and one for my gf. So the total was 706€ for the interrail passes plus the reservation fees for SJ. I don't know where you are getting 120€ from. Even the cheapest 2nd class option for one person would still be 258€.

[@juniorsdca]

Bring back Toilets Time! 😂

[@xqqqme]

Good grief! Look at the inside of the door at 05:22 and then the side rail on the outside of the car as you continue to walk by! Yeah, I'd say that's an "older" car! Badly in need of some upkeep!

[@randall8379]

Yes not impressive for such a wealthy nation

[@jatterhog]

They’re finally fixing the WL1 rust issues though! One wagon at a time…

[@kopparsulfat]

Thank god it was in the summer time, otherwise you wouldn´t have gotten verry far. Swedish trains don´t work in the winter.

[@macjonte]

The American way. Nicely ask if they can borrow one, then copy absolutely everything and build a worse and more expensive version yourself. 😄

[@garywilson9640]

Sweden is my Ancestry home and I've visit often. I always use the shared bedroom option. Swedish culture is quite open. If you are male I suggest you bring along a good supply of condoms. You'll find connecting much easier with them both on the train and bars.

[@Jay-vr9ir]

Sure ??

[@Manawatu_Al2844]

I think that you may want to rethink that. Sweden is a Feminists wet dream, as you'll more likely be charged with SA if you merely looked at a woman. That and the left love it, but their policies have now started to bite them.

[@samtrak1204]

The old scarred cars could use a paint job.

[@declissonolivier9376]

Contrairement a l'habitude, j'ai trouvé cette vidéo un peu décevante. Un peu "sèche" et manquant de descriptif, ni de vues extérieures. C'est pas grave! Je continue à te suivre!

[@MH-fb5kr]

I was very unimpressed… didn’t look first class to me… old and it shows equipment

[@tpalomaki]

Is there no breakfast served to your cabin?

[@Idk_jistyt]

AM I FIRST!??!?!?!

[@Nero.H]

All trains here in sweden smells like piss.😂

[@tpalomaki]

Do you really need to set your bed by yourself. Where is the butler? 😮

[@BurninSven1]

To be honest this cannot be first class it looks very B as we say here in Sweden. I would not pay extra for that no way

[@funkmachine9094]

isn't easier just to talk or say something in your videos??

[@PR-pp2zc]

Nice Appreciate however u admitted your mistake your 🍽 dinner, nor break fast not ordered nor shown in dinning car sorry 😐!!!!!! U get minus marks for that 😉 Hahaha!!

[@jocelynmartin1572]

No narration is boring.

[@saschab.5154]

It's a bit sad to see, that you're still loyal to Xitter. This fascist dystopian hellhole is better to be avoided, imo.

[@killieguyno1]

train stopped cause of the red light!!!!!

[@tompao7832]

On SJ night trains breakfast is served in the bistro car.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Good accomodatione in a private first class sleeping car. Perfect!! Nice ride.. Thanks Thibault👌💚

[@yveeriksson7437]

That looks very tempting, everything from Sthlm to Duved. I really liked those black wagons. Accommodation really nice, including the bed. I would definately asked for some breakfast, being a foodie. Thanks for the trip!

[@jatterhog]

Breakfast is free at a hotel or cafe near the station with a first class ticket!

[@wotajared]

Nice review! I am planning to take this train but to Trondheim... hopefully by the very end of 2024 Norway will have electrified the Meråkerbanan (Trondheim-Storlien) and this service will be lengthened from Duved/Åre to Trondheim likely 2025. Ironically now this requires 2-3 changes with regional trains. SJ nord (swedish) does Trondheim to Storlien in Norway and VY norrtåg (Norwegian operator) does Storlien-Duved-Östersund.

[@swedishdissident3406]

They say that Sweden is a classless society. When it coms to this train it could not be further from the truth. You see the moth bitten moldy second class carrages from the 1950s or 1960s befor commining to first class. As you you are sharing 2nd you have to put up with snuss mumriks. Buss or plane any time. However saying that the best attraction in stockholm is the train to Gothenberg.

[@cheeseblog]

Nice in every way, except for breakfast.

[@Helm_hammer]

"Liggvagn" translates into something lewd in Swedish

[@CrabMan2539]

2:47 That locomotive I believe was the inspiration for the AEM-7. Amtrak had one of those units (x995) in (I believe) the late 70s for testing.

[@renhanxue]

Yes, the AEM-7 is (was) a license-built variant of the Swedish State Railways Rc class locomotive. Pictured is an Rc6 unit, the only variant used in passenger service today; the Rc6's are all geared for 160 km/h (100 mph). The unit that was loaned to Amtrak in 1976 was Rc4 no. 1166. The Rc4's are only used in freight service these days but they're still ubiquitous. No. 1166 is still in service and probably will be for many years to come.

[@hakanl2585]

I was working at SJ at Malmudden one summer. Then I was on this train. On the drivers console there was a plate saying that this train have been in USA and running at 200 km/h.

[@AllTheTimeWasted]

Do a review of the actual standards of the Swedish railway transportations. Old cars, cancelled trips, new ones bought from Italy which cannot traffic the northern parts without freezing to bits and pieces, next repaiar shop 400 kilometers away. What used to be reliable, nothing fancy, but fairly reliable has become a joke. But it's privatized so the lowest prize has to be the best, hasn'it?

[@xr6lad]

I’ll be honest. It’s hardly a review two years after it occurred. Anything may have changed!

[@joostvanderlee9569]

yeah the signal was red

[@Your_Name_Here-t2s]

👍

[@dansken0867]

I have sleep on a train one time, did go från Stockholm to Skåne. Best night of my life

[@luisstransport]

Great trip report

[@heinzwalkowiak4872]

Darf mann in dem Zug Rauchen

[@anindrapratama]

the station chime in Stockholm reminds me of MTR

[@TheWaller]

Very good and informative video, thank you!

[@zonabrown9241]

N keep sharing a sleeper with strangers not 4 me😮😮

[@joemeyers3127]

Night train videos are the best! 👏👏👏

[@special5513]

14:43 The signal was red

[@TotalHomeJim3000]

Great content, as usual.

[@christopherx7428]

Maybe we should comment on why the train from the capital is bound for the tiny village of Duved, with less than 700 people. I would assume it is because this is just past the major ski resort at Åre, probably plenty of hotels and ski lifts in Duved too.

[@tangosmurfen2376]

Duved is another major ski resort

[@christopherx7428]

@@tangosmurfen2376 Yes, well, not really compared to Åre, but yes: It is a ski resort on its own too. Just checked the runs on Google maps. Pity that the lifts are not connected to the ones in Åre.

[@writeordie5452]

@@christopherx7428 Last time I visited Duved and Åre was more than a decade ago, but while there are no lifts, at least you can take a ski bus (or taxi if you're feeling fancy), the bus trip being free if you have a lift pass. Your lift pass also works in both resorts. It takes a bit of time, but if you're staying in Duved and want a full day of skiiing in Åre proper, you can simply get up an hour earlier than usual and do that. Duved (and Tegelfjäll) are all in all fine, but they're more well-suited for families with smaller children and other more casual skiers. It's a good resort, but as you say not really that big compared to Åre.

[@sheilaathay2034]

❤