SJ ends Berlin night train as Sweden lets subsidy expire

The subsidy of SEK 95 million (EUR 8.6 million) a year falls away; the private competitor Snälltåget keeps running without subsidies and plans to expand its offer. The study is to clarify demand, ownership, management and financing of the state's night-train vehicles, as Trafikverket is currently tendering new vehicles and sharply higher costs are feared.

In its budget draft the government proposes letting the subsidy for the SJ night train Stockholm–Berlin lapse when the four-year contract ends on 31 July 2026; this removes SEK 95 million (EUR 8.6 million) a year, and SJ is ending the service, which ran to Hamburg from 1 September 2022 and to Berlin a year later. Infrastructure minister Andreas Carlson points out that the decision to stop lies with SJ and relies on shorter journey times once the Fehmarn Belt link opens; the private operator Snälltåget plans to run more services without subsidies. Earlier the government (report of 10 October 2025) had asked Trafikverket to examine, by 31 December 2026, demand, ownership and financing of the state's night-train fleet, as sharply higher costs are feared in the ongoing vehicle tender. (LOK Report, 10 and 11 Oct 2025)