The Stockholm Metro () is a rapid transit system in Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden. Its first line opened in 1950 as the first metro line in the Nordic countries. Today, the system consists of three lines and 100 stations, of which 47 are underground and 53 above ground. The system is owned by Region Stockholm via SL, the public transport authority for Stockholm County. It is the only metro system in Sweden.
The Metro's three coloured lines, Green, Red, and Blue, together form seven routes with different termini. All of these routes pass through the city centre, creating a highly centralised network. The main interchange for all three lines is T-Centralen station, where they intersect. In addition to T-Centralen, the system has three other interchange stations: Fridhemsplan, Slussen, and Gamla stan. Various extensions to the system are currently under construction, An extension to the north-west of the Blue Line is expected to open in 2027, while extensions to its south are expected to open in 2030. Construction of a new Yellow Line to the west of the city centre is scheduled to start in 2025.
In 2019, the Stockholm Metro transported 462 million passengers, equivalent to approximately 1.27 million on a typical weekday., p. 67 The metro system is operated by Connecting Stockholm. The system is equipped with ticket barriers. SL operates the Metro's ticketing system, with ticketing available via the SL app and rechargeable travel cards. Contactless payment is also accepted at the gates. Ticketing can also be purchased at station booths and select local retailers. SL phased out ticket machines on its network in 2022.
The Stockholm Metro has been referred to as 'the world's longest art gallery,' featuring decorations at more than 90 of its 100 stations, including sculptures, rock formations, mosaics, paintings, light installations, engravings, and reliefs created by over 150 artists.
History Before the Metro In the late 19th century, Stockholm's suburbs expanded thanks to the development of local railways such as Djursholmsbanan and Saltsjöbanan. By 1900, electrified trams extended into the city centre, and by 1915 Stockholms Spårvägar (SS) was managing a growing tram network, including new suburban lines as the city incorporated areas such as Bromma and Brännkyrka. With further suburbs planned, it became evident that trams would not meet the city's future transport needs, prompting underground railway proposals. Stockholm's politicians were also inspired by large cities such as London, Paris and New York where metros had already been built. Through the 1920s, various investigations were carried out by the city. In 1930 a traffic committee was appointed by Stockholm's city council at the initiative of city councilor Yngve Larsson with the task of solving the capital's major traffic problems.
The first tunnel
The first step towards an underground transit system was the construction of the Södertunneln tram tunnel under Södermalm. Approved by the city council on 30 March 1931, following recommendations from the 1930 Traffic Committee.Larsson 1977, sid 486 f. Construction commenced in autumn 1931, and the project, costing 4.5 million kronor, was inaugurated on 30 September 1933.Svenska Dagbladets årsbok : 1931, Stockholm 1932, s. 17, 207 Södertunneln included three stations: Slussen, Södra Bantorget (now Medborgarplatsen), and Ringvägen (now Skanstull). The stations were designed by architect Holger Blom and inspired by Berlin's U-Bahn. The tunnel operated as a premetro service with existing tramlines connecting to it. This project marked the first use of the term "Tunnelbanan," and the first use of station entrances distinguished by a "T" in a circle.
Plans for a full-scale metro system The 1930s also brought significant changes to the political and economic landscape of housing construction in Stockholm, with a new municipal plan for multi-family dwellings in the suburbs. A considerable debate unfolded across political parties, but a metro system came to be viewed as the optimal solution to the city's housing crisis and increasing congestion in the city centre.Jonsson et al., sid 123, 241
In 1941, Stockholm City Council voted to develop a large-scale metro system, based on plans from the 1930 Traffic Committee and a further 1940 report. This decision called for the Södertunneln and southern suburban tram lines to be extended to Norrmalm, connecting with the western suburban tram lines through a tunnel under Sveavägen.
Initial construction The Stockholm Metro's formal construction began in 1944, following the 1941 city council decision. The first focus was extending the Södertunneln southward, beyond Gullmarsplan. During this period, several other lines were built to premetro standards,What is Light Rail, Anyway?, retrieved 2024-06-03. including routes from Kristineberg to Islandstorget, using the new Tranebergsbron bridge; Skanstull to Blåsut, including construction of the Skanstullsbron bridge; and Telefonplan to Hägerstensåsen.
In late 1944, a population study revealed that Stockholm's rapid population growth would demand greater capacity for the planned metro. As a result, two significant decisions were made: the line between T-Centralen and Slussen would be constructed with four tracks instead of two, and platform lengths were increased from six-car (100 meters) to eight-car (145 meters) to accommodate more passengers.
Full metro The first part of the Metro was opened on 1 October 1950, from Slussen to Hökarängen, having been converted from tram to metro operation. In 1951, a second branch from Slussen to Stureby was opened (which was also tram operated until then). In 1952, a second line, from Hötorget to the western suburbs was opened. In 1957, the two parts were connected with a line between Hötorget and Slussen, with two new intermediate stations: T-Centralen, adjacent to Stockholm Central station, Gamla stan in Stockholm's old town, forming the Green Line. Through the 1950s, the Green Line was extended piece by piece.
The Red Line was opened in 1964, from T-Centralen over Liljeholmen ending in Fruängen and Örnsberg, both in the Southwest.See "Technical Description of the Stockholm Underground Railway 1964," published by Stockholm's Public Works Department and the Stockholm Passenger Transport Co. At that time, the lines were known as Line 1 and Line 2. It was extended piece by piece until 1978, when it reached Mörby centrum via a bridge over Stocksundet sea strait.
The third and final system, the Blue Line, was opened in 1975, with two lines running northwest from the city center. As the construction requirements have become more strict over the years, newer segments have more tunnels than older ones, and the Blue Line is almost entirely tunnelled. The latest addition to the whole network, Skarpnäck station, was opened in 1994.
Network Stations
There are 100 stations in use in the Stockholm Metro (of which 47 are underground). One station, Kymlinge, was built but never put into use. One station has been taken out of use and demolished. The old surface station at Bagarmossen was demolished and replaced with a new underground station, this being prior to the metro extension to the Skarpnäck metro station.
The Stockholm Metro is well known for the decoration of its stations. Several of the stations (especially on the Blue Line) are left with the bedrock exposed, crude and unfinished, or as part of the decorations..
Lines
The current network designations — Blue Line, Green Line, and Red Line — have been in informal use since the late 1970s and were officially adopted in the 1990s. The names originated from the train liveries: the Blue Line operated newer blue-painted trains, while the Green Line used older stock in the original green color. No trains were painted red; instead, red (initially orange) was selected for maps to visually distinguish this line from the others.
Green Line
The Green Line (officially Tunnelbana 1, or "Metro 1") has three routes and 49 stations: 12 underground (nine concrete, three rock) and 37 above ground stations. It is long. It was opened on 1 October 1950 (between Slussen and Hökarängen) and is used by 451,000 passengers per workday or 146 million per year (2005).
Red Line
The Red Line (officially Tunnelbana 2, or "Metro 2") has two routes and 36 stations: 20 underground (four concrete, 16 rock) and 15 above ground stations. It is long (only shorter than the Green Line), and was opened on 5 April 1964. It is used by 394,000 passengers per workday or 128 million per year (2005).
Blue Line
The Blue Line (officially Tunnelbana 3, or "Metro 3") has two routes and 20 stations: 19 underground (all rock) and one elevated station. It is long. It was opened on 31 August 1975 and is used by 171,000 passengers per workday or 55 million per year (2005).
General information Trains operate from 05:00 to 01:00, with extended around-the-clock service on Fridays and Saturdays. All lines have trains every 10 minutes during the day outside of rush hour, reduced to every 15 minutes in early mornings and late evenings, and every 30 minutes at night. Additional trains (often running on shorter routes) during peak hours increase the service frequency to every 4–6 minutes on most stations of the netorks, while waiting times on the central parts of the Green Line and the Red Line can go as low as 2–3 minutes.
The Metro contains four interchange stations (T-Centralen, Slussen, Gamla stan and Fridhemsplan) and lacks any kind of circular or partly circular line, although Stockholm has a semi-circular light rail line, Tvärbanan, and a chord-like Yellow Line is set to open in 2034. A wide majority of the Metro's stations are located in suburbs, but the network is centred on T-Centralen where all trains in the entire network pass.
In the past, there have been additional route numbers in use for trains operated on part of a line, or during peak hours only. For example, route 23 was used for a peak relief train for route 13, which in the 1970s was operated between Sätra and Östermalmstorg and during the 1990s between Norsborg and Mörby centrum.
Line Stretch Traveltime 10 11 13 14 17 18 19 Length Stations (in "innerstan") 10 Kungsträdgården – Hjulsta 23 min 14, (5) 11 Kungsträdgården – Akalla 22 min 12, (5) 13 Norsborg – Ropsten 44 min 25, (10) 14 Fruängen – Mörby centrum 33 min 19, (9) 17 Skarpnäck – Åkeshov 43 min 24, (12) 18 Farsta strand – Alvik 37 min 23, (12) 19 Hagsätra – Hässelby strand 55 min 35, (12) Entire Metro network 100, (25) There is a connection to the main rail network, which is used for deliveries of new trains and some other purposes. In this case trains are pulled by locomotives since the electrical and other standards are different. This connection consists of a track to Tvärbanan at the Globen station and a rail track from the Liljeholmen Tvärbanan station to the Älvsjö railway station.
Network map
Rolling stock
The Stockholm Metro operates two main types of rolling stock: the SL C20 and SL C30. Previously, the system used the older C1–C15 trains, collectively known as the Cx stock. These trains were gradually retired, and fully discontinued by 2024 after more than 40 years of service.
Currently, the Stockholm Metro operates 271 trainsets of the C20 stock and 116 trainsets of the C30 stock. The Green Line exclusively uses the C20 stock, while the Blue Line also primarily relies on C20 trains. The Red Line uses mostly C30 trainsets. Stockholm Metro's trains are based at several depots, including Hammarby, Högdalen, and depots for the Green Line; Norsborg depot and Nyboda depot for the Red Line; and for the Blue Line.