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2-berth sleeper. Book online at www.sj.se. |
Introducing SJ's EuroNight train
On 1 September 2022, a comfortable EuroNight sleeper train started linking Hamburg with Stockholm every night. Procured by the Swedish government to improve rail links between western Europe and the home of Flygskam (flight shame), the train is run by SJ, Swedish Railways. It was extended to/from Berlin over the summer in 2023, this proved so popular that SJ have decided to run it from Berlin via Hamburg to Stockholm all year round. The train often leaves full, especially in sleepers!
Video: Hamburg to
Stockholm, inaugural journey
Stockholm Central
station guide
Trains
from Hamburg to other European cities
Trains
& ferries from Stockholm to
other cities
Train times 2025
* Train arrives in Malmö at 22:42, you can board from then.
Berlin to Stockholm is 1,446 km (899 miles), Hamburg to Stockholm is 1,160 km (720 miles). See route map.
Times often vary so always check times at www.sj.se for your date, especially southbound arrival times in Hamburg & Berlin as these can vary due to trackwork. Do not book any onward connections until you have confirmed sleeper times.
What's the train like?
Sleeping-cars
The train has one or sometimes two air-conditioned AB32 type sleeping-cars each with 13 standard compartments with washbasin and 2 deluxe compartments with toilet & shower. The standard compartments can be sold as single or double, the two deluxe compartments can be sold as single, double or triple. A light breakfast with tea or coffee is included, picked up from the bistro car (northbound) or sleeper service compartment (southbound). Soap, towel and clean bedding are provided. For evening or morning use, the beds fold away to reveal a 2-seat sofa in the standard compartments and 3 black leather armchairs in the deluxe compartments. There's a 2-pin 240v power outlet for laptops and mobiles below the bed at the pillow end. Click the interior photos for larger images.
An AB32 sleeping car on the SJ EuroNight. Photo courtesy of @ayranundspeck.
Couchettes
The train normally has two couchette cars with 6 berth compartments. You can book a berth in a shared compartment with other passengers, or there's a price for sole occupancy of a whole compartment. The couchettes each come with two fresh clean sheets, blanket & pillow. Complimentary cartons of drinking water are provided. There are 4 USB & 2 power outlets under the window in each compartment. The compartments convert from bunks at night to seats for morning or evening use. There are washrooms & toilets at the end of the corridor. There are no 4-berths, for sole occupancy of a 6-berth for 4 or 5 people, either pay the 'whole compartment' price or buy 6 tickets whichever is cheaper.
Seats cars
The train also has one or two seats cars with 6-seat compartments, although I don't recommend seats for an overnight journey, it's a false economy.
Bistro car - new from June 2024
A welcome improvement from June 2024! A bistro car is now attached to the train between Malmö & Stockholm in both directions, with a self-service food area & a sociable area with tables & seats. Beer & wine are also sold, but as this is Sweden it must be consumed in the bistro car. The car is initially a Swedish bistro car, in the longer term this will be replaced by a former DB (German Railways) bistro car.
Tip: The bistro will be immediately in front of the couchettes & sleepers.
Travel tips
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Sleeper, couchette or just a seat?
For solo travellers on a tight budget, a couchette is fine, you get a flat bunk in a safely lockable compartment and can sleep just as well as in a sleeper. Never travel in just a seat, it's a false economy, always book a couchette or sleeper on a night train for both comfort and security.
For families, a couchette compartment is the ideal choice, you're all together in one compartment and can have a blast. Paying more for two separate 2-berth compartments in the sleeping-car probably isn't worth it, unless you've older kids and mum & dad want a break!
There are no 4-berth couchettes on this train so for sole occupancy of a 6-berth for 4 or 5 people, either pay the 'whole compartment' price or buy 6 tickets (by adding one or two phantom children to the booking), whichever is cheaper.
But the carpeted sleeping-car has a quieter, more civilised atmosphere, you get a proper fully-made-up bed with duvet (in couchettes you get a blanket, sheet & pillow and arrange them yourself), there's a washbasin in the compartment, and a light breakfast is included. A sleeper is obviously the best option for solo travellers & couples not budget-restricted. Some families and many solo travellers prefer it - a bed in a shared 3-bed single-gender sleeper doesn't cost that much more than a bunk in a 4-berth couchette compartment.
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Berth numbering & train formation
This often confuses people! They get berths 21 & 25 and think that they aren't in the same 2-berth sleeper compartment. Of course they are! See the way sleeper & couchettes are numbered here.
You can also look up the train composition at the excellent www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English at upper left, then look under Germany for EN EuroNight. Or search for train 346 northbound or 345 southbound.
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Is the overnight train safe?
Yes. In the sleeping-car or couchette cars it's comfortable and safe for families, solo females, for anyone. Compartments in the sleeping-car & couchette car lock securely. An attendant is on duty in the sleeping-car & couchette car throughout the journey, in the attendant's compartment at the end of the corridor. Seating compartments do not lock.
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Finding & boarding your train
As with virtually all European trains, there's no check-in. Just stroll into the station, find your train and get on, any time before it leaves. And yes, Hamburg Hbf is safe at night with plenty of people around. The sleeper or couchette car attendant will normally greet you on the platform just outside the car entrance door and check your reservation. He'll come round and see you soon after departure to take your ticket or pass.
Berlin Gesundbrunnen station guide. Hamburg Hbf station guide. Stockholm Central station guide.
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Luggage
You take your luggage with you into your sleeper compartment and simply stick it on the luggage racks above the window, over the door to the corridor, or on the floor. Nobody weighs it, measures it, or worries about how much you take. More about luggage on European trains.
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Dogs & pets
You can take a dog or other pet on this sleeper train, either in a seat or in a shared or sole occupancy couchette compartment. However, dogs cannot travel in the sleeping-car. You add a pet to your booking when using www.sj.se. Details on www.sj.se.
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Power & WiFi
Each sleeper compartment has a 240v European-type 2-pin power outlet for laptops & mobiles below the bed at the pillow end. Each couchette compartment has four USB ports and two 240v European-type power outlets for laptops & mobiles under the window.
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Dinner or a beer before boarding?
See the food & drink sections of the Berlin Gesundbrunnen station guide, Hamburg Hbf station guide or Stockholm Central station guide for places to stock up for the journey or have a beer or meal before boarding the sleeper.
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Food & drink on board
Feel free bring your own food & drink. However as this is a Swedish train you aren't allowed to consume your own alcohol on board. Complimentary drinking water cartons are provided for all sleeper & couchette passengers.
Beer, wine, tea, coffee and snacks can be ordered from the train staff, see the menu at www.sj.se/en/about-the-journey/food-and-drinks/food-on-sj-euronight (please let me know if this link stops working).
A breakfast box with tea or coffee can be pre-ordered from staff in the evening. This is included in the sleeper fare, but available at extra cost in couchettes or seats. You pick it up from the bistro car when going north to Stockholm, or from the sleeper or couchette car service compartment when going south to Hamburg or Berlin.
From 3 June 2024 a bistro car is added to the train between Malmö & Stockholm in both directions, with self-service food & tables area. Beer & wine are sold, but must be consumed in the bistro car.
Route map
How much does it cost?
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Fares start at €44.90 with a couchette in a shared 6-berth, €79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or €164.90 with a single-bed sleeper.
A private couchette compartment for up to 6 people starts at €249.90.
All prices per person per bed, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.
Youths 16–26 years old get 15 % discount and seniors a 10 % discount.
Children under 15 years old have a 25 % discount. One child 0–5 years old may share a bed or seat with an adult free of charge, in which case the child does not need a ticket of their own.
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If you have a Eurail or Interrail pass you pay a sleeper or couchette passholder fare, see prices on the Interrail/Eurail reservations page.
How to buy tickets
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Book tickets at SJ's website, www.sj.se.
Booking opens several months ahead, You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
You print out your ticket and can board the train.
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Interrail & Eurail passholders can make reservations at www.sj.se, see the instructions here.
Video: Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper
The author rode the inaugural train from Hamburg to Stockholm on 1 September 2022.