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6-berth couchettes. Book online at www.sj.se. |
Introducing SJ's EuroNight sleeper train...
Starting 1 September 2022, a comfortable EuroNight sleeper train links Hamburg with Stockholm every night. Procured by the Swedish government to better link western Europe with the home of Flyskam (flight shame), the train is run by SJ, Swedish railways. From April to September 2023, this train will be extended to/from Berlin. Berlin to Stockholm direct!
Video: Hamburg to
Stockholm, inaugural journey
Hamburg
Altona station
information
Stockholm Central
station information
Trains
from Hamburg to other European cities
Trains
& ferries from Stockholm to
other cities
Train times 2023
Hamburg Altona to Stockholm is 1,160 km (720 miles) by train via this route. See route map.
Check carefully which station in Hamburg or Berlin is shown on your ticket, as this can change.
What's the train like?
Couchettes
The train has couchettes, all in 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.
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The inaugural Hamburg to Stockholm SJ EuroNight train at Hamburg Altona, 1 September 2022. The author rode this first departure... |
6-berth couchettes. |
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Couchettes in day mode, en route to Stockholm. Larger photo. |
The inaugural train from Hamburg to Stockholm calls at Padborg, just after entering Denmark. |
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Wheelchair-accessible 2-berth couchette compartment & adjacent accessible toilet... |
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Breakfast box - included in sleepers, extra cost in couchettes & seats, pre-ordered the night before. |
Power outlet & USB ports in each couchette compartment. |
Washroom in a couchette car. |
Sleeping-cars
The train will ultimately have two AB32 type sleeping-cars each with 14 narrow 1 or 2-bed compartments with washbasin and two 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with en suite toilet & shower. However, these former Austrian railways AB32 sleeping-cars are still being refurbished, the first one should join the train in February 2023 with all of them in service by May 2023. In the meantime, one or two MUn sleeping-cars (shown below) have been included in the train from 11 December 2022 until the refurbished AB32s are delivered. An MUn sleeping-car has 8 standard compartments which SJ are using as either 1 or 2 bed with washbasin, they convert to leather seats for morning & evening use. A breakfast box and tea or coffee is included in the fare. There is one deluxe compartment with a double bed, an upper berth and en suite toilet & shower.
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MUn sleeping-car, to be used on the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train until the AB32s are ready. Photos below courtesy of @ayranundspeck
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Deluxe room with double bed & en suite shower & WC. |
Standard room, can be used as single or double. |
Washstand in standard sleeper.. |
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.
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 - bring a bottle of wine for mum & dad. 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
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.
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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 Altona 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. See Hamburg Altona station information.
Important: Always check the exact starting & destination stations shown on your ticket, this train uses Hamburg Altona in winter, Hamburg Hbf (main station) when it's extended to/from Berlin. It uses different stations in Berlin on certain dates due to trackwork.
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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 information about luggage on European trains.
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Power & WiFi
There are four USB ports and two 240v European-type power outlets for laptops & mobiles under the window in each couchette compartment.
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Dinner or a beer before boarding?
See the food & drink sections of the Hamburg Altona station guide (until 30 March 2023), Hamburg Hbf station guide (from 31 March 2023) 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
There's no catering car, so 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/travel-info/sj-euronight.html (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 and served in your compartment at the time of your choosing. This is included in the sleeper fare, but available at extra cost in couchettes or seats.
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Swedish scenery on a sunny morning run into Stockholm... |
Route map...
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Highlighted = Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper route. Green = scenic sections of line.
I recommend buying a copy of the European Rail Map for your travels, www.europeanrailtimetable.eu with shipping worldwide. |
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 www.sj.se (It can no longer be booked at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at, SJ's agreement with ÖBB has ended).
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 online with no booking fee at oebb.at following the instructions here.
Video: Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper
The author rode the inaugural train from Hamburg to Stockholm on 1 September 2022...