Outbound Flexity Swift SL Class A32 tram no. 405 train entering tunnel at Årstadal station on the Tvärbanan. Photo by David Pirmann, October 2010.

Overview

Stockholm's Tvärbanan light rail line is a semicircular line starting at Alvik Metro station in the northwest and running across the southern part of the city. It serves neighborhoods at Lilla Essingen, Gröndal, and Liljeholmen, and large areas of new residential constructions in Hammarby and Sickla udde in the southwest of the city. The line opened in several stages from 2000 to 2002. Most of its track is on segregated rights-of-way, however, sections in Gröndal and Hammarby are conventional street track.

Rolling stock on the line is modern, Bombardier-built low-floor articulated trams known as the Flexity Swift, similar to cars now running on the Djurgården and Nockebybanan lines. Operations usually consist of two car trains running at 10 minute intervals offpeak and more frequently during peak periods. The line is well patronized.

Plans exist to continue the line through the northeast and northwest areas of the city to form a true circle, and to integrate the Tvärbanan with the Saltsjobanan rail line in the southwest. This would allow the Tvärbanan to serve the new national football arena in Solna and to reach "downtown" Stockholm at Slussen.

An interesting feature of the line is the half-circle bridge east of Gullmarsplan, known as the Fredriksdalsbron. Gullmarsplan is high on the bluff, and the next stop east, Mårtensdal, is much lower along the waterfront. The Fredriksdalsbron passes under two other bridges on its way down, including one carrying the Green line of the Metro. Another interesting bridge is located between the Stora Essingen and Gröndal stations.

Photo Gallery

Five Random Images
Image 57082 (198k, 1024x795) Photo by: Herman R. Silbiger Location: Alvik	Image 114268 (266k, 701x1044) Photo by: David Pirmann Location: Gröndal	Image 114285 (260k, 701x1044) Photo by: David Pirmann Location: Sickla kaj	Image 114301 (301k, 1044x701) Photo by: David Pirmann Location: Årstadal	Image 114312 (289k, 1044x788) Photo by: David Pirmann Location: Liljeholmen