Region Västerbotten’s call to the government: Secure the night trains between Umeå and Gothenburg

The regional development committee in Västerbotten is now entering the debate surrounding the upcoming closure of SJ’s night train between Umeå/Åre and Gothenburg.

The committee must send a letter to the government, as they believe that the closure will mean that more people choose to fly.

The night trains

  • Riksdag politicians in Västerbotten are critical of the closure of night trains to Gothenburg

  • Many upset when the night trains disappear between Gothenburg and Umeå/Åre – name collection starts

  • – We in Västerbotten are leaders in the green transition, and we shall continue to be so. Removing the night train is completely the wrong way to go. In a climate-smart Sweden, the train is needed, says Rickard Carstedt (S), chairman of the Regional Development Board.

    Hoping for a solution from the Swedish Transport Administration

    Infrastructure and Housing Minister Andreas Carlson (KD) believes that travelers who want to take the night train between Gothenburg and Umeå can continue to do so via Stockholm.

    However, Karolina Filipsson, who is head of authority at the Regional Public Transport Authority in Västerbotten, believes that it is not an equivalent alternative to today’s night trains.

    – Against the background of the development that can be seen in northern Sweden and the need to increase sustainable travel, night train traffic to and from Gothenburg should remain. I hope that the Swedish Transport Administration realizes the need and that before the traffic ceases there is a solution that involves continued night train traffic between Umeå and Gothenburg, says Karolina Filipsson.

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    “We know it’s popular” – in the video, SJ’s communicator Lina Edström explains why the train service is being discontinued, despite the interest from passengers. Photo: Jonas Redin/SVT

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