Navvies pause a trail construction in snow with a few houses in the background.
Photo: Unknown. Swedish Railway Museum/SMTM. CC-BY

1856 – Inauguration of the railway

In 1854, the Riksdag (parliament) decided that the state should build main lines for the railway.

Sweden's first route opened for public traffic and steam locomotives in June 1856 is the private railway between Örebro and Nora.

In December, the government opens the first two routes: Gothenburg – Jonsered (Western main line) and Malmö – Lund (Southern main line)