The Swedish Transport Agency’s new report Development of supply and prices on railway lines in Sweden 1990-2023

The Swedish Transport Agency, together with the Railway Group at the Royal Institute of Technology, annually monitors the development of supply and prices in passenger transport by rail.

Since 2021, the long-distance train range has grown continuously. During 2023, supply on the routes included in the survey increased by 7 percent and is now back at the same levels as before the pandemic. During the same period, the air and bus range has developed at a slower pace.

– The train today accounts for a larger share of long-distance traffic, compared to before the pandemic. New habits in the wake of the pandemic, with, for example, an increased share of digital meetings instead of on-site meetings, have likely made aviation’s recovery more difficult, says Jonathan Sundin, investigator.

More expensive to take the train – for those who are traveling long distances

The measurement also shows that the price of long-distance train journeys has on average increased during the year.

– In this year’s report, we see that it has become more expensive on average to travel by long-distance train in 2023. Compared to 2022, the average price for a second-class ticket for travel by long-distance train has increased by 13 percent, continues Jonathan Sundin, investigator.

The general price trend in the country increased during the corresponding period, October 2022 to October 2023, by just under 7 percent.

The demand for leisure travel has increased and the limited availability of cheap tickets has meant that travelers have had to pay more for their train journeys.

The price trend varies between different routes

The differences are clear between the Stockholm-Gothenburg and Stockholm-Malmö routes. Average prices on the Stockholm-Gothenburg route have steadily decreased over time, while the trend has been the opposite on the Stockholm-Malmö route

– The different development between the routes is interesting because it illustrates how competition affects the price development. On the Stockholm-Gothenburg route, competition both within and between traffic classes is extensive. This leads to strong price competition between the train operators and provides a relatively large range in relation to the journeys made, notes Jonathan Sundin.

Increased frequency and lower ticket prices over time

Over time, there has been a development that has benefited travelers, including an increased frequency of trips and lower ticket prices on average. In 2023, however, problems such as a shortage of locomotive drivers and the traffic disruptions have limited the supply to some extent.

– More departures, faster journey times and lower ticket prices have historically attracted more travelers to the railway. But travelers also need to be able to trust that the trains will come and go as they should, otherwise growth risks stopping, concludes Jonathan Sundin.