StockholmSubwaystoRy #64 – Extra: Q&A

Stockholm Subway with stoRy touRs

As we are getting accustomed to the warmer weather of March, today we are continuing our stoRy of the Swedish subway with yet another chapter. This time, we are offering answers to some practical questions regarding the metro in Stockholm.

Why should I make a visit through the Stockholm subway one of the items on my to do list?
– Because the subway in Stockholm it’s known for being the largest art gallery in the world, having close to 100 stations with an unique design and fantastic stories created by artists from various decades. This is why we started this project; to try to put together all this information and transform it in text and photos that can be easily accessed by tourists visiting Stockholm.

I am not planing to visit the subway, but if I were to see some stations, where shall I go?
– While traveling in Stockholm is very likely that you’ll use the subway system even if you don’t initially plan to. For example, you may want to use it in the central part of the city and then you’ll see stations like: Gamla Stan, Kungsträdgården, Slussen or T-Centralen (1, 2). Also, maybe you’ll see some concerts in Stockholm and you’ll have to stop at Globen. Or maybe you will want to visit IKEA and probably you’ll have get to visit Fruängen. Or if you’ll take a trip to Drottningholm you’ll surely pass by Brommaplan. If you’re looking for stations that can bring you that great Instagram post, check out our favorites here.

Are there any guided tours of the subway stations?
– Yes, there are! And free ones, actually! The tours in English are being run by SL during the summer. Each week there is a different route in the schedule. You should check out this page, to be updated on what tours are available as summer is getting closer.

What is the oldest station?
– It’s Slussen. It was opened in 1933 as a tram station and upgraded in the 1950s to its current form, creating the first line: SlussenHökarängen.

What is the newest station?
– There are two stations holding this title. Bagarmossen is one of them. It was upgraded and opened to its current form in August 1994, but it was originally opened in November 1958. If we consider a completely new station, then the newest and 100th station in the system is Skarpnäck.

What is the busiest station?
– According to data form 2015, the busiest station in the subway system of the Swedish capital is T-Centralen (1, 2) with almost 184.000 passengers visiting it every day. On the second place it’s Slussen, with almost 86.000 visitors and third is placed Fridhemsplan, with almost 54.000 guests daily.

What is the deepest station?
– It’s Karlaplan; situated at 10 meters below the sea level.

What is the highest station?
– It’s Västertorp; placed at more than 42 meters above the sea level.

What are the running times?
– The service starts at 05.00 and stops at 01.00. Friday and Saturday nights the service does not stop at all. Even so, the train frequencies are varying depending on the hour and line.

How do I validate my ticket?
– You validate your ticket at the turnstiles, before reaching the platform. Or by showing your mobile ticket to the SL representative. Sometimes, there are SL controllers checking tickets on board the trains. In such case, you’ll also need to show the proof for your discounted ticket (e.g. student ID). Note: you can’t buy tickets on board.

What is the atmosphere in the subway?
– The Swedes really appreciate their personal space. So, even in the public transport you’ll see that people tend to give each other space, that meaning not siting necessary next to strangers if there are still empty seats at the end of the train. Also, the trains are pretty quiet, compared to other cities in Europe. People use to be more respectful of others while publicly taking on the phone, for example.

We’ll be getting back to our Q&A sessions as soon as we gather more interesting questions to find answers for! Until then, follow our updates on the project’s Facebook page (Stockholm Subway StoRy) and check out our blog every Sunday for a new post regarding the Stockholm subway. Be a part of the StoRy!

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