SWEDEN: National transport management body Trafikverket has signed a €756m contract with Spanish manufacturer Talgo covering the supply of a fleet of long-distance trains, including dedicated overnight rolling stock. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2030, with the daytime and sleeper fleets set to operate between Stockholm and the country’s northernmost cities.
Trafikverket and Talgo finalised the agreement in Stockholm on April 20 at a ceremony attended by Sweden’s Minister of Infrastructure & Housing Andreas Carlson, Trafikverket Director General Roberto Maiorana, Spanish Ambassador Luis Cuesta and Talgo President José Antonio Jainaga. The contract includes an initial firm order for 10 locomotives to be supplied by Siemens Mobility as a subcontractor, alongside nine daytime trainsets and 11 overnight trains from Talgo. The deal also includes an extendable 10-year maintenance package and options for additional rolling stock.
“These trains, which will be part of the Talgo 230 platform, will be able to run at 200 km/h,” said Talgo’s president. “Due to the extreme weather conditions they will endure, reaching temperatures of up to -40°C during the northern winter, Talgo will develop technical solutions aimed at ensuring safety, operational reliability, and maximum passenger comfort.” Based on the Talgo 230 push-pull inter-city trainsets already in operation in Denmark and Germany, the fleet is intended to replace legacy rolling stock that is nearly four decades old.
A challenging procurement
The journey to signing the deal was far from smooth. In August 2025, Trafikverket was forced to cancel its initial tender for the fleet after failing to receive a bid that met its criteria. According to Rikard Granlund, head of Vehicle Resources at Trafikverket, the original requirements were so technically demanding — specifically regarding high-performance heating and the ability to maintain service at -40°C — that major manufacturers found the risk profile unacceptable.
The transport administration, which also acts as the railway infrastructure manager in Sweden, relaunched the tender in September 2025 following a series of market dialogues with potential suppliers. To secure a partner, Trafikverket simplified several technical demands and introduced a €15m incentive bonus for manufacturers who could deliver a design fit the so-called Continental profile.
Swedish trains are traditionally wider than most European rolling stock at a standard width of 3,400mm, but this design will be narrower. A 3,150mm wide carbody is intended to ensure the fleet is interoperable with the rest of the EU’s TEN-T network, although the initial certification of the trains will only cover Sweden and Norway, Talgo reported. Despite some concerns about how far this would limit the number of beds that could be installed in a couchette, the decision was viewed as a vital step for potential future cross-border services beyond Scandinavia.
Due to the change in loading gauge, the new design will bring a significant shift away from so-called “conscript-style” six-bed couchette layouts to a modern experience described by Trafikverket as a “built-in hotel night.” Passengers will be able to choose between four-person berths, private solo compartments, or premium two-person suites featuring private showers and toilets. Onboard facilities will include a restaurant and bistro in a lounge-style environment, along with stable digital connectivity and dedicated storage space for luggage, skis, and bicycles.
Arctic operations
To meet the challenges of the Arctic climate, the fleet will be operated in top-and-tail formation, rather than with a driving trailer. Trafikverket said that by using two Siemens Vectron locomotives, the trains will have the necessary tractive effort to navigate heavy snow drifts while also providing redundancy. The fleet configuration and operating parameters are intended to support Sweden’s national “Total Defence” strategy, with the aim of ensuring the trains are robust enough to maintain ongoing operation of long-distance rail services even during security crises.
Manufacturing is to take place at Talgo’s facilities in Rivabellosa in Spain’s Basque region, and at Las Matas in Madrid. Meanwhile, maintenance is expected to be highly data-driven, using Talgo’s T-Maintenance predictive systems deployed at modernised facilities in Hagalund just outside Stockholm and at Luleå near the Finnish border. Talgo said its real-time sensors would be used to create a digital twin of the train, allowing technicians to monitor mechanical wear and address issues before they cause service delays. The trainsets are designed for a service life of 30 to 40 years; a modular interior design can be adapted to meet evolving passenger tastes over the trains’ life.
“They are built to be flexible and sustainable, meaning they can be adapted to future needs, new traffic arrangements, and the requirements of Total Defence,” Maiorana insisted. “With these trains, Sweden is taking an important step towards a future-proof service that strengthens the country’s competitiveness and climate transition.”