I can thoroughly recommend travelling by SJ Night train and was fortunate enough to do Stockholm - Narvik in early 2020 just before lockdown. The train was very clean, the beds very comfortable, the older type cars have lots of character and ride well being quite heavy on the rails. As you say Noel, the Swedish people are lovely too, it's quite possibly my favourite country to visit.
I have been on this Sleeper a couple times before, since I live in Umeå. This Sleeper train used to be the only southbound rail service from Umeå before 2012 when the Botnia Line opened and high-speed services could come through northwards from Sundsvall. Along with the HS extension, the sleeper trains were also re-routed.
Nice to see another review from Sweden. Hope you'll come back and do another review of the Arctic Circle Train. As a traindriver at SJ I can recommend to travel between Kiruna-Narvik. One of the most beautiful views you can get. If you wanna save time and money, take the flight from Stockholm Arlanda to Kiruna Airport and then board the SJ Arctic Circle (night train) that arrives from Stockholm. You'll not regret it 😉👍
I done this trip a few months back just before all the lockdowns, I did Narvik to Abisko via the train and stayed at Abisko for 3 days then Abisko to Stockholm, great train ride and an amazing part of the world.
Thank you, Noel, for a nice video. This brings up our experience from Umeå to Stockholm in November, 2019. We figured that the journey time is such that you do not arrive in Stockholm too early. The average speed is certainly lower than the same daytime journey on SJ using X3000 equipment. We observed that we were placed in passing loops quite frequently, no doubt because this is not a high-priority train. Keep up the good work!
The reason that there are two locomotives is either that the train is extra long or that it's winter that at least one locomotive will be functioning so that the passengers don't freeze to death in the wilderness of northern Sweden before help arrives on a cold day. Look at a rail and road map of northern Sweden and you'll see that the roads do not always go where the railroad goes.
Great trip report. Always nice to see reviews of my own country from vloggers and tourists. I’m happy that you had an enjoyable experience traveling through Sweden 🇸🇪. Been wanting to go see the midnight sun myself. Some day.
Because of your video that I watched back in 2020, me and my dad went on a night-train trip from Stockholm to Luleå this last week, amazingly cozy way to travel and something I really want to make into a sort of yearly tradition, already miss it actually, even if it's a bit snug! Thanks so much for making these videos! :)
Great video Noel!!! The Scandinavian night trains are a great experience. I've taken the 18hrs one from Narvik Norway to Stockholm and also the 13hrs one from Helsinki to Kolari. Both offer great views and a cosy, comfortable experience onboard.
I did that! You need to plan for it ahead of time. Also, it helps to learn a little bit of Russian, at least learn how to read cyrillic alphabet and how to say a few phrases. Nevertheless, it's the best train ride on earth and a life time experience!
Got loads of memories flashing back from this vid. I was studying up north so I’ve done that train ride loads of times. Fun to see it agin, not much has changed in twenty years. Seeing the station brings back the memories when me and my mates had a big night out in Luleå, ending up sleeping in my car. I didn’t have the best of mornings... and then a train arrived😳😳
Great Report. I would love to try some of these night trains at some point. I love flying, but with the train you can watch the world go by and enjoy the scenery and those smaller towns that you wouldn’t normally see from the air! ✈️
I would always take a train over a flight, you get to see the scenary which is much interesting than gazing from an aircraft window to see glimpses between the clouds.
Ahh it’s nearly back to normal Watching the Saturday night footy seeing the notification and coming and writing a comment about something video related Can’t wait for everything to be back including more of your videos
I lived in northern Sweden for 5 years and took that same train from Lulea MANY times! It was super fun watching your video and made me long to be back. You did an awesome job! Swedish trains are some of my favorite ways to travel and it's cool that you got to do it near summer too, and experience the midnight sun! Oh, and "Smak av Sverige" from the breakfast car means "taste of Sweden." :) Love your vids!
Yes, up there in Sweden I think they have only the Forrest Hare but further south it's both Forrest and Field Hares and some places also Rabbits, in the very south only Field Hares but also Rabbits.
@@drdewott9154 There are a lot of rabbits in south Sweden so much they must hunt them both with guns and ferrets or they destroy land to much with their 24/7 digging, there is rabbits arround Stockholm also a couple of years ago there was a colony 200-300 living in an very small area by the road just a few hundred meters away from Stockholm Central Station, but they destroyed the roads there so I don't think they let them be there anymore.
Wow Noel, I'm Impressed how well you pronounced the swedish towns. EDIT: Oh you know a bit Norwegian. That explains it. Also, most of us Nordics know English. So any tourist will have a easy time talk with us... when you manage to talk to us. We're a bit shy.
I love the slightly Soviet looking stuff, because it works. A company bought trains to use in Sweden, winter tested in Marseille, made by Italians. They NEVER worked and ALWAYS broke down.
Those Rc engines are amazing. Originally from end of 60ies with upgraded versions during the years. Still used today. Never read about them breaking down a lot or having any issues. Good engineering skills back then.
I’ve always liked ur channel. But ur lockdown content has been amazing. It’s very impressive how you’ve just evolved and adapted. I did interrail as a kid. So love this
Noel another great vlog ! 😀 13 hrs on a train at night no problem Just try and sleep “From Dusk to Dawn” unless the vampires get you first ! ( inserted movie reference ) lol 😂 Oh and Noel I love Surfshark
About the Norwegian-Swedish border. It’s not entirely closed, but people coming to Norway from Sweden need to stay in quarantine for ten days. The Norwegian borders to Finland have no quarantine restrictions.
2:11 "Nej, det är ingen stor kanin. Det är en skandinavisk känguru, en blandning av katt, känguru och lite koala. Utrotningshotade importerade arter." (No, it is not a huge rabbit. It is a Scandinavian Kangaroo, a mix of cat, wallaby and some koala. Endangered imported species.)
I'd do the train in a heartbeat. As a matter of fact, my wife and I took our honeymoon four years ago by train from Oakland, CA to Washington, DC via Chicago on the California Zephyr and Capitol Limited after having flown to SFO the day before the trip. It was a lovely way to spend three days, where our only concern was when we ate.
En smak av sverige means a taste of Sweden Funny that you post this now I'm actually taking the night train next week to see the midnight sun 😊 And thank you for your kind words about the swedish people and our beautiful country 🥰
Great video & to answer your question: absolutely yes, I WOULD take the 13hr overnight train over a 90 min flight (unless I was connecting through an airport & time was an issue). With the expansion of SJ night trains further into Europe, it's definitely an alternative to flying that I'd use
Many years ago - '84 I think - I did the sleeper from Trondheim, Norway to Stockholm by way of Östersund. A very comfy trip. The sleeper looked very much like this one except the bottom bunk was a double.
I actually did something similar about 10 years ago, taking a night train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi in Finland. I think that taking a night train with a comfortable cabin is something that should be on everyone's "bucket list."
In March 2022, I took a sleeper from Helsinki - Rovaniemi and return and it was in a Finnish Railways (VR) double deck sleeper with all facilities en-suite which was just superb. Also the train had a restaurant car which means I had an evening meal and breakfast as well. Really great and also a big shout to the restaurant at Rovaniemi station where I had a massive pizza and also a coffee and beer.
Thourougly enjoyed the vid and the journey Noel, I’ve had a long day at work today, you’ve just had a very long journey on the night train and your Vlog has chilled me out nicely, thank you very much Noel. 👍
Great vid. I travelled to Sweden by train from London in 1981. I loved the country so much I visited every year until 1988 when I emigrated here. I spent weeks every summer travelling around Sweden by train. I did the Narvik journey in 1984 and always met lovely people like you say. European rail travel was so much different back then and you could sit in the same seat from the Hook of Holland to Stockholm as the train was shunted onto the ferry at Puttgarden (Germany) and Helsingør (Denmark). My first job over here when I was learning the language was cleaning trains and the train station in Mora where I live. If you come back you should try the "Inlandsbana" in the summer. Be sure to look me up if you are ever in Mora. By the way "En smak av Sverige" means "A taste of Sweden". And the pun on the word "taste" works in both languages.
Nice story! Do you remember the 'cinema car' on the train from Stockholm to Narvik? (Nordpilen?) I too like the Swedish way - it's funny how people think of 'laid back' countries in Europe as usually being somewhere Latin - whereas the way things work so well in Sweden in such a calm and friendly way, to me epitomises a 'laid back' lifestyle. Enjoy life there.
From what I understand, Danish pastries are called Danishes in Sweden. Something that makes them different from normal sweets. I do find it amazing how fluent the citizens of the Scandinavian countries are along with Finland in English are. Having kids take English early on gives them a huge plus in the world.
Welcome back Noel...me thinks a Hare as someone else posted...have plenty of them here in Mansfield Australia !! ...not a rabbit !! Great trip report as always Noel...on the ground or in the air !! Well done again and I look forward to your next episode !!
I had done this journey a couple of times in the winter. Even took the train from Luleø to Narvik in North Norway. Best train journey in winter (in my opinion) is the train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, then a bus 250km north to Saariselkä northern Lappland. Spectacular winter winderland.
A real eyeopener, this one. For some strange reason, I always thought when the midnight sun was in the sky, the temperatures would be quite high in Scandinavia, but clearly not. Snow on the ground... ice on the lakes, and all under a twenty four hour bright May sunshine, totally amazing!
I did the Night train from Abisko to Stockholm in February, I also done a sleeper train in Norway the week prior and I loved it, there is something amazing about being able combine travel and rest into a single thing. I have been to Europe twice now and I love being able to catch trains around and it is something I wish was still a thing back here in Australia. I know you love your planes but I personally hate flying and the flights to Europe from Australia and back are more than enough, I mean yeah it gets you across vast distances fast but when traveling there is something more rewarding about a train as first you don't need to travel to the outskirts of a city to get to the airport and you also get to see the country you are in and it is more comfortable as I am a pleb and can never afford to fly posh class on long haul flights. Anyway this train was well worth it, the interesting thing is the food car changes on if you do the trip from Narvik, it is an older style wagon which is worth it for the look lol but yeah that car doesn't make it down to stockholm.
I tend to prefer the Norwegian night trains because it’s been my experience that the Swedish rolling stock is a bit older and they tend to be more crowded. However, they’re both pretty great! The night train from Tbilisi to Yerevan was an experience I’d really recommend when this is all over. Thanks for a great video!
Vintage?The RC locomotives was first built in 1967.At the time the worlds most modern electric locomotiv.Last one was built in 1988.Still going strong.
13 hours - not that long. I regularly travel from Sydney to Melbourne, leaving at 8:50 and arriving about 19:30, a tad over 1000km in just under 11 hours. There is a night train, but I prefer the daylight one - lots to look at. Similarly we have occasionally taken the Brisbane - Sydney daylight, 05:30 to 20:00. around 1100km in 14.5 hours. A bit slower, but the scenery is spectacular. Stuff sleepers, I much prefer daylight trains where available.
17:30 What you have there is a bulle, bun (although not a typical kanelbulle, cinamon bun). The pastry you call "Danish" is known as wienerbröd in Scandinavia. Simply because it was konditorer and bagare (bakers) in Vienna that started using butter dough in thin layers like that in the 1700s.
Love your videos as always. By the way I was thinking about your ferry video and ensuing minibar escapades. As a salty sea lover if you ever do another ferry/large boat travel video you I thought of a silly title. "Shipfaced With Captain Noel." Anyways it gave me a chuckle. Thanks for allowing us afflicted with wanderlust without means the ability to live vicariously 💙. Much love from Texas.
Even that crazy old man with lots of followers raves about your country, "Look what happened in Sweden last night": www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39020962 Which leads to an increase in tourism: www.thelocal.se/20180207/a-year-on-from-last-night-in-sweden-us-tourists-soar
6:40 No, you don't midnight sun that far south, as it is still below the Polar circle. June/July it never get really dark though, with the sun right below the horizon so the sunset at midnight transform straight into dawn around two hours later. Luleå is also a mere appendix to the railroad net, connecting to it at Boden.
I like this video, im born and raised in Luleå, and in 2004 i moved to Uppsala(One hour from stockholm) with my entire family. I took the 13h train ride from Luleå-Uppsala multiple time ,not in a sleeper but in a sitting position, at least 5-7 times, And i got used to it,Not to bad :)
Did Stockholm to Narvik in the latter part of the previous millennium. Journey was close on 24 hours. That was travelling, not Molly coddled in fancy expensive sleepers but sat in traditional compartments and corridor. On a separate journey stayed at Boden on a lakeside campsite. On that occasion I got there from Finland. Scandinavia is awesome. Pretty much all of it.
Welcome to Norrland Noel! The train section to Narvik still operates but it terminates in Björkliden instead, only buses operate between my hometown Kiruna and Narvik right now. And also your pronunciation of the Swedish towns are much better than some other English speakers 😁
So nice that you narrate your trips-I can’t watch the ones with subtitles,just seems a bit odd to me.Love Sweden,the scenery is great,hope to retire there one day😎
Excellent trip report Noel ! I would like to do the trip to Narvik. Looked like quite a nice train to ride . Thank you for sharing this video with us ...Take care >>>:):):)
Ye Im increasingly thinking of doing a few long train journeys. Did an overnight once between Samarkand and Bukhara in Central Asia - very enjoyable. As for Sweden, yes agree Swedish people are lovely and Stockholm although expensive is definitiely one of Europes more beautiful cities
I took the train from Narvik to Kiruna, stopped over two nights and then then the sleeper train to Stockholm in 2015. There seems to have been an upgrade to the sleeping compartments. Kiruna to Stockholm is about 17 hours I think but train fare was cheaper than one night in hotel plus flight plus transfers.
4:32 - Väckning = wake-up call. SJ has a wake-up call service at any time you wish or, by default, 30 minutes before your arrival. The button is to switch the wake-up call off when it sounds. Samtal önskas med tågpersonal = Conversation wanted with train personnel.
I actually rode that train with my mom! There were two return trips on the Luleå-Stockholm route. On all four journeys, the type of compartment was the same triple-bunk one as used here by Noel Philips.
A similar journey in Canada (Edmonton to Vancouver) would cost almost $1000 CAD for a single sleeper. But that's a moot point as the train is not running on that route since March due to Covid.
Thanks for taking me on my first train journey through a Scandinavian night, without a night. Wow! What a wonderful world!
My son and his family are on this train now. Living the experience with them through you. Thanks Noel.
That is awesome!
I can thoroughly recommend travelling by SJ Night train and was fortunate enough to do Stockholm - Narvik in early 2020 just before lockdown. The train was very clean, the beds very comfortable, the older type cars have lots of character and ride well being quite heavy on the rails. As you say Noel, the Swedish people are lovely too, it's quite possibly my favourite country to visit.
I have been on this Sleeper a couple times before, since I live in Umeå.
This Sleeper train used to be the only southbound rail service from Umeå before 2012 when the Botnia Line opened and high-speed services could come through northwards from Sundsvall. Along with the HS extension, the sleeper trains were also re-routed.
Nice to see another review from Sweden. Hope you'll come back and do another review of the Arctic Circle Train. As a traindriver at SJ I can recommend to travel between Kiruna-Narvik. One of the most beautiful views you can get. If you wanna save time and money, take the flight from Stockholm Arlanda to Kiruna Airport and then board the SJ Arctic Circle (night train) that arrives from Stockholm. You'll not regret it 😉👍
I done this trip a few months back just before all the lockdowns, I did Narvik to Abisko via the train and stayed at Abisko for 3 days then Abisko to Stockholm, great train ride and an amazing part of the world.
I must say your pronounsiation of Swedish citys is real good!
You are right, Swedes are very lovely people. I have worked a lot in Sweden (live in Copenhagen, Denmark). Just a pleasure every time.
I did this journey from Stockholm to Luleå 2 years ago, what an incredible experience it was. So happy to see you doing it!
Thankyou for including the rabbit, he is lovely!
Thank you, Noel, for a nice video.
This brings up our experience from Umeå to Stockholm in November, 2019. We figured that the journey time is such that you do not arrive in Stockholm too early. The average speed is certainly lower than the same daytime journey on SJ using X3000 equipment. We observed that we were placed in passing loops quite frequently, no doubt because this is not a high-priority train. Keep up the good work!
Enjoyed watching the SJ sleeper train journey to Stockholm. Beautiful and serene
This is the exact job I would love to do when I’m older
Always says i’d just want to travel the world.👍🏼
Keep doing what your doing
Great channel 👏🏼
"Slightly Soviet looking" is that an ode to Mr Bald and Bankrupt i see? 😂😂😆
As is the title.
shutup world won’t be able to handle that.
Noel and bald on the Trans Siberian would be the most unexpected and ambitious crossover ever.
''SJ 80tals-vagn/wagon of 80s'' is far from soviet style but maybe look in that direction if compare with wagons like eurofirma wagon.
The Locomotives have the nick-name 'Wolf of Siberia" and are Soviet in design - Tough as a brick ****. *****.
The reason that there are two locomotives is either that the train is extra long or that it's winter that at least one locomotive will be functioning so that the passengers don't freeze to death in the wilderness of northern Sweden before help arrives on a cold day.
Look at a rail and road map of northern Sweden and you'll see that the roads do not always go where the railroad goes.
freeze to death is a bit of an exaggeration 😂
Great trip report. Always nice to see reviews of my own country from vloggers and tourists. I’m happy that you had an enjoyable experience traveling through Sweden 🇸🇪. Been wanting to go see the midnight sun myself. Some day.
Because of your video that I watched back in 2020, me and my dad went on a night-train trip from Stockholm to Luleå this last week, amazingly cozy way to travel and something I really want to make into a sort of yearly tradition, already miss it actually, even if it's a bit snug!
Thanks so much for making these videos! :)
That's awesome!
'There's a massive Rabbit over there'. It's not a Rabbit, it's a Hare. lol
How pleasant was the woman in the food cart, bless her!
Great video Noel!!! The Scandinavian night trains are a great experience. I've taken the 18hrs one from Narvik Norway to Stockholm and also the 13hrs one from Helsinki to Kolari. Both offer great views and a cosy, comfortable experience onboard.
i would love to see you do the siberian railway train express and see what experience that has lol
Please do this
Bald and bankrupt can do that
I second that motion!
I did that! You need to plan for it ahead of time. Also, it helps to learn a little bit of Russian, at least learn how to read cyrillic alphabet and how to say a few phrases. Nevertheless, it's the best train ride on earth and a life time experience!
Yep
Got loads of memories flashing back from this vid. I was studying up north so I’ve done that train ride loads of times. Fun to see it agin, not much has changed in twenty years.
Seeing the station brings back the memories when me and my mates had a big night out in Luleå, ending up sleeping in my car. I didn’t have the best of mornings... and then a train arrived😳😳
Great Report. I would love to try some of these night trains at some point. I love flying, but with the train you can watch the world go by and enjoy the scenery and those smaller towns that you wouldn’t normally see from the air! ✈️
Absolutely love ur train vids! Thanks so much Noel, keep them coming
I would always take a train over a flight, you get to see the scenary which is much interesting than gazing from an aircraft window to see glimpses between the clouds.
This channel is slowly turning into Visit Sweden promotion
Works for me. Though I'd rather see Norway, just based on the Scandinavian part of my ancestry, LoL.
Everyone should. Wonderful country, wonderful people.
They didn't do the stupid shut down.
@@tad27612 lol .. yeah and look where that got them
Ahh it’s nearly back to normal
Watching the Saturday night footy seeing the notification and coming and writing a comment about something video related
Can’t wait for everything to be back including more of your videos
Not quite.....still new rules
Very few channels where I watch for the content and the creator and this is one of the few.
Loved it! Can't wait to hit the road again :)
I lived in northern Sweden for 5 years and took that same train from Lulea MANY times! It was super fun watching your video and made me long to be back. You did an awesome job! Swedish trains are some of my favorite ways to travel and it's cool that you got to do it near summer too, and experience the midnight sun! Oh, and "Smak av Sverige" from the breakfast car means "taste of Sweden." :) Love your vids!
Those northern trains looks are very calming, very nice video with atmosphere, thank you!
2:18 "Massive Rabbit" That was a Hare.
Yes, up there in Sweden I think they have only the Forrest Hare but further south it's both Forrest and Field Hares and some places also Rabbits, in the very south only Field Hares but also Rabbits.
Yeah they're quite common everywhere in Northern Europe. I don't think I've ever actually seen an actual rabbit in the wild.
@@drdewott9154 There are a lot of rabbits in south Sweden so much they must hunt them both with guns and ferrets or they destroy land to much with their 24/7 digging, there is rabbits arround Stockholm also a couple of years ago there was a colony 200-300 living in an very small area by the road just a few hundred meters away from Stockholm Central Station, but they destroyed the roads there so I don't think they let them be there anymore.
We call them back rabbits..
not a 'jackalope'? LoL
Wow Noel, I'm Impressed how well you pronounced the swedish towns.
EDIT: Oh you know a bit Norwegian. That explains it. Also, most of us Nordics know English. So any tourist will have a easy time talk with us... when you manage to talk to us. We're a bit shy.
I love the slightly Soviet looking stuff, because it works. A company bought trains to use in Sweden, winter tested in Marseille, made by Italians. They NEVER worked and ALWAYS broke down.
Those Rc engines are amazing. Originally from end of 60ies with upgraded versions during the years. Still used today. Never read about them breaking down a lot or having any issues. Good engineering skills back then.
As a Swedish train enthusiast I really wish SJ would replace all of the old carts. Nice to see that you enjoy your trip though!
Sailing into Stockholm from the Baltic Sea is a memory I'll never forget. Absolutely stunning.
I’ve always liked ur channel. But ur lockdown content has been amazing. It’s very impressive how you’ve just evolved and adapted. I did interrail as a kid. So love this
Thank you so much, that means a lot!
Noel another great vlog ! 😀
13 hrs on a train at night no problem Just try and sleep “From Dusk to Dawn” unless the vampires get you first ! ( inserted movie reference ) lol 😂
Oh and Noel I love Surfshark
About the Norwegian-Swedish border. It’s not entirely closed, but people coming to Norway from Sweden need to stay in quarantine for ten days. The Norwegian borders to Finland have no quarantine restrictions.
2:11 "Nej, det är ingen stor kanin. Det är en skandinavisk känguru, en blandning av katt, känguru och lite koala. Utrotningshotade importerade arter." (No, it is not a huge rabbit. It is a Scandinavian Kangaroo, a mix of cat, wallaby and some koala. Endangered imported species.)
I'd do the train in a heartbeat.
As a matter of fact, my wife and I took our honeymoon four years ago by train from Oakland, CA to Washington, DC via Chicago on the California Zephyr and Capitol Limited after having flown to SFO the day before the trip. It was a lovely way to spend three days, where our only concern was when we ate.
I enjoy riding a train,. I find the experience relaxing and rewarding with the scenic panoramic views from the window.
Did multiple night trains back in 1991 as a student on the inter rail .... Takes me back .... Thanks Noel
I've done this from Boden to Stockholm, as well as from Stockholm to Malmo. Cheaper than a hotel room, clean and comfortable. Loved it.
Stay safe on your journeys! Love watching these since I need to stay home.
En smak av sverige means a taste of Sweden
Funny that you post this now I'm actually taking the night train next week to see the midnight sun 😊
And thank you for your kind words about the swedish people and our beautiful country 🥰
Great video & to answer your question: absolutely yes, I WOULD take the 13hr overnight train over a 90 min flight (unless I was connecting through an airport & time was an issue).
With the expansion of SJ night trains further into Europe, it's definitely an alternative to flying that I'd use
I love Sweden. Haven't been in several years now, this makes me want to go back again :)
Nice journey Noel, you should take the train from Oslo to Bergen, fantastic scenery.
Many years ago - '84 I think - I did the sleeper from Trondheim, Norway to Stockholm by way of Östersund. A very comfy trip. The sleeper looked very much like this one except the bottom bunk was a double.
My man finally back with another vid. Miss the vids.
I actually did something similar about 10 years ago, taking a night train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi in Finland. I think that taking a night train with a comfortable cabin is something that should be on everyone's "bucket list."
In March 2022, I took a sleeper from Helsinki - Rovaniemi and return and it was in a Finnish Railways (VR) double deck sleeper with all facilities en-suite which was just superb. Also the train had a restaurant car which means I had an evening meal and breakfast as well. Really great and also a big shout to the restaurant at Rovaniemi station where I had a massive pizza and also a coffee and beer.
I really like your solo journeys ! And yes I would love to take this train than getting a 1.5 hour flight !
Used to see this train arrive and depart from Stockholm Centralen when I lived there. Nice to see the other end of the line for once.
Thourougly enjoyed the vid and the journey Noel, I’ve had a long day at work today, you’ve just had a very long journey on the night train and your Vlog has chilled me out nicely, thank you very much Noel. 👍
Great vid.
I travelled to Sweden by train from London in 1981. I loved the country so much I visited every year until 1988 when I emigrated here. I spent weeks every summer travelling around Sweden by train. I did the Narvik journey in 1984 and always met lovely people like you say. European rail travel was so much different back then and you could sit in the same seat from the Hook of Holland to Stockholm as the train was shunted onto the ferry at Puttgarden (Germany) and Helsingør (Denmark).
My first job over here when I was learning the language was cleaning trains and the train station in Mora where I live.
If you come back you should try the "Inlandsbana" in the summer. Be sure to look me up if you are ever in Mora.
By the way "En smak av Sverige" means "A taste of Sweden". And the pun on the word "taste" works in both languages.
Nice story! Do you remember the 'cinema car' on the train from Stockholm to Narvik? (Nordpilen?) I too like the Swedish way - it's funny how people think of 'laid back' countries in Europe as usually being somewhere Latin - whereas the way things work so well in Sweden in such a calm and friendly way, to me epitomises a 'laid back' lifestyle. Enjoy life there.
@@robertp.wainman4094
I saw a few films on those.
From what I understand, Danish pastries are called Danishes in Sweden. Something that makes them different from normal sweets. I do find it amazing how fluent the citizens of the Scandinavian countries are along with Finland in English are. Having kids take English early on gives them a huge plus in the world.
"I do find it amazing how fluent the citizens of the Scandinavian countries are along with Finland in English are" Are you fluent in English? 😁
AS a dane myself Danish bakery Can something Else
Like the cinamonroll no one Can make it like Denmark
@@patrickjohansen7118no no no, you do the BEST Wienerbrød, we in Sweden has the best cinnamonrolls😘
Danish pastries are called "wienerbröd" (Viennian bread) in Swedish.
Welcome back Noel...me thinks a Hare as someone else posted...have plenty of them here in Mansfield Australia !! ...not a rabbit !! Great trip report as always Noel...on the ground or in the air !! Well done again and I look forward to your next episode !!
I had done this journey a couple of times in the winter. Even took the train from Luleø to Narvik in North Norway. Best train journey in winter (in my opinion) is the train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, then a bus 250km north to Saariselkä northern Lappland. Spectacular winter winderland.
A real eyeopener, this one. For some strange reason, I always thought when the midnight sun was in the sky, the temperatures would be quite high in Scandinavia, but clearly not. Snow on the ground... ice on the lakes, and all under a twenty four hour bright May sunshine, totally amazing!
I love it 2 weeks ago i was planning the Lulea stockholm for my interrail trip :D
Love this train video. I’m so enjoying travelling through your eyes at the moment.
I did the Night train from Abisko to Stockholm in February, I also done a sleeper train in Norway the week prior and I loved it, there is something amazing about being able combine travel and rest into a single thing. I have been to Europe twice now and I love being able to catch trains around and it is something I wish was still a thing back here in Australia.
I know you love your planes but I personally hate flying and the flights to Europe from Australia and back are more than enough, I mean yeah it gets you across vast distances fast but when traveling there is something more rewarding about a train as first you don't need to travel to the outskirts of a city to get to the airport and you also get to see the country you are in and it is more comfortable as I am a pleb and can never afford to fly posh class on long haul flights.
Anyway this train was well worth it, the interesting thing is the food car changes on if you do the trip from Narvik, it is an older style wagon which is worth it for the look lol but yeah that car doesn't make it down to stockholm.
I tend to prefer the Norwegian night trains because it’s been my experience that the Swedish rolling stock is a bit older and they tend to be more crowded. However, they’re both pretty great! The night train from Tbilisi to Yerevan was an experience I’d really recommend when this is all over. Thanks for a great video!
Very cool to have double-headed vintage electric locomotives on a classic night train. It all seems so retro yet is completely contemporary! :)
Vintage?The RC locomotives was first built in 1967.At the time the worlds most modern electric locomotiv.Last one was built in 1988.Still going strong.
Loved that Noel . I certainly would let the train take the strain as I love watching scenery 😍 thank you x
Glad you enjoyed it
@@noelphilips you are the ideal travel companion , so knowledgeable. 😊
13 hours - not that long. I regularly travel from Sydney to Melbourne, leaving at 8:50 and arriving about 19:30, a tad over 1000km in just under 11 hours. There is a night train, but I prefer the daylight one - lots to look at. Similarly we have occasionally taken the Brisbane - Sydney daylight, 05:30 to 20:00. around 1100km in 14.5 hours. A bit slower, but the scenery is spectacular.
Stuff sleepers, I much prefer daylight trains where available.
Very nice. Thank you.
17:30 What you have there is a bulle, bun (although not a typical kanelbulle, cinamon bun). The pastry you call "Danish" is known as wienerbröd in Scandinavia. Simply because it was konditorer and bagare (bakers) in Vienna that started using butter dough in thin layers like that in the 1700s.
Love your videos as always. By the way I was thinking about your ferry video and ensuing minibar escapades. As a salty sea lover if you ever do another ferry/large boat travel video you I thought of a silly title. "Shipfaced With Captain Noel." Anyways it gave me a chuckle. Thanks for allowing us afflicted with wanderlust without means the ability to live vicariously 💙. Much love from Texas.
Your photography on this one is fantastic!!
Hearing someone describe my native home as a giant Centerparcs - that's a first :)
Do you not understand how cool (in both senses of the word) your country is to us foreigners?!
Even that crazy old man with lots of followers raves about your country, "Look what happened in Sweden last night":
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39020962
Which leads to an increase in tourism:
www.thelocal.se/20180207/a-year-on-from-last-night-in-sweden-us-tourists-soar
@@fromthetaperoom6325 not cool to all of us.
I am impressed of your swedish pronunciations!
The breakfast box reminds me of the snack box in mid-haul flight
I am loving railways videos and enjoying it more than airways. 😁
6:40 No, you don't midnight sun that far south, as it is still below the Polar circle. June/July it never get really dark though, with the sun right below the horizon so the sunset at midnight transform straight into dawn around two hours later.
Luleå is also a mere appendix to the railroad net, connecting to it at Boden.
Absolutely! Trains are the best.
Travelled on this train last summer. It‘s super cozy and a great experience
I like this video, im born and raised in Luleå, and in 2004 i moved to Uppsala(One hour from stockholm) with my entire family.
I took the 13h train ride from Luleå-Uppsala multiple time ,not in a sleeper but in a sitting position, at least 5-7 times, And i got used to it,Not to bad :)
I'd happily do it especially if I hadn't been in the region before. I love overnight trains. I often catch 13+ hour train rides in Australia.
I drove to Umea from the uk back in the mid nineties it’s a long old drive but the scenery is superb and the swedes are just so nice !😊
Did Stockholm to Narvik in the latter part of the previous millennium.
Journey was close on 24 hours. That was travelling, not Molly coddled in fancy expensive sleepers but sat in traditional compartments and corridor.
On a separate journey stayed at Boden on a lakeside campsite. On that occasion I got there from Finland.
Scandinavia is awesome. Pretty much all of it.
Welcome to Norrland Noel!
The train section to Narvik still operates but it terminates in Björkliden instead, only buses operate between my hometown Kiruna and Narvik right now.
And also your pronunciation of the Swedish towns are much better than some other English speakers 😁
It sucks that I missed you when you visited Sweden but amazing to know that you have seen our beautiful country.
There's now gonna be a load of people in Swedish catering cars going: "Hello, i'm a youtuber.....GIVE ME FREE CHOCOLATE!!!".
What happened about dinner when you were starving? Interesting journey though with nighttime daylight
I was literally about to write this too! Did you manage to eat Noel?
@@eggstr9 yea I ate him, don't worry
All such trains usually have a food wagon (but that might have changed due to corona)
well, there was that giant rabbit... we don't know what his fate was
So nice that you narrate your trips-I can’t watch the ones with subtitles,just seems a bit odd to me.Love Sweden,the scenery is great,hope to retire there one day😎
Oh wow a video in my country. Btw 2:42 sov vagn means sleep wagon lol
Yes we Swedes are very open with it ... Sweden and Norway and Finland very beautiful in all seasons :)
9:45 never heard the country described that way before but it’s an accurate assessment
Nice vid! cant wait for more aviation.
Excellent trip report Noel ! I would like to do the trip to Narvik. Looked like quite a nice train to ride .
Thank you for sharing this video with us ...Take care >>>:):):)
Amazing views Noel! Thank you for the great content as always.
Would definitely take train 13 hrs .... lovely video
Who doesn't love a bit of Benjamin Bald ... Good video mate
Ye Im increasingly thinking of doing a few long train journeys. Did an overnight once between Samarkand and Bukhara in Central Asia - very enjoyable. As for Sweden, yes agree Swedish people are lovely and Stockholm although expensive is definitiely one of Europes more beautiful cities
I took the train from Narvik to Kiruna, stopped over two nights and then then the sleeper train to Stockholm in 2015. There seems to have been an upgrade to the sleeping compartments. Kiruna to Stockholm is about 17 hours I think but train fare was cheaper than one night in hotel plus flight plus transfers.
4:32 - Väckning = wake-up call. SJ has a wake-up call service at any time you wish or, by default, 30 minutes before your arrival. The button is to switch the wake-up call off when it sounds.
Samtal önskas med tågpersonal = Conversation wanted with train personnel.
I actually rode that train with my mom! There were two return trips on the Luleå-Stockholm route. On all four journeys, the type of compartment was the same triple-bunk one as used here by Noel Philips.
A similar journey in Canada (Edmonton to Vancouver) would cost almost $1000 CAD for a single sleeper.
But that's a moot point as the train is not running on that route since March due to Covid.
That’s completely outrageous, no wonder nobody uses the railways in N. America…
I would definitely enjoy taking that kind of train ride.
Thank you for another great video 😊