Sweden night train maintenance contract covers SJ fleet

Alstom has secured a Sweden night train maintenance contract with SJ, covering services between Stockholm and upper northern Sweden after a procurement by the Swedish Transport Administration.

The two-year agreement⁠, which Alstom reported on 8 July 2026, is valued at tens of millions of euros and covers close to 90 rail vehicles. The fleet includes sleeper coaches and locomotives used on long-distance night train services. According to Alstom, the contract strengthens its position in rail maintenance services in Sweden and adds to its wider services presence across the Nordic region.

SJ night trains covered by the contract

The trains covered by the agreement mainly operate on the Stockholm–Umeå and Stockholm–Narvik routes⁠. The fleet consists of 12 locomotives and 75 carriages, including vehicles whose age and onboard service functions require specialised maintenance knowledge.

Mikael Granberg, Services Director at Alstom Sweden and Finland, said:

“Reliable night train services depend on more than maintenance—they require strong local presence, long-term asset expertise and continuous investment. This contract reinforces our role as a trusted partner for Sweden’s rail network while strengthening the capabilities needed for the future of night train travel. It also highlights the growing importance of lifecycle services in delivering sustainable long-distance mobility”

Arvid Fredman, Director of Rolling Stock at SJ, said:

“We are happy to continue our partnership with Alstom and look forward to further enhancing the travel experience for our customers together”

Alstom said the maintenance work will be supported by its FlexCare Perform solutions and by its experience with different types of rolling stock and rail assets. The company said these capabilities play a role in helping operators maintain fleet availability, support stable operations and make better use of existing trains while preparing for future fleet renewal and transition programmes.

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Managing obsolescence is also part of the contract. Alstom said this includes developing and applying solutions for component replacement, refurbishment and life extension, with the aim of keeping the trains reliable over the long term.

Lifecycle services in Northern Sweden

Lisa Harlin, Project and Site Manager at Alstom, said:

“We have gathered broad expertise in rail maintenance in northern Sweden, combining experience from legacy rolling stock with modern technology. With these maintenance contracts, we are taking the next step in developing both our capacity and our specialist expertise in the region. This agreement further positions northern Sweden as a centre of excellence for rail maintenance and lifecycle services, supporting customers’ long-term operational ambitions”

The work will mainly be carried out in Luleå, where Alstom has built maintenance capabilities across several generations of rail technology. The company said this includes rolling stock dating from the 1980s as well as modern multiple-units and locomotives.

Around 60 employees based in Luleå, Umeå and Kiruna are involved in delivering maintenance services focused on safety, quality and customer requirements.

Alstom is also continuing investment in northern depots. These sites are expected to function as regional hubs for expanding maintenance capacity and developing more advanced and self-sufficient rail maintenance capabilities in the region. The new night train maintenance contract forms part of that development.

Long-distance rail connections in Sweden

Night train services connect northern and southern Sweden and provide an alternative to domestic flights and long car journeys. Alstom said reliable night rail operations are becoming more important as interest in sustainable long-distance rail travel grows across Europe.

The maintenance contract sits within a wider Trafikverket arrangement for night train services to upper Norrland. In June 2026, the agency awarded SJ the operation of these services from December 2026 to 2028, with daily return trips required on both Stockholm–Narvik and Stockholm–Umeå. Trafikverket also says it provides the vehicles to the operator, which makes the condition and availability of the existing fleet important until new night trains begin delivery from 2030.

Through the contract, Alstom said it will combine local presence, industrial expertise and lifecycle service capabilities to support operators in delivering reliable, sustainable and future-ready mobility services.

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