Stockholm Metro
Encyclopedia
The Stockholm Metro is a metro
system in Stockholm
, Sweden
. The first line opened in 1950, and today the system has 100 stations in use, of which 47 are underground and 53 above ground. There are seven lines numbered from 10 to 19, in three groups identified by a color: the Green, Red and Blue lines. Each color line has two or three numbered lines on shared sections through the Stockholm City Centre
.
The 105.7 kilometres (65.7 mi) long metro system is owned by the Stockholm County Council
through Storstockholms Lokaltrafik
(SL). The operation is contracted to MTR Corporation
.
The decision to build a metro was made in 1941. The following years, some routes were built with near metro standard but operated with trams. The first part of the metro was opened in 1950, when an underground tram line from 1933 was converted to metro standard. This line ran south from Slussen
to Hökarängen
. Over the following years, two more lines extending from Slussen (via Gullmarsplan, then Johanneshov) were opened. In 1952, a second system from Hötorget
to the western suburbs was opened. In 1957, the two parts were connected via the Central station and the Old Town, forming the Green Line. The Red Line was opened in 1964, with two lines going from northeast to southwest via the city center. The third and final system, the Blue Line, was opened in 1975, with two lines running northwest from the city center. The latest addition to the whole network, Skarpnäck station, was opened in 1994.
, was built but never taken into use. One station has been taken out of use and demolished. The Bagarmossen
old surface station was demolished and replaced with a new underground station there instead, this prior to the metro extension to Skarpnäck metro station
.
The Stockholm Metro is well known for its decoration of the stations; it has been called the longest art gallery in the world. This not fully true since some other metros, most notably Moscow, have more stations with art. Several of the stations (especially on the Blue Line) are left with the bedrock exposed, crude and unfinished, or as part of the decorations. At Rissne
, an informative wall fresco about the history of Earth's civilizations
runs along both sides of the platform.
The following details relate to the present network. The designations "blue line," etc., have only been used since the late 1970s, and officially only since the 1990s. They originated from the fact that the "blue line" tended to operate newer train stock painted blue, while the "green line" had older stock in the original green livery. There was never any red painted stock, though, but red (or originally orange) was chosen to differentiate this line from the other two networks on route maps.
Trains are operated from 05:00 to 01:00, with extended all night service on weekends. All lines have trains every 10 minutes during daytime, reduced to every 15 minutes in early mornings and late evenings, and every 30 minutes during nights. Additional trains in peak hours gives a train every 5–6 minutes on most stations, with 2–3 minutes between trains on the central parts of the network.
In the past, there have been additional line numbers in use for trains operated on part of a line, or during peak hours only. For example, line number 23 was used for a peak relief train for line 13 which in the 1970s was operated between Sätra and Östermalmstorg and during the 1990s between Norsborg and Mörby Centrum.
s in the Stockholm Metro. The newer C20 stock, and the older C1–C15 stocks which are collectively referred to as the Cx stock. A train typically consists of two or three cars of the C20 stock, or six or eight cars of the Cx stock. A full length train—three C20 cars, or eight Cx cars—is about 140 metres (459.3 ft) in length, and takes about 1,250 passengers, of which about 380 can be seated. The Blue Line as well as the Red Line (from Stadion
to Mörby Centrum
) was built with longer platforms to allow running trains consisting of ten Cx cars. When the C20 was introduced, it appeared that trains consisting of four C20 cars would not fit completely on these platforms.
There are 271 cars of the C20 stock, and around two hundred Cx stock cars. The green line only uses the new cars, and they are used most of the time on the Red and Blue Lines. However, during rush hours, especiallly on shortened services, older cars are commonly seen. Of the older cars the stocks C6, C14 and C15 are still in use, with the C6:s operating on the red line and the C14/C15:s on the blue line. However, C14:s make up 90 % of the Cx fleet on the blue line, as there are 126 C14:s but only 14 C15:s.
Historically the metro is converted from a tramway and the older sections were run as tramway for a few years. The naming convention for rolling stock comes from this, where A are motorised trams, B are unmotorised trams (trailers) and C are metro cars.
, 46.5 metres (152.6 ft) in length, 2.9 metres (9.5 ft) in width, 3.8 metres (12.5 ft) in height, and weighs 67 tonne. The car takes 126 seated passengers, and 288 standing passengers. The C20 stock cars were built between 1996 and 2004.
A single prototype car designated C20F stock is in use. Built on Bombardier Transportation
's FICAS technology, it has a lighter body, much thinner side walls, and more space compared to the regular C20, by using a sandwich-like composite construction of the body. The C20F weighs 65 tonne, other exterior measurements are the same as for the C20. The C20F has the same number of seats as the C20, but has space for 323 standing passengers.
with a nominal operating voltage of 650 V
DC
on the Green and Red Lines, 750 V DC on the Blue Line.
The maximum speed is 80 kilometres per hour (49.7 mph) on the Red and Blue Lines, 70 kilometres per hour (43.5 mph) on the Green Line (50 kilometres per hour (31.1 mph) at the platforms). Maximum acceleration and deceleration is 0.8 m/s2. The reason for the lower speed limit on the Green Line is due to tighter curves than on the other lines, because the Green Line was built with cut and cover under streets in the inner city, while the other lines are drilled at deeper depth.
To allow close-running trains with a high level of safety, the metro uses a continuous signal safety system that sends information continually to the train's safety system. The signal is picked up from the rail tracks through two antennas
placed in front of the first wheel axle
and compared with data about the train's speed. Automatic braking is triggered if the train exceeds the maximum permitted speed at any time. The driver is given information about the speed limit through a display in the driver's cabin; in C20 stock, and in Cx stock outfitted for operation with the new signal system installed on the Green Line, this is a speedometer with a red maximum speed indicator (needle), while the traditional display in the Cx stock is a set of three lights indicating one of three permitted speeds (high, medium, low). The system allows two trains to come close to each other but prevents collisions occurring at speeds greater than 15 kilometres per hour (9.3 mph). More modern systems also ensure that stop signals are not passed.
Another possibility is automatic train operation
, which helps the driver by driving the train automatically. However, the driver still operates the door controls and allows the train to start. ATO is as of 2006 only available on the Green line, where a new signal system was installed in the late 1990s. This signal system, together with the C20 rolling stock, permits the use of ATO.
Since the mid 1980s, the Stockholm Metro has been seriously affected by graffiti
. Previously a train on which graffiti had been painted could remain in service for weeks and graffiti could remain in place at stations for months if not for years. Nowadays, however, trains with graffiti are taken out of service immediately and graffiti at stations is regularly cleaned up within a few days. The cost of graffiti and other types of vandalism
has been calculated at approximately SEK
100 million per year.
During the 1990s, the Stockholm Transit System
(SL) started outsourcing security to private security firms, some of which have been accused of using unlawful methods, such as the use of plain clothes guards and heavy-handed treatment of vandals arrested, and even heavy-handed treatment of ticketless passengers trying to escape. Since 2005, the Stockholm Police have assigned a special task force (Klotterkommissionen) to address the issues. The mainstay among the private security contractors in the fight against graffiti is the Commuter Security Group
.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The first line opened in 1950, and today the system has 100 stations in use, of which 47 are underground and 53 above ground. There are seven lines numbered from 10 to 19, in three groups identified by a color: the Green, Red and Blue lines. Each color line has two or three numbered lines on shared sections through the Stockholm City Centre
Stockholm City Centre
Stockholm City Centre is the city centre of Stockholm in Sweden. The entire city of Stockholm is also the centre of the Stockholm Metropolitan Area....
.
The 105.7 kilometres (65.7 mi) long metro system is owned by the Stockholm County Council
Stockholm County
Stockholm County is a county or län on the Baltic sea coast of Sweden. It borders Uppsala County and Södermanland County. It also borders Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The city of Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm County is divided by the historic provinces of Uppland and Södermanland...
through Storstockholms Lokaltrafik
Storstockholms Lokaltrafik
Storstockholms Lokaltrafik AB, , commonly referred to as SL, is the organisation running all of the land based public transport systems in Stockholm County....
(SL). The operation is contracted to MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation
MTR Corporation Limited is a company listed on the Hong Kong Exchange and included in the Hang Seng Index. MTR owns and runs the Hong Kong MTR metro system, and is also a major property developer and landlord in Hong Kong...
.
History
Slussen metro station
Slussen is a station of the Stockholm Metro, located in the district of Södermalm. The station is served by the red and green lines. Originally opened in 1933 as an underground tram stop, in 1950 it became the terminal of the first metro line running south to Hökarängen, it was again rebuilt in...
to Hökarängen
Hökarängen metro station
Hökarängen metro station is on the green line of the Stockholm Metro, located in Hökarängen, Söderort. The station was inaugurated on October 1, 1950. The distance to Slussen is 7.7 km....
. Over the following years, two more lines extending from Slussen (via Gullmarsplan, then Johanneshov) were opened. In 1952, a second system from Hötorget
Hötorget metro station
Hötorget metro station is a station on the green line of the Stockholm Metro, located by Hötorget in Norrmalm, central Stockholm. The station was inaugurated on October 26, 1952 and its 1950s signage and decor have been deliberately retained. The distance to Slussen is 1.5 km.-External links:*...
to the western suburbs was opened. In 1957, the two parts were connected via the Central station and the Old Town, forming the Green Line. The Red Line was opened in 1964, with two lines going from northeast to southwest via the city center. The third and final system, the Blue Line, was opened in 1975, with two lines running northwest from the city center. The latest addition to the whole network, Skarpnäck station, was opened in 1994.
Network
Stations
There are 100 stations in use in the Stockholm Metro. One station, KymlingeKymlinge
Kymlinge is an area of Sundbyberg Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden. It is mostly a recreational park, part of which is a nature reserve .-History:...
, was built but never taken into use. One station has been taken out of use and demolished. The Bagarmossen
Bagarmossen metro station
Bagarmossen metro station is on the green line of the Stockholm Metro, located in Bagarmossen, Söderort.The current station is 19 metres below ground level and was opened on August 15, 1994 as the extension to Skarpnäck was taken into service. The old surface-level station with the same name was...
old surface station was demolished and replaced with a new underground station there instead, this prior to the metro extension to Skarpnäck metro station
Skarpnäck
Skarpnäck may refer to:*Skarpnäck borough in Stockholm, Sweden*Skarpnäck metro station, a Stockholm Metro station*Skarpnäck parish, a Church of Sweden parish in Stockholm, Sweden*Skarpnäcksfältet, a subdistrict in Skarpnäcks Gård district, Skarpnäck borough...
.
The Stockholm Metro is well known for its decoration of the stations; it has been called the longest art gallery in the world. This not fully true since some other metros, most notably Moscow, have more stations with art. Several of the stations (especially on the Blue Line) are left with the bedrock exposed, crude and unfinished, or as part of the decorations. At Rissne
Rissne metro station
Rissne metro station is a station on the blue line of the Stockholm Metro, located in Rissne, Sundbyberg Municipality. The station was inaugurated on August 19, 1985. The distance to Kungsträdgården is 10.4 km.-External links:*...
, an informative wall fresco about the history of Earth's civilizations
History of the world
The history of the world or human history is the history of humanity from the earliest times to the present, in all places on Earth, beginning with the Paleolithic Era. It excludes non-human natural history and geological history, except insofar as the natural world substantially affects human lives...
runs along both sides of the platform.
Lines
- The Green line (officially Tunnelbana 1, meaning "Tunnel Track" 1) has 3 line numbers and 49 stations: 12 subterranean (nine concrete, three rock) and 37 above ground stations. The track is 41,256 metres long. It opened 1 October 1950 (between Slussen and Hökarängen stations). It is used by 451,000 passengers per workday or 146 million per year (2005).
- The Red line (Tunnelbana 2) has 2 line numbers and 36 stations: 20 subterranean (four concrete, 16 rock) and 15 above ground stations. The track is 41,238 metres long. It opened 5 April 1964. It is used by 394,000 passengers per workday or 128 million per year (2005).
- The Blue line (Tunnelbana 3) has 2 line numbers and 20 stations: 19 subterranean (all rock) and one elevated station. The track is 25,516 metres long. It opened 31 August 1975. It is used by 171,000 passengers per workday or 55 million per year (2005).
Trains are operated from 05:00 to 01:00, with extended all night service on weekends. All lines have trains every 10 minutes during daytime, reduced to every 15 minutes in early mornings and late evenings, and every 30 minutes during nights. Additional trains in peak hours gives a train every 5–6 minutes on most stations, with 2–3 minutes between trains on the central parts of the network.
In the past, there have been additional line numbers in use for trains operated on part of a line, or during peak hours only. For example, line number 23 was used for a peak relief train for line 13 which in the 1970s was operated between Sätra and Östermalmstorg and during the 1990s between Norsborg and Mörby Centrum.
| Line | Stretch | Travel time |
Length | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T10 Line 10 (Stockholm Metro) Line 10 is one of the two blue lines of the Stockholm Metro connecting Kungsträdgården and Hjulsta. It is a 15.1 km long line, with a 23 min travel time and 14 stations.-Stations:* Hjulsta* Tensta* Rinkeby* Rissne* Duvbo... |
Kungsträdgården Kungsträdgården metro station Kungsträdgården is a station of the Stockholm Metro, located in the district of Norrmalm. It is the end station of the blue line and was opened on October 30, 1977, as the 91st station. The platform is located approximately 34 meters underground... – Hjulsta Hjulsta metro station Hjulsta metro station is a station on the blue line of the Stockholm Metro, located in Hjulsta, northern Stockholm. The station was opened on August 31, 1975.-External links:*... |
23 min | 15.1 km (9.4 mi) | 14 |
| T11 Line 11 (Stockholm Metro) Line 11 is one of the two blue lines of the Stockholm Metro connecting Kungsträdgården and Akalla. It is a 15.6 km long line with a 22 min traval time and 12 stations.-Stations:* Akalla* Husby* Kista* Hallonbergen* Näckrosen... |
Kungsträdgården Kungsträdgården metro station Kungsträdgården is a station of the Stockholm Metro, located in the district of Norrmalm. It is the end station of the blue line and was opened on October 30, 1977, as the 91st station. The platform is located approximately 34 meters underground... – Akalla Akalla metro station Akalla is a station in the Stockholm Metro in the Akalla district of Stockholm. The station was opened in 1977, and this is the final stop on Line 11 of the Blue Line.... |
22 min | 15.6 km (9.7 mi) | 12 |
| T13 Line 13 (Stockholm Metro) Line 13 is one of the two red lines of the Stockholm Metro connecting Norsborg and Ropsten. It is a 26.6 km long line with a 44 min travel time and 25 stations, making it the second longest line in the Stockholm Metro after line 19.-Stations:... |
Norsborg Norsborg metro station Norsborg metro station is the end station on the red line of the Stockholm Metro, located in Norsborg, Botkyrka Municipality. The distance to Slussen is 20.8 km. The station was opened in 1975.... – Ropsten Ropsten metro station Ropsten metro station is the end station on line 13 on the red line of the Stockholm Metro, located in the district of Ropsten. The station was opened in 1967.... |
44 min | 26.6 km (16.5 mi) | 25 |
| T14 Line 14 (Stockholm Metro) Line 14 is one of the two red lines of the Stockholm Metro connecting Fruängen and Mörby centrum. It is a 19.5 km long line with a 33 min travel time and 19 stations.-Stations:* Mörby centrum* Danderyds sjukhus* Bergshamra* Universitetet... |
Fruängen Fruängen metro station Fruängen metro station is the end station on line 14 of the red line of the Stockholm Metro, located in the district of Fruängen. The station was opened in 1964. The distance to Slussen is 8.1 km.-References:... – Mörby centrum Mörby centrum metro station Mörby centrum metro station is the end station on line 14 on the red line of the Stockholm Metro, located by Mörby centrum shopping mall, Danderyd Municipality. The station was inaugurated on January 29, 1978.-External links:*... |
33 min | 19.5 km (12.1 mi) | 19 |
| T17 Line 17 (Stockholm Metro) Line 17 is one of the three green lines of the Stockholm Metro connecting Åkeshov and Skarpnäck. It is a 19.6 km long line with a 43 min travel time and 24 stations.-Stations:* Åkeshov* Brommaplan* Abrahamsberg* Stora Mossen* Alvik... |
Åkeshov Åkeshov metro station Åkeshov is a station in the Stockholm Metro. The station was opened in 1952, and this is the final stop on Line 17 of the Green Line.As part of Art in the Stockholm Metro project, the station features a bronze sculpture in the ticket hall symbolizing non-violence, and was created by Carl Fredrik... – Skarpnäck |
43 min | 19.6 km (12.2 mi) | 24 |
| T18 Line 18 (Stockholm Metro) Line 18 is one of the three green lines of the Stockholm Metro connecting Alvik and Farsta strand. It is a 18.4 km long line with a 37 min travel time and 23 stations.-Stations:* Alvik* Kristineberg* Thorildsplan* Fridhemsplan* St... |
Alvik Alvik metro station Alvik metro station is a station on the green line of the Stockholm Metro, and the Tvärbanan and Nockebybanan tramways, located in Traneberg, Västerort. The station was inaugurated on October 26, 1952. At the same time Nockebybanan was rebuilt and had two new tracks and a new station at the metro... – Farsta strand Farsta strand metro station Farsta strand metro station is on the green line of the Stockholm Metro, located in Farsta strand, Söderort. It is the end station for line 18. The station was opened on August 29, 1971. The distance to Slussen is . 200 m from the metro station, you can even find the commuter train station Farsta... |
37 min | 18.4 km (11.4 mi) | 23 |
| T19 Line 19 (Stockholm Metro) Line 19 is one of the three green lines of the Stockholm Metro connecting Hässelby strand and Hagsätra. It is a 28.6 km long line with a 55 min travel time and 35 stations, making it the longest line in the Stockholm Metro.-History:... |
Hässelby strand Hässelby Strand metro station Hässelby Strand metro station is a station on the green line of the Stockholm Metro, located in Hässelby Strand, Västerort. It is the end station for line 19. The station was inaugurated on November 18, 1958. The distance to Slussen is 18.6 km.... – Hagsätra Hagsätra metro station Hagsätra metro station is on the green line of the Stockholm Metro, located in Hagsätra, Söderort. It is the end station for line 19. The station was inaugurated on December 1, 1960. The distance to Slussen is 10 km.-External links:*... |
55 min | 28.6 km (17.8 mi) | 35 |
| Entire metro network | 108 km (67.1 mi) | 100 | ||
Technology
Rolling stock
There are two main types of carRailroad car
A railroad car or railway vehicle , also known as a bogie in Indian English, is a vehicle on a rail transport system that is used for the carrying of cargo or passengers. Cars can be coupled together into a train and hauled by one or more locomotives...
s in the Stockholm Metro. The newer C20 stock, and the older C1–C15 stocks which are collectively referred to as the Cx stock. A train typically consists of two or three cars of the C20 stock, or six or eight cars of the Cx stock. A full length train—three C20 cars, or eight Cx cars—is about 140 metres (459.3 ft) in length, and takes about 1,250 passengers, of which about 380 can be seated. The Blue Line as well as the Red Line (from Stadion
Stadion metro station
Stadion metro station is a station on the red line of the Stockholm Metro, located in the district of Östermalm, near Stockholms Stadion. The station was opened in 1973.-External links:*...
to Mörby Centrum
Mörby centrum metro station
Mörby centrum metro station is the end station on line 14 on the red line of the Stockholm Metro, located by Mörby centrum shopping mall, Danderyd Municipality. The station was inaugurated on January 29, 1978.-External links:*...
) was built with longer platforms to allow running trains consisting of ten Cx cars. When the C20 was introduced, it appeared that trains consisting of four C20 cars would not fit completely on these platforms.
There are 271 cars of the C20 stock, and around two hundred Cx stock cars. The green line only uses the new cars, and they are used most of the time on the Red and Blue Lines. However, during rush hours, especiallly on shortened services, older cars are commonly seen. Of the older cars the stocks C6, C14 and C15 are still in use, with the C6:s operating on the red line and the C14/C15:s on the blue line. However, C14:s make up 90 % of the Cx fleet on the blue line, as there are 126 C14:s but only 14 C15:s.
Historically the metro is converted from a tramway and the older sections were run as tramway for a few years. The naming convention for rolling stock comes from this, where A are motorised trams, B are unmotorised trams (trailers) and C are metro cars.
Former rolling stock (includes prototypes)
- C1 (1950–1984)
- C2 (1950–1999)
- C3 (1957–1999)
- C4 (1960–2003)
- C5 (SilverpilenSilverpilenSilverpilen is a Stockholm Metro train which features in several urban legends alleging sightings of the train's "ghost".-Production and history:...
) (1963–1996) - C7 (Prototype cars built in 1972-1973)
- C8 (1974–1995)
- C9 (Prototype cars built in 1987-1988, also known as C14z)
- C12 (1977–1995)
- C13/C13H (1982-c.2000, some units were rebuilt into C13H stock in 1995-1997)
Cx stock cars
The name Cx refers to all the older types C1–C15. The only cars of the Cx stock still in use are C6, C14 and C15. They are 17.32 m (56.8 ft) to 17.62 m (57.8 ft) in length, 2.8 m (9.2 ft) in width, 3.7 m (12.1 ft) to 3.78 m (12.4 ft) in height, and weigh 23 to 29 metric tons. The cars take 48 seated passengers, and 108 to 110 standing passengers. They were built in the 1970s and 1980s.C20 stock cars
The C20 car is double-articulatedArticulated car
Articulated cars are rail vehicles which are consist of a number of smaller, lighter cars which are semi-permanently attached to each other and which share common trucks. They are much longer than single passenger cars, and on the TGV Réseau, for example, 8 cars are joined this way...
, 46.5 metres (152.6 ft) in length, 2.9 metres (9.5 ft) in width, 3.8 metres (12.5 ft) in height, and weighs 67 tonne. The car takes 126 seated passengers, and 288 standing passengers. The C20 stock cars were built between 1996 and 2004.
A single prototype car designated C20F stock is in use. Built on Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
's FICAS technology, it has a lighter body, much thinner side walls, and more space compared to the regular C20, by using a sandwich-like composite construction of the body. The C20F weighs 65 tonne, other exterior measurements are the same as for the C20. The C20F has the same number of seats as the C20, but has space for 323 standing passengers.
Infrastructure and safety
The Stockholm metro runs electrically using a third railThird rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
with a nominal operating voltage of 650 V
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
on the Green and Red Lines, 750 V DC on the Blue Line.
The maximum speed is 80 kilometres per hour (49.7 mph) on the Red and Blue Lines, 70 kilometres per hour (43.5 mph) on the Green Line (50 kilometres per hour (31.1 mph) at the platforms). Maximum acceleration and deceleration is 0.8 m/s2. The reason for the lower speed limit on the Green Line is due to tighter curves than on the other lines, because the Green Line was built with cut and cover under streets in the inner city, while the other lines are drilled at deeper depth.
To allow close-running trains with a high level of safety, the metro uses a continuous signal safety system that sends information continually to the train's safety system. The signal is picked up from the rail tracks through two antennas
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
placed in front of the first wheel axle
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
and compared with data about the train's speed. Automatic braking is triggered if the train exceeds the maximum permitted speed at any time. The driver is given information about the speed limit through a display in the driver's cabin; in C20 stock, and in Cx stock outfitted for operation with the new signal system installed on the Green Line, this is a speedometer with a red maximum speed indicator (needle), while the traditional display in the Cx stock is a set of three lights indicating one of three permitted speeds (high, medium, low). The system allows two trains to come close to each other but prevents collisions occurring at speeds greater than 15 kilometres per hour (9.3 mph). More modern systems also ensure that stop signals are not passed.
Another possibility is automatic train operation
Automatic train operation
Automatic train operation ensures partial or complete automatic train piloting and driverless functions.Most systems elect to maintain a driver to mitigate risks associated with failures or emergencies....
, which helps the driver by driving the train automatically. However, the driver still operates the door controls and allows the train to start. ATO is as of 2006 only available on the Green line, where a new signal system was installed in the late 1990s. This signal system, together with the C20 rolling stock, permits the use of ATO.
Graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
. Previously a train on which graffiti had been painted could remain in service for weeks and graffiti could remain in place at stations for months if not for years. Nowadays, however, trains with graffiti are taken out of service immediately and graffiti at stations is regularly cleaned up within a few days. The cost of graffiti and other types of vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
has been calculated at approximately SEK
Swedish krona
The krona has been the currency of Sweden since 1873. Both the ISO code "SEK" and currency sign "kr" are in common use; the former precedes or follows the value, the latter usually follows it, but especially in the past, it sometimes preceded the value...
100 million per year.
During the 1990s, the Stockholm Transit System
Storstockholms Lokaltrafik
Storstockholms Lokaltrafik AB, , commonly referred to as SL, is the organisation running all of the land based public transport systems in Stockholm County....
(SL) started outsourcing security to private security firms, some of which have been accused of using unlawful methods, such as the use of plain clothes guards and heavy-handed treatment of vandals arrested, and even heavy-handed treatment of ticketless passengers trying to escape. Since 2005, the Stockholm Police have assigned a special task force (Klotterkommissionen) to address the issues. The mainstay among the private security contractors in the fight against graffiti is the Commuter Security Group
Commuter Security Group
Commuter Security Group is a Swedish security guard company, with its headquarters in Solna. Their main task is to hunt graffiti vandals and prevent vandalism on commuter trains and subway stations. They are also responsible for patrolling and protecting most of the major train depots...
.
Future
There are a few realistic plans for extensions in the Stockholm Metro in the near decades.- A one-station branchBranch lineA branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
on the green line from OdenplanOdenplanOdenplan is a plaza located in the district Vasastaden in central Stockholm, Sweden, named after the old Norse god Oden. The Odenplan metro station, opened in 1952, is located here...
to Karolinska/Norra station. This metro extension outperforms the alternatives in a cost-benefit analysisCost-benefit analysisCost–benefit analysis , sometimes called benefit–cost analysis , is a systematic process for calculating and comparing benefits and costs of a project for two purposes: to determine if it is a sound investment , to see how it compares with alternate projects...
. An early estimate of the cost is SEK 1.4 billion1000000000 (number)1,000,000,000 is the natural number following 999,999,999 and preceding 1,000,000,001.In scientific notation, it is written as 109....
, and a build time of 3–5 years, which is also dependent on coordination with other constructions in the area, e.g. the CitybananCitybananThe Stockholm City Line is a railway tunnel under construction beneath central Stockholm in Sweden which will be used by the Stockholm Commuter Rail. The line will be long, double track and electrified. It will have two stations: Stockholm City Station will be located directly below T-Centralen,...
commuter rail tunnel. - Extension of the blue line from KungsträdgårdenKungsträdgården metro stationKungsträdgården is a station of the Stockholm Metro, located in the district of Norrmalm. It is the end station of the blue line and was opened on October 30, 1977, as the 91st station. The platform is located approximately 34 meters underground...
to NackaNackaNacka is the municipal seat of Nacka Municipality and part of Stockholm urban area in Sweden. The municipality's name harks back to an 16th century industrial operation established by the Crown at Nacka farmstead where conditions for water mills are good...
with three possible end points: Nacka centre (SEK 7–7.5 billion), Orminge (SEK 10.5–11 billion), or Gustavsberg (SEK 15.5–16 billion). An alternative to the metro extension would be to improve on the existing bus traffic; another, to double-track the lightly loaded SaltsjöbananSaltsjöbananSaltsjöbanan is a suburban rail system between Stockholm and Saltsjöbaden in Nacka, Sweden. It is in length and has eighteen stations in use. An average of 19,600 journeys are made on an ordinary workday. The line is mainly single track, and is isolated from Sweden's national railway network,...
commuter railway and connect it to the TvärbananTvärbananTvärbanan is a light rail line in the suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden. Its name literally translated into English is Crossways line. It links together many bus and rail lines crossways through its connections with the southern and western subway branches of the Stockholm Metro and the Stockholm...
light railLight railLight rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line. A main objection is that relatively few live near Nacka centre, and people arriving by bus with a target along the red or green line would get two changes, instead of the one today.
External links
- SL Official Site (Swedish)