The journey
Journeys on Skagerrakbanan will be comfortable and pleasant. Often, comfort can quickly turn to discomfort in most modes of transport, but discomfort is almost non-existent on high-speed trains. Air pockets, turbulent landings and claustrophobia can make air travel a nightmare. The same goes for buses and cars where darkness, icy roads and bad weather can cause great discomfort. In the case of conventional trains, the lack of comfort and reliability is so great that 60 million train journeys worth SEK 3.6 billion in lost ticket revenues are rejected every year, which is no less than 10% of all sales in the railway industry.
Comfort is highest in high-speed trains, slightly worse in aeroplanes and cars, and worse still in conventional trains and buses. Journeys on high-speed trains are so comfortable that it’s possible to build a house of cards or balance a coin on edge while travelling at 350 km/h, something that is impossible in the other modes of transport, which also require safety belts to prevent injury during the journey.
Time can be spent more efficiently on high-speed trains that have internet access and workspaces, and there are also opportunities to relax with digital services such as videos, games and music. With shorter overall journey times than by air, a variety of ticket prices to suit all citizens, an excellent atmosphere and enjoyable levels of comfort in high-speed travel that is reliable and safe, the high-speed train between Oslo and Gothenburg will become the first choice for almost every journey between those two cities. Trains will stop at least once or twice per hour at the stations planned for Kungälv, Stenungsund, Uddevalla, Munkedal, Lysekil, Tanum, Strömstad-Skee, Halden, Sarpsborg, Askim and Ski.
The EU TSI requirement for persons with reduced mobility (PRM) means that our stations and trains are free from thresholds and stairways to allow wheelchair and pram access, and there are devices for short people such as dual grab rails at different heights. All information technology for passengers will be state-of-the-art with the highest level of service.
There is an EU directive that requires us to allow the carriage of bicycles on high-speed trains, and Skagerrakbanan will comply with that directive.