Saltjöbanan - A Railway Connecting the City with the Sea

The Saltsjöbanan was built when the summer destination Saltsjöbaden outside Stockholm became mor popular among Stockholmers who came for a stay in the Gand Hotel. From 1890 onward, people from the city started building their own house (created by the most famous architects of that time) by the sea in the growing little community Saltsjöbaden. 1000 workers started building the 18,6 km long railway in 1891. Near the starting station Slussen, a tunnel through rocks was build, which was Sweden´s longest by that time. The railway was opened with a fancy celebration in 1892 hosted by King Oscar and Queen Sophia. Along the railway stations, small ticketbooths and waitinghalls were built - in the same national romantic style as the villas in Saltsjöbaden and designed by the same architects. In Igelboda, even houses for railway employees were built and a little sleepy community grew as a new part of Saltsjöbaden, with a school and a bakery which still are operating. Many of the small colourful houses still exist in their plain and homogenous style, protected by monument protection.

Location

Sweden