Copenhagen to Stockholm via Rail

The high-speed trains go direct between Copenhagen and Stockholm. Some may stop in Malmo, but not all. There is no reason to go to Malmo first, then join the high-speed train. I can't answer the night train question, other than to say if you are considering that, I'd recommend flying instead. In fact, while I love the train and that scenery in particular, flying would save considerable time and might cost about the same.

Thanks, but now I'm even more confused. I've been using sj.se (as opposed to raileurope.com. On sj.se, almost all Copenhagen-to-Stockholm routes have 2 changes-- the most common being a bus between Hasslehom and Alhult. Yet what seem to be corresponding runs on raileurope seem to have the rip be direct without changes. For example, on July 1-- my desired day of travel, sj.se list a 14:29 train with 2 changes (SJ, a bus, SJ), and a duration of 6:21 (getting in at 20:50). raileurope also has a 14:29, but this one appears to be non-stop with a duration of 5:21 (getting in at 19:50). Any ideas? Is there some sort of construction that the raileurope site is unaware of? -- Gerald

I think it very well might be construction. July 1 is a Sunday and almost all the trains show either the bus connection, or connecting in Goteburg, which is not on the normal direct line between Stockholm and Helsinki. The sj site only has travel alerts in Swedish and I couldn't find anything obvious, but if you opt for traveling on Monday 1 July, you get the normal trains with no connections (or connections in Malmo). Sunday would be an obvious day for doing track maintenance, and they probably bus you past the work zone. DB Bahn also shows the same changes and delays. You've found yet another reason NOT to use raileurope's site for travel planning! So, if you must travel on that Sunday, you'll add an hour to your trip with the bus. Changing in Goteburg adds 2 hours since it goes way out of the way. And obviously the bus will be synced with the train, whereas the connection in Goteburg may not be. Hope this helps.

Gerald, I checked the Swedish language timetable and there is a note that they are doing expansion work between June 29th and July 1st and also August 24-26 and thus some trains are cancelled and/or replaced by buses. If you were to check the Copenhagen to Stockholm route on July 2nd, you'd see the "normal" direct 5 hour route rather than the route via Göteborg.

Regarding your other question on the sleeping compartment (sovvagnskupé) On the Swedish language site, it says that sleeping wagon compartments are for 2 to 3 people and it also says that if you are at least two people you can book your own compartment. Assuming that I am interpreting that correctly, then it sounds like you can book the whole compartment.

The timetable on SJ is correct, and that must be construction that is breaking up the trip. In fact, here's the Swedish info on it: http://www.sj.se/sj/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=474&a=171493&l=sv. Malmö to Stockholm is one of the most popular routes in Sweden, so of course there is normally direct trains. :)
What you want is the "Egen sovvagnkupe", which will give you the whole cabin to yourself, even if there are three beds. When I was looking at it right now, I didn't see anything that gave me a good indication of whether there is a WC in the kupe or not. The first class does have a WC, but it is for one person.

Thanks! I must say, I've been using this forum for several years, and it's worth it's weight in gold. We had a similar issue with the train sites in Spain before I knew about this forum-- and there was NO English to speak of there; we ended up 'flying blind' on the bookings (worked out OK though-- fool's luck I guess :) ) Anyway, thanks to all of you for your efforts-- if nothing else you all went to the sj site-- much appreciated. -- Gerald

Took the train from Copenhage to Vaxjo in about 2 hours. The train went through Malmo and on to Vaxjo. From Vaxjo we took the train to Stockholm, another 2 1/2 hours. We had spent the night in Vaxjo. All together the trip would have been about 5 hours directly to Stockholm