Stockholm metro expansion project is being carried out by Region Stockholm. Credit: Region Stockholm.
The expansion project will extend the metro by 20km and add 11 new stations. Credit: Region Stockholm.
The expansion project will meet the increasing demand for public transportation in the region. Credit: Region Stockholm.
All the stations under the expansion project will be built below ground. Credit: Region Stockholm.

Stockholm metro rail network in Sweden is being expanded with 20km of new track and 11 new stations on four sections in the region.

The agreement for the expansion of Stockholm metro’s underground network was signed by Region Stockholm, the City of Stockholm, Municipality of Nacka, Järfälla Municipality, and City of Solna in January 2014. The municipalities will also build 78,000 residences along the new metro area.

Estimated to cost Skr29.8bn ($3.35bn), the expansion project marks the biggest investment project in the public transport of Stockholm region since the 1970s.

Initial construction work on the project commenced in November 2018, while the entire project is expected to be completed by 2026.

Stockholm metro expansion details

Stockholm metro will be expanded below ground by 11.3km from Kungsträdgården to Nacka, Södermalm and Söderort. A new tunnel will be built from Kungsträdgården to Gullmarsplan via Sofia on Södermalm.

The metro then turns southwards at Slakthusområdet station, which will replace the existing Globen and Enskede gård stations. It will be extended in a southern direction to Sockenplan station, where the blue line incorporates the existing Hagsätra line.

Other new stations to be built along the blue line include Nacka, Sofia, Hammarby Kanal, Sickla, and Järla.

Gullmarsplan will serve as an interchange between the yellow, blue and red lines, the light rail, and buses. It will have a new platform 70m below ground with large express lifts connecting to the existing station.

The blue line will also be extended by approximately 4km below ground from Akalla to Barkarby via Barkarbystaden. The stretch will have two new stations, Barkarbystaden and Barkarby.

“The metro currently handles 1.1 million passengers a day, whereas its expansion will provide service for an estimated daily ridership of 170,000.”

The yellow line will be extended by 4.1km from Odenplan to Arenastaden in Solna. It will have three new stations at Hagastaden, Södra Hagalund, and Arenastaden, which will be built 30m below ground. Hagalund station will also have the provision for accommodating a future metro station.

The yellow line will join the green line at Odenplan, where the metro will turn north to Arenastaden in Solna.

Each new station of Stockholm’s metro will feature artistic design and unique expression, aiming to improve the overall experience for passengers.

Högdalen depot expansion details

The existing Högdalen depot will be expanded to serve the green and blue lines of Stockholm’s metro network. A new 2.5km-long Farsta Line connecting track will be laid below ground in order to accommodate trains between the Farsta branch of the green line and the Högdal depot.

The expansion will also add 23 staging areas 20m below ground, 1,500m of staging track, as well as two workshops for train maintenance on the blue and green lines. The underground sidings shed will also be extended to create space for more trains.

Contractors involved

A partnership between Ramboll, Tyréns, and White was selected to provide conceptual design, rail, and environmental assessments and production of the construction documents of the Akalla-Barkarby line of the Stockholm metro extension project.

Architecture and design work for the underground stations were provided by approximately 150 artists.

Stockholm’s metro expansion project benefits

The Stockholm metro expansion project aims to accommodate the growing population and address the increasing demand for public transportation. It will also meet the present and future demand for environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

The metro currently handles 1.1 million passengers a day, whereas its expansion will provide service for an estimated daily ridership of 170,000.