On the cultural and natural history of Swedish railways and their stations

In this report, the railway heritage in Sweden is discussed against the backdrop of contemporary decommissioning of derelict sites and buildings, with an emphasis on railway stations.
Three sources of information were used for the study: (1) published literature; (2) interviews with six experts based on a questionnaire; and (3) a wider survey. Three major aspects were identified as distinctive of the Swedish railway heritage: (a) history and architecture; (b) specific railway plantings and gardens; and (c) highly biodiverse areas of conservation interest, especially at old stations.
After hesitant beginnings, the Swedish rail network developed rapidly and reached its peak in 1938. The railways contributed to the setting of international standards and stimulated economic development, but were quickly scaled down after about 1945. Their most recent history is characterised by deregulation, a heavily thinned network, technical modernisation and the development of high-speed trains.
The history of railway gardens and sites of high biodiversity are briefly described. During the interviews, the ‘cultural’ aspect of railways was valued the most highly. All interviewed individuals agreed that railway-related and station buildings should preferably be given new functions rather than be demolished. Gender was found to be a factor that can influence opinion on railways and travel modes. Finally, further research and planning are needed to preserve Sweden’s railway heritage for the future.