The blue double-deckers leaving Stockholm Central for Uppsala, Eskilstuna and Nyköping are comfortable and easy to use, as long as you hold the right ticket. Here is which train is which, what each ticket covers, and what changes in December 2026.
When you need this
You are planning a day trip from Stockholm to Uppsala, Eskilstuna, Strängnäs, Nyköping, Örebro, or Mariefred via Läggesta. You are at Stockholm Central with an SL card, wondering whether the regional train takes it. You are flying out of Arlanda from Uppsala, Gävle or Örebro, or you carry an Interrail pass. Or you are reading an older guide that names MTR, “the Mälartåg app” or “the Movingo app”, all of which are now out of date.
The five Mälartåg lines
Mälartåg (“Mälaren trains”) runs five lines with 45 stations, from Gävle in the north to Örebro in the west and Linköping in the south.
| Line | Useful for |
|---|---|
| Norrköping–Nyköping–Stockholm | Nyköping, Kolmården, Norrköping |
| Linköping–Katrineholm–Eskilstuna–Västerås–Sala–Uppsala | Cross-country links that skip Stockholm |
| Uppsala–Tierp–Gävle | North of Uppsala |
| Örebro–Eskilstuna–Stockholm–Uppsala (via Arlanda or via Märsta) | Uppsala, Arlanda, Strängnäs, Läggesta for Mariefred, Eskilstuna, Örebro |
| Hallsberg–Katrineholm–Stockholm | Gnesta, Katrineholm |
From 13 December 2026 the new timetable adds departures on Eskilstuna–Stockholm, Nyköping–Stockholm, Stockholm–Uppsala via Märsta and Hallsberg–Stockholm. Tickets for 13 December 2026 to 11 June 2027 are already on sale.
Who runs it
The system belongs to Mälardalstrafik, a company owned by six regions: Stockholm, Sörmland, Uppsala, Västmanland, Örebro County and Östergötland. Mälardalstrafik sets prices, sells tickets and runs customer service. A contracted company drives the trains: Transdev until December 2026, then VR Sverige, part of Finland’s state-owned VR Group, under a contract running to 2034.
The handover changes nothing about where you buy. Tickets stay with Mälardalstrafik. Two other changes are worth knowing: the old malartag.se website now redirects to malardalstrafik.se, and the Mälardalstrafik app has replaced the old Movingo app.
The SJ trap: not every train round the lake is Mälartåg
This is the point most guides miss. There is no Mälartåg line straight from Stockholm to Västerås. The direct trains on the Mälaren line, from Stockholm through Bålsta and Enköping to Västerås, Köping, Arboga and Örebro, are SJ Regional. Mälartåg only reaches Västerås on its cross-country Linköping–Eskilstuna–Västerås–Uppsala line.
That matters because a Mälartåg single ticket is valid for a specific Mälartåg departure and route. It does not cover the SJ train, so you need an SJ ticket for that trip. The one ticket that covers both companies’ regional trains is a Movingo, and even then not the five-day 5/30 version.
Which ticket works on Mälartåg
The short version: SL tickets don’t, most other tickets in the region do.
| Ticket you hold | Valid on Mälartåg? |
|---|---|
| SL single ticket, SL travelcard or a card tapped at SL’s gates | No, not even inside Stockholm County |
| Mälartåg single ticket | Yes, on the departure and route it names |
| Movingo (30, 90, 365 days or 5/30) | Yes, on your chosen route or “All routes” |
| UL ticket (Uppsala County) | Yes, within its zones |
| Östgötatrafiken ticket | Yes, within its zones |
| VL ticket (Västmanland) | Singles, 24-hour and season tickets within Västmanland; validate a season card on the platform |
| Sörmlandstrafiken period ticket | Yes, within its zones |
| X-trafik ticket (Gävleborg) | Only between Gävle and Furuvik |
| Interrail or Eurail pass | Yes, all lines, no reservation |
| Resplus ticket (from SJ and other sellers) | Yes, for the trip on it |
Board on an SL ticket and you are traveling without a valid one. Inspectors charge a tilläggsavgift (surcharge) under a 1977 Swedish statute, and you have 10 days from the date it was issued to dispute it with Mälardalstrafik’s customer service. See our guide to ticket inspections and surcharges for how the system works.
Uppsala has its own wrinkle. The SL commuter train between Arlanda and Uppsala is in UL’s fare system, not SL’s, so a UL ticket, a Mälartåg single or a Movingo with UL validity covers that stretch.
Buying a single ticket
Nothing is sold on board, so buy before you reach the platform. You can buy in the Mälardalstrafik app, on malardalstrafik.se, on SJ’s website and app, or from other Resplus sellers such as Snälltåget and Vy. Physical resellers charge an extra fee. The app takes Swish, which is Sweden’s mobile payment, or a Visa or Mastercard card.
The price for a route is fixed, whether you buy a month or an hour ahead. Adults pay from their 20th birthday; ages 7–19 and students studying at least 75% pay less. A student must show ID and a student card bearing the SL symbol. Each paying passenger may bring up to two children aged 0–6 free; children of six and under may not travel alone.
A few terms are worth knowing before you buy:
- Single tickets are non-refundable, but you can rebook before departure for the same route, in either direction. Do it yourself if you’re logged in to Mitt konto (My Account), or through customer service at least 60 minutes before departure.
- If your departure is cancelled, take the next train or the replacement bus without rebooking.
- App tickets must be activated before boarding. A ticket code alone is not a valid ticket.
- Your phone is the ticket. You are responsible for it working throughout the trip, so a flat battery is no excuse.
- Changing to another company’s train? Then you need a Resplus ticket, for example Eskilstuna to Gothenburg with a change to SJ at Katrineholm.
Movingo: the period ticket, and the 5/30 for visitors
Movingo is Mälardalstrafik’s period ticket, sold for 30, 90 or 365 days. It covers Mälartåg, SJ Regional, Tåg i Bergslagen, the Trosa bus, and local buses, metro and trams along the route you buy. You can pick one route or “All routes”; at the top price, SJ InterCity is included between Linköping, Stockholm and Tierp. You scan it at SL’s metro and commuter-train gates and on Sörmlandstrafiken, SL and VL buses, and show it to the driver elsewhere.
For a visitor, the interesting version is Movingo 5/30: five 24-hour tickets to use within 30 days, on Mälartåg, Tåg i Bergslagen, the Trosa bus and local transport. It has three catches. It is not valid on SJ departures, so it is no use on the direct Stockholm–Västerås train. It is sold only in the Mälardalstrafik app and stays locked to one phone. And it cannot be lent.
The ordinary period tickets have limits too:
- Movingo is not sold for a route entirely inside one county among Sörmland, Västmanland, Örebro, Östergötland and Uppsala, because the county’s own tickets apply there.
- The Uppsala–Knivsta–Arlanda/Märsta Movingo includes UL travel only, not SL, so you need an SL ticket to continue into Stockholm.
- On SJ, Movingo covers only SJ Regional, not high-speed or night trains.
- Sundbyberg has a quirk on SJ’s regional trains: you may not board there towards Stockholm, nor get off there coming from Stockholm.
Prices depend on the route, so compare the 5/30 price in the app with the singles you would buy before committing. The 30-day ticket has a temporary half-price offer this autumn (dates in the table below).
Arlanda Central
Mälartåg’s Örebro–Stockholm–Uppsala line calls at Arlanda C, the station under SkyCity. Anyone aged 18 or over who boards or leaves a train there must pass the SkyCity gates with an Arlanda passage ticket, on top of the train ticket. You can add it when buying a Mälartåg single in the app or on the website, and some resellers include it in the price. A Movingo can carry it for the ticket’s whole validity. Without it, you pay at the gate. Our guide to getting from Arlanda to Stockholm explains the fee in full.
On board
The double-deckers have Wi-Fi and power sockets. Each train has a few marked areas:
- Quiet area: the lower deck of carriage 11, marked by blue headrest covers. No phone calls. Our quiet carriages guide compares operators.
- Pets: carriage 12.
- Allergy-friendly compartments: at each end, next to the cab. No pets, nuts or citrus fruit.
- Flex car: bikes, prams, two wheelchair places and a large toilet. Double-deckers take up to six bikes and the smaller Regina trains two.
- Luggage: at most two bags of 80×50×35 cm and 20 kg each, plus hand luggage. Staff will not lift bags for you.
- Alcohol: drinking it on board is not allowed.
Free station assistance must be booked at least 24 hours ahead with Mälardalstrafik’s customer service on 0771-22 44 40, open around the clock.
Delays and compensation
Claim from Mälardalstrafik if your Mälartåg is late. What you get depends on the length of the train’s whole route, not your part of it:
| Train’s whole route | Delay | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Under 150 km (Swedish law) | 20 / 40 / 60 minutes | 50% / 75% / 100% of the fare |
| 150 km or more (EU rules) | 60 / 120 minutes | 25% / 50% of the fare |
| Any length, Movingo holder | 20 / 40 / 60 minutes | 50% / 75% / 100% of the average price per journey |
Keep receipts if a delay makes you buy food or take another vehicle. Our train delay compensation guide covers the rights in full.
Practical information
| Item | Amount or rule |
|---|---|
| Mälartåg single ticket | Fixed price per route; youth/student discount; check the app |
| Children 0–6 | Free, up to two per paying passenger |
| Movingo (30, 90, 365 days, 5/30) | Price depends on route; check the app |
| Movingo 30-day offer | 50% off for purchases 1 July – 2 December 2026; valid at most to 31 December 2026 |
| Arlanda passage ticket (18+) | 157 kr at Arlanda C unless included in your ticket |
| Surcharge without a valid ticket | 1,500 kr; dispute within 10 days |
| Physical resellers | Extra fee |
| Interrail or Eurail | No supplement, no reservation |
| Operator change | VR Sverige from December 2026; new timetable 13 December 2026 |
FAQ
Is my SL ticket valid on Mälartåg?
No. Mälardalstrafik states plainly that SL single tickets and SL travelcards are not valid on Mälartåg, even on stretches inside Stockholm County. You need a Mälartåg single ticket, a Movingo, a valid regional ticket such as UL’s within its zone, or an Interrail or Eurail pass. Board on an SL ticket and you risk a surcharge.
Can I buy a Mälartåg ticket on the train?
No. Tickets cannot be bought on board, so you must have a valid ticket before boarding. Buy in the Mälardalstrafik app, on malardalstrafik.se, or through SJ and other Resplus sellers. App tickets must be activated before you board, and your phone must stay charged, because a dead phone does not count as a ticket.
Is the train from Stockholm to Västerås a Mälartåg?
Usually not. The direct trains on the Mälaren line from Stockholm through Bålsta and Enköping to Västerås and Örebro are SJ Regional, and need an SJ ticket. Mälartåg reaches Västerås only on its Linköping–Eskilstuna–Västerås–Uppsala line. A Movingo period ticket covers both SJ Regional and Mälartåg, but the 5/30 version does not cover SJ.
What is Movingo and is it worth it for a visitor?
Movingo is Mälardalstrafik’s period ticket for Mälartåg, SJ Regional and local transport along your chosen route, sold for 30, 90 or 365 days. For visitors the interesting one is Movingo 5/30: five 24-hour tickets within 30 days, though not valid on SJ. Compare its price in the app with the singles you would buy.
Can I use Interrail on Mälartåg?
Yes. Mälardalstrafik says Interrail and Eurail passes are valid on all Mälartåg lines with no seat reservation, so you simply board and show the pass if asked. At Arlanda C, adults still need the separate passage ticket to pass the gates. Mälardalstrafik does not sell passes; buy them from Interrail, Eurail or an authorized seller.
Do I pay extra to take Mälartåg to Arlanda?
Yes, if you are 18 or over. Leaving or entering the train at Arlanda C means passing SkyCity’s gates, which needs an Arlanda passage ticket on top of the train ticket. You can add it when buying a Mälartåg single in the app or online, and some resellers include it. Without it you pay at the gate.
What happens if my Mälartåg train is late?
You can claim from Mälardalstrafik. On trains whose whole route is under 150 km, Swedish law pays 50% of the fare from 20 minutes late, 75% from 40 and 100% from 60. Longer routes follow EU rules: 25% from 60 minutes, 50% from 120. Movingo holders get the stronger scale whatever the route length.
Who runs Mälartåg after December 2026?
VR Sverige, part of Finland’s state-owned VR Group, takes over driving, staffing and maintaining Mälartåg from Transdev in December 2026, under a contract running to 2034. Mälardalstrafik keeps selling the tickets and setting the prices, so where you buy does not change. The new timetable starts on 13 December 2026.
Related guides
- Best day trips from Stockholm by public transport — which destinations need which ticket.
- Uppsala travel guide — the town at the end of two Mälartåg lines.
- How to buy train tickets in Sweden — apps, Resplus and avoiding surcharges across the country.
- Öresundståg: regional trains around southern Sweden — the southern counterpart, also run by VR.
- Who runs Sweden’s trains — why operators change every December.
Facts verified 2026-10-15. Sources: Mälardalstrafik (Mälartåg, Movingo, travel terms, compensation, VR contract and 2027 timetable), Swedavia — full register in this topic’s source file. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.