In early July, we travelled by train between Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden. The trip was organised with less than two weeks’ notice, and this was the final train journey before heading home. Crucially, we needed to travel from Stockholm to Gothenburg to catch Sunday’s 16.45 flight to Manchester.
When we started looking for train tickets, it appeared that every service had sold out…except one. FlixTrain – the railway arm of FlixBus, still had tickets available for its morning departure from Stockholm.
The low-cost operator began running trains between Stockholm and Gothenburg in 2021. Offering a budget alternative to the more expensive SJ (Sweden’s national railway operator) service, FlixTrain addressed has attracted frequent criticism from passengers despite offering reduced prices.
From cancelled services to uncomfortable seats, the headline-grabbing complaints piled up. But what is it really like? Here is our review of the FlixTrain journey from Stockholm to Gothenburg, which we took on a sunny Sunday morning in July.
The journey between Stockholm and Gothenburg
Our FlixTrain journey from Stockholm to Gothenburg took a reasonably direct route, traversing east to west through the Swedish countryside. The train occasionally passed through a small city or town. Forests, lakes and rolling fields dominated the journey outside the urban centres.
The train departed from Stockholm Central Station, stopping twice on the way to Gothenburg. The first stop, 80 minutes into the journey, was the small town of Hallsberg. Some 40 minutes later, the FlixTrain stopped at Skövde, before completing its journey to Gothenburg Central Station. Overall, the scheduled journey time for the FlixTrain between Stockholm and Gothenburg was 3 hours and 22 minutes.
A quick glance at FlixTrain’s timetable suggests that the company offers up to three trains per day between Stockholm and Gothenburg. Prices start from 19,90 € – although these bargain-basement prices can only be secured by booking far in advance.
Top tip: For more inspiration on railway journeys in this region, check out our post on how to travel through Denmark and Sweden by train in 3 days.
Buying tickets for the FlixTrain between Stockholm and Gothenburg
Summary: An easy experience on the FlixTrain website.
Our FlixTrain experience got off to a great start. After checking the SJ Trains website, no tickets were available for their various services between Stockholm and Gothenburg. However, it took less than 60 seconds to search on the FlixTrain website and find tickets for the 09:43 departure.
The user experience was simple and intuitive, with clear indicators for the cheapest and fastest services. The seating chart, too, was easy to understand – we could quickly choose seats next to each other.
Note: FlixTrain, like low-cost airlines, charge for superior seats. These include table seats and ‘comfort’ seats.
Thankfully, the cost of luggage was included in our ticket price. Again, like an airline, this included one piece of ‘hand luggage‘ and one piece of ‘hold luggage‘ each. FlixTrain asks that your hand luggage is stowed under the seat in front. You should place your hold luggage on the luggage racks above your head.
Note: You can purchase additional pieces of luggage when booking your ticket.
Our tickets cost £67.99 each. This was a significant saving compared to the cost of the SJ Trains services on the same day. However, it was probably more expensive than usual, due to booking with less than two weeks to go.
Delivery of the tickets
Summary: An easy-to-use QR code sent by email.
As soon as I paid, FlixTrain sent the tickets directly to my email address as a QR code. There was no need to download an app or PDF. When the conductor came to check the tickets, he simply scanned the QR code and wished us a pleasant journey.
FlixTrain does offer an app. The app can be used to purchase and store tickets for journeys across Sweden and beyond.
Onboard the Stockholm-Gothenburg FlixTrain – our experience
So, we had booked our tickets. The QR code was ready to go. When we woke on Sunday morning, we checked to see that the train was still running. Indeed, it was due to depart at 09:43 as scheduled. It was time to go.
Finding the FlixTrain at Stockholm Central Station
Arriving at the station was easy and finding the train was easy. There was no difference between boarding the Flixtrain and catching any other service.
The electronic departure boards clearly displayed the FlixtTain service alongside the other departures. The station is well-signed, and we found the train with plenty of time to spare. Unsurprisingly, the FlixTrain is easy to spot from a distance, painted the same luminescent green as a FlixBus. You can hardly miss it.
When we arrived at the platform, groups of passengers battled with large suitcases. The train, which had four coaches, appeared to be the favoured option among student-aged travellers. Throngs of friends and young couples wandered up and down the platform, looking for their seats and waving goodbye.
Luggage space on the FlixTrain
Summary: Good for backpacks. Confusing for those with larger suitcases.
There was ample luggage space on the racks for backpacks and standard-sized wheeled suitcases. However, confusion reigned among those with larger baggage that couldn’t fit overhead. This isn’t a problem exclusive to FlixTrain – there is often a lack of storage space for large items on public transport.
We were travelling with a small backpack each. Our bags fitted nicely under our seats, leaving decent – if not fantastic – legroom.
Seats on the FlixTrain
Summary: Average – not much to dislike, but not much to praise.
Unsurprisingly, FlixTrain had squeezed as many seats in the carriage as possible. We counted 26 rows, with just two tables in the entire carriage. The vast majority of seats were in a 2-2 airline-style formation, which is ideal for couples.
The seats were rigid, with little padding and no option to recline. I found them decent – not fantastic, but not uncomfortable. Lucy disagreed, describing them as very hard and lacking ‘squish’. It’s a fair point.
Each seat had a headrest. This could have been a real bonus for a mid-journey nap. Unfortunately, we both found the headrest quite awkwardly placed and pretty uncomfortable.
The legroom, as previously mentioned, was reasonable. I am just over six feet tall, and I had no complaints. It’s certainly not the most roomy train, and you may struggle if you are very tall. However, it should be fine for most people six feet or smaller.
Top tip: Avoid booking seats on row 16. These were our seats, and we had a lovely view – of the wall.
Read next: What to see if you only have a few hours in Copenhagen.
Other facilities onboard the FlixTrain between Stockholm and Gothenburg
We boarded our FlixTrain armed with breakfast and plenty of water – there was no catering or drinks onboard. Other passengers had done likewise, with bags full to the brim with pastries, sandwiches and snacks.
Neither of us used the bathroom during the journey, so we cannot comment on the quality of the facilities. There was a toilet located at both ends of each carriage. On our journey, these were both operational, and we rarely saw anyone having to queue to use one.
The big problem with our FlixTrain journey…
So, it was easy to buy tickets. The seats were fine. The train wasn’t cancelled. There is, however, one thing that really let the journey down.
The issue was the heat. The heat inside the carriage was unbearable.
The reason for this? The bulk of FlixTrain’s rolling stock is formed of UIC-standard passenger coaches. The history of these coaches dates back to the 1960s. Whilst I don’t know exactly how old the FlixTrain stock is, there was certainly a lack of modern facilities.
Crucially, there is no air conditioning. It was a sunny, warm day in Sweden. The temperature was forecast to reach 25 degrees. Inside the carriage, which was fully booked, the body heat of 100 travellers quickly caused a spike in the temperature.
The windows quickly exacerbated the initial rise in temperature. These are generously sized, creating a greenhouse effect as the sun streams through.
Some of the windows open slightly, but not far enough to make any dent in the temperature on board. Within twenty minutes of departure, the heat had built up. The small breeze from the handful of open windows made little impact.
Deteriorating conditions onboard as the heat rises
It didn’t take long before I was a sweaty mess. Other passengers tried to fashion improvised fans from magazines or books. One man rummaged in his bag for a t-shirt, using it to wipe his drenched brow.
Towards the end of the journey, the heat seemed to turn people feral. Sitting across the aisle from me, a young man with a whispy moustache splayed his legs straight across the aisle, almost touching mine. Facing me, he spent the last 30 minutes stretched out, subjecting us all to impossibly loud, phlegm-filled sniffs as I desperately tried to avoid making awkward eye contact. Behind us, a young girl had run out of activities, resorting to violently kicking our seats and cackling loudly.
By the time we arrived in Gothenburg, we were dehydrated, grumpy and both nursing headaches. We heard loud sighs of relief from other passengers when we eventually pulled to a stop. It sounded like we were all keen to end our journey.
Top tip: Reviews suggest the opposite problem occurs in winter, when the trains are freezing cold.
Read next: Explore the Netherlands by train with our guide to the best day trips from Rotterdam.
Would we recommend taking the FlixTrain between Stockholm and Gothenburg?
There were lots of positives to our Flixtrain experience:
- The price: Significantly cheaper than other operators in Sweden.
- The booking experience: Easy, pleasant and quick. However, I would struggle to recommend it for such a long journey.
- The seats: They were fine for the price.
However, the heat inside the carriage quickly undid all this good work.
We were looking forward to this journey. Crossing Sweden by train should have been a highlight of our trip. But, sadly, we have rarely been so relieved to get off a train – and we LOVE train travel. From the railways of Uzbekistan to hiking trips in England, this is probably our favourite form of travel.
Perhaps it is better at different times of the year, or a different time of day, when the temperatures are not so extreme. We certainly hope so.
Our conclusion: The FlixTrain took us from Sweden to Gothenburg safely and on time. If you are on a budget, the FlixTrain will ‘do the job’. However, our onboard discomfort means we will use an alternative carrier in the future, if possible. The cost savings simply weren’t worth it.
Alternatives to FlixTrain for travelling between Stockholm and Gothenburg
There are two alternative train companies that run services between Stockholm and Gothenburg:
- SJ Trains run frequent services between Stockholm and Gothenburg, with an average of one train per hour. The trains offer different classes, better leg room and food options in the onboard Bistro. Oh, and air-conditioning.
- MTRX Trains offer a similar standard to SJ trains on their journeys between Stockholm and Gothenburg. MTRX trains run every 2-3 hours.
Several bus companies, such as FlixBus and VY, offer services between Stockholm and Gothenburg. Whilst the bus is often the cheapest option, journey times usually exceed six hours – significantly longer than the trains.
Whichever route you choose, there are plenty of public transport options for a trip between Stockholm and Gothenburg. Whilst we got unlucky with the heat on our trip, we would happily repeat the journey on a more comfortable service. Watching the Swedish countryside roll past from the comfort of an air-conditioned train carriage is still firmly on our ‘must-do’ list.