Nordic Countries - SJ (Swedish train company) Prio program

Is there a way for persons living outside of Sweden to register for SJ Prio program membership?

Currently SJ Prio members can take advantage of a seemingly routine summer promotion of half-priced first class rail travel. This means that it can be cheaper than an ordinary train ticket in the regular coach section during this time of the year.

Is there a way for persons living outside of Sweden to register for SJ Prio program membership?

Currently SJ Prio members can take advantage of a seemingly routine summer promotion of half-priced first class rail travel. This means that it can be cheaper than an ordinary train ticket in the regular coach section during this time of the year.
Register to an address in Sweden in the program and have an ID or passport with you when travelling. You don’t have to be a Swedish national to register (or have a Swedish ID or passport). You could be working in the country (and you could be moving around a lot ;) ).

Register to an address in Sweden in the program and have an ID or passport with you when travelling. You don’t have to be a Swedish national to register (or have a Swedish ID or passport). You could be working in the country (and you could be moving around a lot ;) ).

So SJ doesn't require the use of a Swedish "personnumer" or whatever they call it to open a Prio account? I saw someone enter such a number and the name automatically was pulled up into the Prio account when it was being set-up.

I'll give what you say a try. Thanks.

On the SJ Prio website, their information states two predicaments to be obligatory for membership.

You need both to be a registred inhabitant in Sweden and have a Swedish Social Security Number.

As per ID, not until late September will all tickets be personal, with ID mandatory. This as SJ is getting a lot of chritic for the wide-spread second-hand sale of tickets.

On the SJ Prio website, their information states two predicaments to be obligatory for membership.

You need both to be a registred inhabitant in Sweden and have a Swedish Social Security Number.

As per ID, not until late September will all tickets be personal, with ID mandatory. This as SJ is getting a lot of chritic for the wide-spread second-hand sale of tickets.

Thanks for the confirmation.

The reselling of SJ tickets has made some people quite comfortable and with a ton of Prio points to boot. Stockholm-Malmo did them nicely.

The kind of criticism of that secondary market is indeed why SJ has started to sell directly on the likes of www.tradera.se (Swedish version of eBay). [Unfortunately those tickets' auctions close around just 6 hours before scheduled departure which can make it mighty hard to plan.]

The SJ ID requirement is indeed nothing but an attempt at revenue protection, but in the years ahead I expect that the likes of Veolia will be cutting into SJ's pricing power, especially when it comes to leisure traffic.

On the SJ Prio website, their information states two predicaments to be obligatory for membership.

You need both to be a registred inhabitant in Sweden and have a Swedish Social Security Number.

As per ID, not until late September will all tickets be personal, with ID mandatory. This as SJ is getting a lot of chritic for the wide-spread second-hand sale of tickets.

After that goes into place, will it be possible for people to buy tickets for family and friends who will be on the train by themselves (i.e. the SJ Prio account holder/online ticket purchaser won't be traveling)?

After that goes into place, will it be possible for people to buy tickets for family and friends who will be on the train by themselves (i.e. the SJ Prio account holder/online ticket purchaser won't be traveling)?

At least nothing presently contradicts that scenario. Already now one has to define the names of all travellers. Nowhere is any info that buyer of tickets must be present on the trip. Points are, however, only earned on travel that the account owner does her/himself.

:cool:

As per ID, not until late September will all tickets be personal, with ID mandatory. This as SJ is getting a lot of chritic for the wide-spread second-hand sale of tickets.

ID checks on SJ trains are reported to be starting today in Sweden.

I wonder if SJ's small competitor Veolia cares (yet) to mimic the same kind of rule.

Presently, SJ runs all X2000, all Inter-City and some of the secondary lines, I would guess the more profitable ones. Veolia has concession on select secondary lines as Sundsvall-Ostersund-Trondheim, Norway and Malmo/Gothenburg-Stockholm-Kiruna-Narvik, Norway; as well as a couple of tertiary lines Linkoping-Kalmar and Linkoping-Vastervik.

Veolia did, however, recently get a concession on the profitable Malmo-Stockholm line, but on condition they start at Malmo Svagertorp (only stop between Malmo C and CPH) and don't serve Malmo C. Besides some smaller towns, they do stop in Lund, Linkoping and Norrkoping. So far only week-end traffic Thursday-Sunday. Free Wi-Fi (with SJ only in First class), and fixed-price tickets are expected to be competitive arguments to get former SJ travellers on board.

The Swedish Government has announced a break-up of the SJ monopoly, starting July 1 with allowing other companies to run trains on week-ends only. A gradually increased presence of other companies is announced untill October 1, 2010, when the monopoly is gone, missed by few.

To your question: No, Veolia has not mentioned anything on ID requests. As they sell only fixed-price tickets, there would be less interest for second-hand sales.

Of the people I've talked to and from my own experience, the overwhelming majority of passengers on SJ's X2000 trains between Skane and Stockholm are not reporting having ID checked while on board the train as recently as today.

I've taken Veolia -- from what I refer to as Malmo Syd (South) -- to Stockholm and they don't check ID and given the above info, I can see why they would not generally care. The free wifi on board Veolia is nice but the signal can be weak in more parts of the train in comparison to what SJ has on the X2000 -- for free with a first class code (derived from the ticket) or with a charge for regular cabin passengers that goes from 39SEK for 30 minutes to 99SEK for the duration of the journey. Veolia's trains competing with SJ on the Stockholm to Malmo (or back) sector seem to be generally older/somewhat slower. For the price, Veolia is a good value and good competition and the connection isn't bad for those coming in from CPH since it seems like all trains from CPH to Sweden stop in Malmo South.

As per ID, not until late September will all tickets be personal, with ID mandatory. This as SJ is getting a lot of chritic for the wide-spread second-hand sale of tickets.

That's silly. The second-hand market is a good thing. At any given point in time, I can buy an expensive ticket from SJ, or a cheap second-hand ticket. That's good.

I think people are confusing this with the concert ticket scenario, where the second-hand tickets are more expensive.

I have done some 9 segments on SJ since the introduction of ID checks and have not been asked for ID once. I admit travelling on full fare (1 klass) tickets which are not good for second hand sale anyhows.

Exactly as stated from SJ Prio from the first press release on this topic, fully refundable tickets were exempted, since they do not have a second-hand market. Your experience is therefore not related to the implemented change. I've travelled 12 non-refundable 1 class trips, since the change. ID requested on all occasions.

My experience on 2 trips between CPH and STO on X200 trains last week (Sept 2010) was that my ticket was checked, but my ID was never requested. From CPH I used a 2cl ticket purchased at the window. I reserved 1cl by phone for the return and printed at kiosk in STO.

The wi-fi was pathetically slow or spotty throughout both trips. As far as I can tell, there is no value in their free wifi, and it's certainly not worth paying for. My e-mail was unable to complete even a basic check, because the server kept timing out due to my slow connection.

Mobile phone service was fine throughout the journey, but I only used it for TXT.

The wi-fi was pathetically slow or spotty throughout both trips.

I usually find it rather decent for basic surfing and e-mailing. Interactive access (like ssh) is more problematic.

My experience on 2 trips between CPH and STO on X200 trains last week (Sept 2010) was that my ticket was checked, but my ID was never requested. From CPH I used a 2cl ticket purchased at the window. I reserved 1cl by phone for the return and printed at kiosk in STO.

The wi-fi was pathetically slow or spotty throughout both trips. As far as I can tell, there is no value in their free wifi, and it's certainly not worth paying for. My e-mail was unable to complete even a basic check, because the server kept timing out due to my slow connection.

Mobile phone service was fine throughout the journey, but I only used it for TXT.

My phones often loses most/all of their ability to make/receive phones calls for part of the CPH-STO journey. My 3G USB stick modem using different service providers also have the same issue as what I experience when using SJ's and Veolia's on-board internet service.

I was surprised to find that Sweden has so many areas that are a poor/no signal area for my quad-band 3G-capable phones/USB sticks, even along the rail lines connecting the major metro areas. For an "advanced" mobile phone market, the situation was surprisingly poor -- and on par or even worse than what I experience on trips between Washington and New York and/or New York and Boston.

My phones often loses most/all of their ability to make/receive phones calls for part of the CPH-STO journey. My 3G USB stick modem using different service providers also have the same issue as what I experience when using SJ's and Veolia's on-board internet service.

I was surprised to find that Sweden has so many areas that are a poor/no signal area for my quad-band 3G-capable phones/USB sticks, even along the rail lines connecting the major metro areas. For an "advanced" mobile phone market, the situation was surprisingly poor -- and on par or even worse than what I experience on trips between Washington and New York and/or New York and Boston.

For a European country, Sweden is large and sparsely populated. If you check a map of the railway line between Copenhagen and Stockholm, you'll see that the railway mostly stays away from major roads between Hässleholm and Mjölby. Out in the middle of the forest, you only get weak reception, and hurtling along at 200 km/h doesn't help.

For a European country, Sweden is large and sparsely populated. If you check a map of the railway line between Copenhagen and Stockholm, you'll see that the railway mostly stays away from major roads between Hässleholm and Mjölby. Out in the middle of the forest, you only get weak reception, and hurtling along at 200 km/h doesn't help.

Yes, with a population density not too far removed from that of the US. I still do better with reception in various rural parts of the US -- including along train routes that are just as far removed from major roads.

Isn't it something like 80-90% of SJ's passenger traffic is on tracks used for just three routes: GOT-STO, STO-Malmo/CPH and GOT-Malmo/CPH routes? If that's the case currently, it's still rather surprising to me that mobile phone service companies haven't ramped up service along there substantially more than is the case.

Isn't it something like 80-90% of SJ's passenger traffic is on tracks used for just three routes: GOT-STO, STO-Malmo/CPH and GOT-Malmo/CPH routes?

Hm, depends on precisely which metrics one uses, I guess. But, yes, passenger traffic is to a large part concentrated to those tracks. (Main exception: 50 daily trains between Stockholm and Uppsala.)

If that's the case currently, it's still rather surprising to me that mobile phone service companies haven't ramped up service along there substantially more than is the case.

Things *have* improved, and I honestly don't think it's *that* bad.

Things *have* improved, and I honestly don't think it's *that* bad.

I just like my access to FT, even on the train. :D I'll find out Friday if it's as "bad" still as it was a few weeks back and most of the summer. :D

Back on the issue of SJ Prio and ID, any idea for how long has SJ had access to pull names from Swedish national ID numbers or ID numbers from names?

Yes, with a population density not too far removed from that of the US. I still do better with reception in various rural parts of the US -- including along train routes that are just as far removed from major roads.

Isn't it something like 80-90% of SJ's passenger traffic is on tracks used for just three routes: GOT-STO, STO-Malmo/CPH and GOT-Malmo/CPH routes? If that's the case currently, it's still rather surprising to me that mobile phone service companies haven't ramped up service along there substantially more than is the case.

Remember, though, that today SJ only does a fraction of the rail traffic in Sweden. Basically, they only have the long-distance lines left. Regional and local lines are tendered by the regional councils and SJ have essentially stopped bidding on those, since they don't find it profitable. These lines can be quite long, for example the Øresundståg system run by DSBFirst extends from Malmö/Copenhagen up to Gothenburg, Karlskrona, and Kalmar. Other operators are Veolia, Arriva, Tågab, and, recently, DB Regio.

I don't think the problem on SJ is 3G coverage, which is more or less 100%, even in rural parts of southern Sweden (see, for example, Telia http://www.telia.se/privat/produkter_tjanster/mobilt/tackningskartor/tackningskarta3g-gsm/).

Rather, the onboard-service is a victim of its own popularity, with too many people sharing a limited bandwidth. It's usually a bit hit-or-miss, depending on how many people are using it at the moment. If you use your own 3G modem, you get the on-board repeaters, so this still affects you then.

Back on the issue of SJ Prio and ID, any idea for how long has SJ had access to pull names from Swedish national ID numbers or ID numbers from names?

That -- remember that this is Sweden... :p -- is part of the public record. There are commercial providers of the data, or you can get it directly from the Tax Office. Address, personnummer, income..., all available for anyone.

Remember, though, that today SJ only does a fraction of the rail traffic in Sweden. Basically, they only have the long-distance lines left. Regional and local lines are tendered by the regional councils and SJ have essentially stopped bidding on those, since they don't find it profitable. These lines can be quite long, for example the Øresundståg system run by DSBFirst extends from Malmö/Copenhagen up to Gothenburg, Karlskrona, and Kalmar. Other operators are Veolia, Arriva, Tågab, and, recently, DB Regio.

I don't think the problem on SJ is 3G coverage, which is more or less 100%, even in rural parts of southern Sweden (see, for example, Telia http://www.telia.se/privat/produkter_tjanster/mobilt/tackningskartor/tackningskarta3g-gsm/).

Rather, the onboard-service is a victim of its own popularity, with too many people sharing a limited bandwidth. It's usually a bit hit-or-miss, depending on how many people are using it at the moment. If you use your own 3G modem, you get the on-board repeaters, so this still affects you then.

Regardless of what the Telia and other service provider maps show, I keep facing connectivity problems even in places that are anything but rural. Even on the way from Malmo to the Falsterbo horse show, I can pretty much count on a weak or no signal along stretches of or near the beach even in those areas that are chock full of houses.

That -- remember that this is Sweden... :p -- is part of the public record. There are commercial providers of the data, or you can get it directly from the Tax Office. Address, personnummer, income..., all available for anyone.

Yes, which is why many of the wealthiest Swedes I know are officially no longer resident in Sweden regardless of how often they are (not) in Sweden.

It's just surprising to me that SJ Prio pulls so quickly from the Skatteverket databases and the security there is so lax. Even US credit card companies -- let alone US government agencies -- aren't as awfully efficient. :D

Regardless of what the Telia and other service provider maps show, I keep facing connectivity problems even in places that are anything but rural. Even on the way from Malmo to the Falsterbo horse show, I can pretty much count on a weak or no signal along stretches of or near the beach even in those areas that are chock full of houses.


Strange, I have never experienced something like that. Usually close to full strength in the middle of the Småland forest. And certainly not in southwest Scania. :confused:


It's just surprising to me that SJ Prio pulls so quickly from the Skatteverket databases and the security there is so lax. Even US credit card companies -- let alone US government agencies -- aren't as awfully efficient. :D

It's not just SJ: You never need to change your address with companies in Sweden. As soon as you register your new one with the tax office, everyone will know within days.

Strange, I have never experienced something like that. Usually close to full strength in the middle of the Småland forest. And certainly not in southwest Scania. :confused:

Color me confused too. :D I've had better luck -- more so when it comes to being inside buildings or in vehicles -- in and around Vaxjo than I've had in and around Malmo, Vellinge, etc.

It's not just SJ: You never need to change your address with companies in Sweden. As soon as you register your new one with the tax office, everyone will know within days.

.... yes, yet there is still a need for forwarding mail, even junk mail from some mail-order companies. :D

SJ Prio awards for travel from southern Sweden to Norway via Stockholm are cheaper in points than just the intra-Sweden part of the journey to/from Stockholm would be in points. Any other deals of this sort?

It used to be cheaper to get a ticket to Elsinore , Denmark instead if Helsingbiorg on the Swedish side, before the bridge was built and trains were ferried the short way Helsingborg-Elsinore. IIRC, the VAT was lower on international tickets. This didn't pose as a major problem for SJ at that time.

Now, with the bridge Malmoe-Copenhagen, I have been surprised over the low price travelling by direct train to CPH.

Searching tickets from a random destination (Sundsvall is about the middle of the country geographically) returns these results:

To Malmoe C (http://www.sj.se/travel/booktravel/timetable.form)

To CPH Airport (http://www.sj.se/travel/booktravel/timetable.form)

I.e. not cheaper, but marginal extra cost

Reversing to your example, from Malmoe C to Oslo S, vs last stop on Swedish land:

To Oslo S (http://www.sj.se/travel/booktravel/timetable.form)

To Charlottenberg (http://www.sj.se/travel/booktravel/timetable.form)

I.e. slightly cheaper to buy ticket for further travel. N.B. Trains do not pass Stockholm; most often Katrineholm, in some instances Hallsberg, connecting to the Stockholm-Oslo line.

Quoting a well known TV series:

Copenhagen : Myth busted
Oslo: Myth confirmed

:D

Malmo to Stockholm to some place way up in the north of Norway (up around Kiruna in Sweden) was pricing cheaper than Malmo to Stockholm in points. No way to stop me from disembarking at Stockholm. :D

[For CPH to Malmo or reverse, I pay but around $13 each way.]

I'd rather fly to northern Norway than endure a train trip of that length from Malmo to up somewhere in the Norwegian north comparable to Sweden's Kiruna. But for a discounted trip to Stockholm, consider the Malmo to Norway ticket purchased and saving me some points. :D