scurry

Has anyone done it?

How long does it take?

How much does it cost?

Is 1st class that much better than 2nd?

Are there any towns that I should stop and spend the night at along the way?

Thanks!

hopscotch

Did you read the replies to your other post on this?
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34845124

scurry

Of course I did but that was on a different subject and no one had provided any personal in-sight so I thought I'd post again with specific questions.

Thanks for the friendly reminder!

NativeNewYorker

We didn't do it...We flew, because the train was 6 times as long and 4 times more expensive. We flew SAS, it took 50 minutes, and cost $ 80.

GeoffHamer

High-speed trains run about every two hours and take just over five hours from city centre to city centre. You can get an idea of schedules on www.bahn.de. A plane might take 50 minutes from one airport runway to another, but you need to add the journeys to and from airports and the check-in time.

Dukey

If it's an issue you will also have to conform to the airline's checked and carry-on baggage size and weight restrictions.

scurry

Thanks for the posts -- I've purchased a first-class ticket for Wednesday afternoon for 788 DKK ($135). First class only cost me $14 more than second-class so what the heck!

As reported, the trip takes about five hours & I look forward to the scenery.

I will post a trip report afterwards.

scurry

Actually -- I am on the train right now. Free wireless Internet access for first class!

best $14 I ever spent

Second class looks very nice too, just a little more cramped and crowded.

The scenery is beautiful if not spectactular -- lots of trees and lakes -- like Minnesota, eh?

hopscotch

Thanks for the immediate on-the-scene feedback. This might be a Fodors first. I'm glad you're having fun. When I drove across Sweden it looked like Michigan to me. That's where I live.

katzors

where/how did you buy your tickets for the train? i'm planning on doing this trip in the summer by train too.

DebitNM

We took a train from Copenhagen to Goteborg and went 2nd class. It was fine. We then took the train from Goteborg to Stockholm. Due to a mix up by the train, we ended up going 1st class. Not sure it would have been worth the extra money.

The earlier you book, the less it costs. You can book 90 days out. DO NOT use raileurope! IT will charge you way more.

Use this site:

http://www.sj.se/start/startpage/index.form?l=en

Man_in_seat_61

Either www,sj.se or if you have any payment problems try www.bokatag.se

I see the 'one hour flight' fallacy has raised its head again - the one hour flight that takes 4 hours, when the clever money goes centre to centre with zero check-in and zero airport stress with a glass of wine in hand...

Dukey1

Glad you enjoyed it; I did as well when I took it a couple of Novembers ago and in the opposite direction.

smithgardner

We took the night train from Stockholm to Copenhagen in early September and throughly enjoyed it. It was about $250 for a private sleeper cabin, split among 2 people. While this is considerably more than the cost of a short flight, it also represented one less night that we had to pay for a hotel, which in Scandinavia can be quite expensive. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip, as we didn't lose any valuable sightseeing time. The journey from Stockholm to Malmo was about 7 hours, which we slept through comfortably and enjoyed a hot shower, then changed trains for a short 30 minute ride to Copenhagen. I would have enjoyed poking around Malmo or nearby Lund if I had more time though. Because it was morning coming into Malmo, it was daylight as we crossed the Oresund Bridge, which was provided a great view of the straight separating the two countries. I definitely recommend it!