SL C30
| Industry | Public transportation |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | SL CX trains |
| Headquarters | Stockholm , Sweden |
Area served | Stockholm metro |
| Products | Metro trains |
| Owner | Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (contracted operator MTR) |
| Parent | Bombardier Transportation, Alstom |
{{Infobox train
| name = SL C30
| image = Liljeholmen tunnelbana, SL C30, 20240210 - 16.jpg
| caption = A C30 train arriving at Liljeholmen metro station
| interiorimage = File:C30, interiör, 20220730 (cropped).jpg
| interiorcaption = Inside view of a C30 carriage
| service = 2020–present
| manufacturer = Bombardier Transportation
Alstom
| assembly = Hennigsdorf, Germany
| family = Movia
| replaced = All remaining SL CX trains
| yearconstruction = 2016–2024
| yearservice = 11 August 2020
| numberconstruction = Total delivery of 464 carriages (116 sets)
| formation = 4 cars (A1–B1–B2–A2) per unit, 2 units per train
| fleetnumbers = 2301–2416
| capacity = 634 per unit at 5 standees/m2
| seating = 140 per unit
| operator = MTR (contracted by Storstockholms Lokaltrafik)
| depots = Norsborg and Nyboda depots
| lines = Red line on the Stockholm metro
| carbody = Welded aluminium extrusions
| trainlength = per unit
| width =
| height =
| floorheight =
| wheeldiameter =
| doors = 3 per side
| wheelbase = between bogie centers
| maxspeed =
- (design)
- (service)
|} The SL C30 metro trains have been serving Stockholm’s Red line since their introduction in 2020. Produced initially by Bombardier Transportation and subsequently by Alstom, this fleet consists of 116 sets, each formed by four interconnected carriages. These units have replaced all remaining older models dating back to the 1970s and 1980s. The design is based on the Alstom Movia platform, which was also utilized for the previous SL C20 series.
Focused on improving passenger experience and accessibility, the C30 trains are equipped with air conditioning systems and expanded areas designated for wheelchair users. Operated by MTR Corporation under contract from Storstockholms Lokaltrafik, they contribute to Stockholm’s efforts to modernize its urban transit network by enhancing capacity and reducing energy consumption.
Technical details
The SL C30 fleet is built upon the Alstom Movia platform, which also serves as the foundation for the older SL C20 trains. This design was initially created by Adtranz before it became part of Bombardier Transportation.
Each individual C30 unit measures 70.0 metres in length, with two such units commonly coupled together to form a train length of up to 140 metres—the maximum platform length available on Stockholm’s metro system. For comparison, C20 units are shorter at approximately 46.5 metres, while the earlier CX models were around 17 metres long. Every C30 unit is composed of four car bodies labeled A1, B1, B2, and A2, offering seating for roughly 140 passengers.
The bogie configuration follows a conventional layout with two bogies per car body, differing from the C20’s arrangement that includes four bogies per unit. The cars are connected through full-width gangways covered by flexible bellows allowing seamless movement between carriages. The use of aluminium for the car bodies replaces steel construction, featuring enclosed underframes and bogies to minimize noise levels, aerodynamic drag, and ice accumulation during winter months.
Although seating density per metre is lower than that of the C20 trains, passenger comfort is significantly enhanced through features such as comprehensive air conditioning, reduced noise inside the cabins, wider door openings for easier boarding and alighting, and a smoother ride facilitated by newly developed Flexx bogies. Each C30 unit weighs approximately 116 tonnes (equivalent to about 1.66 tonnes per metre), making it around 15% heavier than a comparable C20 unit.
Production was divided between Bombardier Sifang (Qingdao) Transportation Ltd. in China and Bombardier’s manufacturing facility located in Hennigsdorf near Berlin, Germany. Climate testing was conducted at Rail Tec Arsenal in Vienna, Austria.
The initial procurement included an order of 96 trains valued at approximately 5.1 billion SEK based on 2013 pricing; this was later increased to a total of 116 trains. The cost per full-length train (140 metres) is roughly estimated at 106 million SEK.
Externally, the C30 features LED headlights and smooth painted aluminium panels that replace the previously used bare corrugated sheet metal seen on the older C20 stock.
Service
The C30 trainsets were first deployed on the Red line. After the entire order is fulfilled, any extra trains will be assigned to the Blue line. Meanwhile, the C20 trains that the C30 units replace on the Red line have been redistributed to operate on both the Green and Blue lines.
Interior
Passenger announcements on the C30 are delivered through speech synthesis using the Elin voice developed by Acapela Group, which has taken over from the previously used pre-recorded Linda voice. The train interiors are equipped with comprehensive air conditioning, larger designated areas for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and a design that emphasizes standing space, leading to a slight decrease in seating compared to earlier models.
The seat fabric, crafted from wool, showcases a design inspired by the paving pattern of Sergels torg. While most seats are covered in dark grey upholstery, yellow seats are specifically reserved for passengers with special requirements. Additionally, some fabric motifs subtly incorporate illustrations such as a girl holding a balloon or pairs of people holding hands.
Below the windows, ventilation grilles feature decorative perforations including motifs like the Swedish Three Crowns emblem, Pac-Man characters, media player symbols, and heart shapes.
In conjunction with introducing the C30 trains, the older C20 units underwent mid-life refurbishments between 2019 and 2023. These upgrades involved installing longitudinal seating along one side of each carriage, removing certain seats to create space for wheelchairs and pushchairs, refreshing upholstery with clearly marked priority seating, and adding information displays alongside extra CCTV cameras.