The Silverpilen Ghost Train: Sweden’s Most Haunted Subway Mystery
Beneath the bustling streets of Stockholm, among the flickering lights and echoing tunnels of the city’s underground, whispers persist of a ghostly silver train known as Silverpilen (the silver arrow). Unlike any other train in the Stockholm Metro system, Silverpilen is said to emerge without warning, stopping for no one and vanishing into the shadows as quickly as it appears. For decades, urban legends have grown around this enigmatic spectre of the rails, transforming a simple train into one of Sweden’s most enduring ghost stories.
Some say it is a phantom train that takes its passengers to an abandoned station from which they never return. Others believe it appears only to those on the brink of death, or that stepping aboard guarantees you will vanish for days, weeks—or forever. While Silverpilen did indeed exist as a real train once, the myths surrounding it have far outgrown the reality. Today, the legend of Silverpilen is deeply embedded in Swedish pop culture, folklore and paranormal lore.
A Real Train Turns Spectral
To unravel the mystery of Silverpilen, one must first separate fact from fiction. The train was real—a prototype built in the mid-1960s by ASEA (Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget) as part of the C5 series. Unlike the green-painted carriages common to the Stockholm Metro, Silverpilen was left unpainted, its aluminium body giving it a distinctive, ghostly silver appearance. It was also louder, with a more mechanical sound than its counterparts, and lacked the advertising and embellishments that made other trains more inviting.
Only one such train was ever made. Because of its experimental status, it was rarely seen and often used only during peak hours or emergencies. This rarity added to its mystique, especially for late-night commuters who might catch a glimpse of its shimmering form as it passed through dimly lit stations. Its interior was bare and industrial, and some passengers recalled feeling strangely uncomfortable or even frightened while on board.
By the 1990s, the train was retired from service and ultimately scrapped. But by then, the legend had already taken hold. With no more sightings of the train in ordinary service, stories began to circulate that Silverpilen had never really been decommissioned at all—it had simply passed into another realm.
The Legend Grows: Myths, Sightings and Fear
Over time, the mythos of Silverpilen began to resemble something out of a Scandinavian horror film. The train was said to appear on empty platforms late at night, gliding silently into stations before disappearing without explanation. It never opened its doors, or if it did, the interiors were eerily deserted, bathed in cold fluorescent light. In some versions of the tale, passengers who boarded Silverpilen would be spirited away to Kymlinge—a real but unfinished metro station that came to symbolise a kind of purgatory.
Kymlinge itself plays a pivotal role in the ghost train legend. Construction on the station began in the 1970s but was never completed due to low demand in the surrounding area. It remains a ghost station to this day—partially built, accessible only to maintenance crews, and surrounded by forest. The Swedish phrase ”Bara de döda stiger av i Kymlinge” (”Only the dead get off at Kymlinge”) became associated with the place, lending it a chilling air and cementing its status in urban folklore.
Stories of Silverpilen were particularly popular among schoolchildren and teenagers, often told at sleepovers or campfires. The tale would be recounted in hushed tones: a commuter who boards the last train home late one evening and never arrives, later found wandering, confused and aged, unable to explain where they had been. Others claim to have seen ghostly figures through the windows—pale, unmoving faces watching the living from within.
Cultural Impact and Psychological Roots
What makes the Silverpilen legend so powerful is its blend of the familiar and the uncanny. Trains are a daily part of life for Stockholm’s residents—a routine, mundane experience. But when something as normal as a metro ride becomes tinged with the paranormal, it upends expectations and taps into a deeper, more primal fear: the fear of the unknown within the ordinary.
Folklorists and psychologists have drawn comparisons between the Silverpilen legend and similar ghost train tales from other countries. Japan’s haunted subway cars, the London Underground’s phantom lines, and various ”vanishing train” stories all share thematic elements: isolation, sudden disappearance, distorted time, and eerie silence. These stories often reflect societal anxieties about modernity, urban alienation and the liminal spaces we pass through without thought—tunnels, corridors, empty stations—places that seem built to harbour secrets.
In Sweden, Silverpilen also emerged during a time of rapid urban development and social change. As the metro system expanded and more people began commuting across greater distances, fears about the unknown crept in. The anonymity of the subway, with its crowds of strangers and transient atmosphere, became fertile ground for spectral imaginings. The train, with its metallic sheen and ghostly quiet, was the perfect canvas upon which to project collective fears and fantastical stories.
Silverpilen in Media and Popular Culture
Unsurprisingly, Silverpilen has left its mark on Swedish media. The train has been featured in novels, television shows and short films, often portrayed as a malevolent force or as a bridge between worlds. Its legend aligns seamlessly with Sweden’s rich tradition of folklore, which includes trolls, spirits and forest witches, giving the story cultural resonance far beyond its urban setting.
One of the most notable appearances of Silverpilen in popular culture was in the Swedish TV series Det Okända (“The Unknown”), which investigates paranormal events. The train has also inspired podcasts, blogs, and YouTube videos, where investigators and storytellers alike attempt to separate myth from reality. Ghost hunters have even tried to capture evidence at the disused Kymlinge station, although access is strictly controlled.
Interestingly, the story of Silverpilen continues to evolve in the digital age. On Reddit threads, TikTok videos and urban legend forums, new generations are discovering and reshaping the tale. Some add elements of time travel, while others suggest links to missing persons cases or unexplained disappearances in Stockholm’s suburbs. Whether believed or simply enjoyed as eerie folklore, Silverpilen has become a lasting part of Sweden’s modern mythological landscape.
Visiting Stockholm: Chasing the Ghost Train
For those intrigued by the legend of Silverpilen and curious to explore the eerie corners of Stockholm’s underground world, there are several ways to immerse yourself in the myth while enjoying the Swedish capital’s broader cultural riches. The city’s tunnelbana (subway) system is famous not only for its functionality but also for its stunning art installations, with nearly every station decorated by local artists. This alone makes it one of the most unique metro systems in the world—and an ideal backdrop for tales of spectral trains.
While you can no longer ride Silverpilen itself, you can visit stations associated with the legend. Västra skogen, Stadion, and Kungsträdgården are among those mentioned in older versions of the story. However, the most compelling location remains Kymlinge. Though the station is closed to the public, it lies near a nature reserve and bike paths in Sundbyberg, and you can walk or cycle near its sealed entrances. The surrounding forest and silence only add to the ghostly allure.
Guided ghost walks in Stockholm also include mentions of Silverpilen alongside other local legends. These tours are available in English and offer a fun yet chilling way to learn about the city’s darker stories. If you’re particularly fascinated, local libraries and archives may have historical references or newspaper clippings from the time when Silverpilen ran, offering another layer to the mystery.
In the end, whether you believe the stories or not, the legend of Silverpilen invites us to look again at the everyday with a more imaginative eye. For in the deep tunnels beneath Stockholm, where time stretches and lights flicker, who’s to say what you might encounter?