Trains and other things: Karlskrona, Sölvesborg, Hässleholm

(Please note this post was made 2017-03-29). After visit Kalmar previous day, I'm waking up in Karlskrona. Today I will go back to Stockholm, but first I'll visit some towns on my way.

I have been staying at Hotel Statt in Karlskrona, where I discovered this fancy hall when I was trying to find my way to the breakfast. The hotel rooms are not as fancy as this hall, and the hotel is part of the major chain in Sweden.

But it was worth staying there, to see this beautiful hall.

Karlskrona was founded 1680 as an important naval town of Sweden.

Central Karlskrona is located on an island - Trossö, while the rest of the city is spread over 30 islands.

The ambition of the city's importance can be seen on its wide streets and fancy buildings. Karlskrona is known as Sweden's only baroque city.

Karlskrona has also an interesting Marinmuseum.

It is Sweden's national naval museum, dedicated to the Swedish naval defense and preservation of the country's naval history.

Ships and sea birds are never far away in Karlskrona.

The railway Blekinge kustbana was electrified years 2005-2007, while the Kust till kust railway part from Emmaboda to Karlskrona was modernised years 2011-2014 (it was electrified already 1955).

From 2014, Krösatåg regional trains operated the line Emmaboda-Karlskrona.

This X11 (3170) has been overtaken from Skånetrafiken. Back in 2014 it was still painted in Pågatåg livery, today it is repainted with white/yellow Krösatåg liverery. The train was built in 1988 and has today the name "Florence Stephens".

This X11 (3111) has already been repainted in the new livery.

This X11 was built 1982 and has the name "Harry Martinson"

Brändholmen

The shipyard in Karlskrona was once the biggest in Sweden.

"Fiskargumman" monument at Fiskartorget square (by Erik Höglund, 1982). Between 1905-1950 there was a fish market here, so the monument is representing a symbol for this.

Fresh fish can still be bought in Karlskrona

Stortorget square with the statue of Karl XI.

The main square of Karlskrona is the biggest in Scandinavia. Fredrik Church is located here.

An old railway tunnel is located underneath Stortorget square. The railway was built for transportation of goods to the harbour, it's 800m long and probably the first one built with the use of dynamite of Alfred Nobel.

Swimming pool

Railway station in Karlskrona

I'm back to the station for my train

I'm will travel by Öresundståg to Hässleholm with a stop in Sölvesborg

X31 trains can be easily attached to each other.

Back in 2014 both Krösatåg and Öresundståg were operated by Veolia (today Transdev).

Öresundståg X31 has a 1st class section

Which is very similar to the 2nd class

Passing by Ronneby

I'm arriving to Sölvesborg and passing by the new bridge.

Two X31 trains are meeting in Sölvesborg

X31 to Karlskrona

X31 to Copehagen

Sölvesborg station was built in 1899 by Folke Zettervall.

In 2012 the new pedestrian bridge was opened.

It is the longest pedestrian bridge in Europe.

The bridge is 760 m long.

S:t Nicolai church

There is an island in the middle of the bridge

Another bridge, this time over the railway

There are two identical bridges here.

Sölvesborg is a small and cosy town, reminding of Denmark. That's not so strange, since this part of Sweden - Blekinge, was part of Denmark until 1658.