Sweden Railway Exception 2026: What Changes for Train Manufacturers and Operators

Key data

Train manufacturers and railway operators with activity in Sweden have had, since 25 September 2026, a different rule from the rest of Europe in one specific technical aspect: the position of the access and exit step of vehicles. The European Commission has approved, through the Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2139, the exemption requested by Sweden with respect to Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014, which regulates accessibility in the European railway system through the Technical Specifications for Interoperability for Persons with Reduced Mobility (TSI PRM).

This decision is not a minor format change: it directly affects the approvable design of vehicles circulating on the Swedish network and the ability of those same vehicles to cross borders into other Member States without requiring additional adaptations.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 establishes the technical accessibility requirements that railway vehicles must meet throughout the European Union. Among these requirements is the exact position of the access and exit step of the vehicle, a technical parameter that directly affects the design of rolling stock and accessibility for persons with reduced mobility.

Directive (EU) 2016/797 on the interoperability of the rail system allows Member States to request exemptions from these requirements in duly justified cases. Sweden has exercised that right, and the Commission has approved the exemption through this Implementing Decision.

Economic and operational impact

For rolling stock manufacturers, this exemption has two possible readings:

• Design opportunity: Vehicles intended exclusively for the Swedish market can be designed in accordance with national specifications, without needing to comply with the European requirement on the step. This can simplify the homologation process in Sweden and reduce technical adaptation costs for that specific market.
• Interoperability risk: Vehicles designed under Swedish specifications may encounter restrictions if they are intended to be operated in other EU countries where Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 applies in full. The exemption limits the free cross-border movement of that rolling stock in the specific technical aspect of the access step.

For railway operators managing international routes with entry or exit from Sweden, the regulatory difference in this technical point may generate additional adaptation or certification costs if vehicles must comply with both standards (the Swedish and the general European one).

For Swedish railway authorities, the exemption implies maintaining and applying its own technical framework for this requirement, with the administrative and supervisory burden that entails.

Who does it affect?

• Rolling stock manufacturers that design, certify or homologate railway vehicles to operate in Sweden.
• Railway operators
• Swedish railway authorities
• Railway engineering and consulting companies
• Importers and distributors of railway components

Practical example

A European regional train manufacturer is developing a new fleet for a Swedish operator. Without the exemption approved by Decision (EU) 2026/2139, the manufacturer would be required to design the access step in accordance with the exact position required by Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014, even if that position does not adapt well to the platform infrastructure of the Swedish network.

With the exemption in force, the manufacturer can design the step in accordance with Swedish national specifications, facilitating local homologation and avoiding costly technical adaptations. However, if that same manufacturer later wanted to sell or transfer those vehicles to an operator in another EU country, it would need to verify whether the step design complies with the general European standard, since the exemption only applies in Swedish territory. In practice, this may mean that those vehicles remain operationally "tied" to the Swedish network.

What should companies do now?

1. Review active rolling stock projects for Sweden: If you are in the process of designing or homologating vehicles for the Swedish market, verify whether the access step requirement was being treated in accordance with the European TSI PRM or in accordance with national specifications. The exemption has been in force since 25 September 2026.
2. Evaluate the impact on cross-border interoperability: If vehicles designed for Sweden must also operate in other EU countries, analyze whether the step design under Swedish specifications complies with the general European standard. If not, identify what adaptations would be necessary.
3. Update technical and certification files: Homologation documents for affected vehicles must reflect the approved exemption and the applicable Swedish national regulation instead of the requirement of Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014.
4. Consult with Swedish railway authorities: To confirm exactly what the national specifications are that apply in place of the exempted European requirement, and to ensure that the design complies with them.
5. Inform procurement and contracts teams: If you are a railway operator and have rolling stock acquisition contracts in progress, verify whether the technical clauses reference Regulation (EU) No 1300/2014 on this specific point and whether they need to be updated.

Official source

Consult full regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32026D2139