If you ask a Swede, non-local, what they know about Hallsberg there is a big chance that you get to learn about their travel experiences. They will probably tell you about some instances when they got stuck here when the trains were delayed or canceled. Few will, however, be able to tell you about the town itself. This is Hallsberg, a locality in the historical province of Närke, today Örebro County. It is a famous railway junction, most likely the largest in the country, in central Sweden. It has a population of around 8.500 inhabitants.
A Short History of Hallsberg
Hallsberg was for centuries a small settlement with a church. This was the center of the local parish and its location was a few kilometers to the east of the current locality. A lot changed in 1862. This was when the railway through the area was built and Hallsberg received its station. It became a junction between the Western Main Line and the freight line through the region known as Bergslagen. The Western Main Line is the railway that connects the Swedish capital Stockholm with the second-largest city Göteborg.
A few years later in 1868, the industrial development began when Johan Thermænius moved his manufacturing from Torshälla to Hallsberg. Hallsberg has since continued to develop with the railway at its center. It is today a logistics center with a few large industries. One of the main logistics centers here is Ahlsell, but also PostNord has one of their main post terminals here. The industries include Volvo Construction Equipment which manufactures cabs and oil tanks here.
Things to Do and See
Hallsberg is best known for its railway and the station. However, there are central streets here with shops, restaurants, and other services. Everything seems to be within easy access to the railway station.
Hallsberg Railway Station
Hallsberg Railway Station is for many the main and only sight they see when visiting the area. That doesn’t mean that it is not worth a visit, it is an interesting building and an even more impressive railway yard. This is according to some sources the largest railway yard in Sweden and if you walk up on one of the bridges and look at it you will get a grasp of its size. The station building itself is a brick building dating back to 1886.
Bergööska Huset
The Bergöö House dates back to the 19th century and is known for its art pieces by the Swedish artist Carl Larsson. He was born in Stockholm in 1853 and died in Falun in 1919. He is considered to be one of the most important Swedish painters and he has painted several pieces along the walls of the house’s banquet hall. The building is today a museum in the Bergöös District of Hallsberg, making it possible for visitors to see the artwork.
And if the artwork is not your deal, then there is also where the Model Railway Society has a miniature replica of the railway area of Hallsberg. It is possible to book guided tours of the model railway.
How to Get to Hallsberg
- Flights: Örebro Airport (ORB) is 29 kilometers to the north.
- Car: Hallsberg is along Road E20 just south of Kumla and Örebro.
- Bus: Local buses from Länstrafiken Örebro connect Hallsberg with the surrounding region.
- Train: SJ, Mälartåg, Tåg i Bergslagen, and Västtågen have trains to and from Hallsberg. Destinations include Stockholm, Göteborg, Karlstad, and Örebro to mention a few.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 225 kilometers (2 h 31 min)
- Gothenburg – 262 kilometers (3 h 21 min)
- Malmö – 477 kilometers (5 h 31 min)
- Linköping – 108 kilometers (1 h 30 min)
- Kiruna – 1326 kilometers (15 h 45 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
