Imagine 800 buses arriving and departing daily. This is Cityterminalen. It is Stockholm’s central bus station. Together with the Central Station and T-Centralen metro station, it forms Sweden’s busiest transport hub.
Cityterminalen is more than just a bus station. It’s a crucial part of Stockholm’s infrastructure. It connects people to destinations within Sweden and across Europe. Several major bus operators use Cityterminalen as their terminus. These include Flixbus, Vy, and SL.
Did you know that Cityterminalen also serves Stockholm’s airports? Flygbussarna airport coaches transport passengers to Arlanda, Bromma, Skavsta, and Västerås. Buses to the ferry terminals at Nynäshamn and Värtahamnen also depart from here. This makes Cityterminalen a gateway to both land and sea travel.
Let’s go back in time to 1982. Stockholm Municipality and Swedish State Railways organized a competition. The goal was to design a new bus terminal near Stockholm Central Station. The winning project was called Vasaterminalen. It was a collaboration between architect firms. These included ARKEN, Tengbom, and Ralph Erskine.
The bus station was designed to integrate different types of buses. These were long-distance, airport, and ferry buses. They were connected to the central station via an indoor passage under Klarabergsviadukten. This design considered the needs of travelers from the very beginning.
Construction began on July 3, 1985. Cityterminalen opened on January 20, 1989. The complex also includes office and conference space. This space is used by the Stockholm World Trade Center. The entire structure measures 270 x 80 meters. It is built over the railway tracks leading to the central station.
Initially, the design proposed brick facades. However, the budget increased by 15%. This allowed for the use of Finnish red granite. This upgrade gave Cityterminalen a more impressive and durable exterior. Cityterminalen was Sweden’s largest CAD-based architectural project at the time. This highlights its innovative design and construction.
In 2007, Cityterminalen was classified as a green building. This classification came from Stockholm’s City Museum. It recognizes the building’s historical, cultural, environmental, and artistic value. This shows Cityterminalen’s importance beyond its function as a transport hub.
In 2019, Jernhusen acquired full ownership of Cityterminalen. Jernhusen is a state-owned company. It is responsible for railway properties in Sweden. This acquisition was part of a plan to better integrate Cityterminalen’s operations with Stockholm Central Station.
So, next time you’re here at Cityterminalen, remember its history. Think about the architects, the construction workers, and the planners who made this place possible. It is more than just a bus station. It’s a vital link connecting Stockholm to the world.