Urban Legends

Silverpilen

Origin: Sweden

One intriguing urban legend from Sweden is the tale of Silverpilen, or the "Silver Arrow," a ghost train that haunts the Stockholm metro system. This legend dates back to the 1960s when the Stockholm Metro acquired a series of aluminum trains, which stood out because they were left unpainted, unlike the typical green cars. The unusual appearance and bare interiors, which lacked the usual graffiti and advertisements, contributed to the perception that these trains were somehow supernatural.

The legend suggests that the Silverpilen operates on the Blue Line and has a final destination at the abandoned Kymlinge station. According to local lore, this station is where all the dead are said to get off, leading to eerie tales about passengers who board the Silver Arrow never being seen again. In some variations, it is said that the train gets stuck in a time loop, endlessly traveling the tracks.

One popular story involves a girl who, after a night out at a disco, boards the Silverpilen, only to notice that her fellow passengers look strange. When she tries to get off at T-Centralen, the train does not stop. Instead, it takes her to Kymlinge, where she encounters a locked door that her fellow passengers pass through without hesitation. The story concludes in different ways; one version has her found dead a week later, while another sees her emerging alive but traumatized.

The truth behind the legend is that the Silverpilen was part of a testing phase for the metro, aimed at evaluating a cheaper train fleet. Although these trains were used into the 1990s, they were largely avoided by commuters due to their eerie reputation. The abandoned Kymlinge station, meanwhile, was never completed due to insufficient demand, enhancing its mysterious aura and its connection to the ghostly train.

This urban legend continues to captivate the imagination of Stockholm residents and serves as a reminder of how urban infrastructure can inspire haunting stories that blend reality with the supernatural.