Railway traffic started in Gävle in 1859 when the Gävle–Storvik–Falun Line was opened, called Gävle–Dala Line, now called Bergslagen Line.[6] This railway was then isolated, but did connect Falun with the port of Gävle. The first part of the Northern Main Line Stockholm–Uppsala–Krylbo–Storvik created in 1875 a railway connection between Gävle and Stockholm with a detour. In 1874 the Uppsala - Gävle line was opened for traffic, a much shorter route Stockholm–Gävle.[5]
Next railway to be built was the Gävle–Ockelbo line, opened 1884.[7]
The Northern Main Line was in 1876-1881 continued from Storvik fairly near Gävle 265 km further north past Ockelbo to Ånge. The Gävle–Ockelbo line has later been redefined as a branch of the Northern Main Line, and is the normal route for trains Stockholm–Ånge.
Much later the East Coast Line Gävle–Sundsvall was built. Traffic was started Gävle–Ljusne in 1926 and Gävle–Sundsvall 1927.[8] The delay was because steamboats were preferred between the coastal cities.
Gävle is a city founded in the Middle Ages. Its port with direct access to the Bothnian Sea has been the base of its economy. When railways were built the city became an important industrial city and an even more important port city.
Gävle Central Station was opened in 1877.[4] Before this, the two existing railways had other temporary wooden station buildings, for the line to Falun located at the port slightly northeast from the present station, and for the line to Uppsala south of the Gavleån river, called Gävle South. Both these station buildings have been removed. The Central station building was rebuilt in 1901.[4]
.jpg)
