Only the dead get off at Kymlinge.
One look at the abandoned train station of Kymlinge, and it’s easy to see why Stockholm commuters would have such reservations. The bleak concrete terminal was never completed and never saw service—except, of course, for the ghost train, Silverpilen.
The Silverpilen, or “Silver Arrow,” looks like the rest of the trains in Stockholm’s metro fleet, with the notable exception of its color. Rather than the iconic green paint, the SIlverpilen is naked aluminum, hence its name. The interior has been described as spartan, lacking the adverts or decorative flourishes typical of the standard line. It only runs after midnight and manifests only to a single traveler.
The most common story involves a passenger who boards the train coming home from a late night. The passenger is tired, distracted, and, in some versions, a bit drunk. As the trip progresses, the individual begins to feel a bit uneasy and notices something strange about his fellow commuters. As they struggle to put their finger on it, the train pulls into Kimlinge, and the passengers disembark, walking straight through the station walls and vanishing. In other variations, the rider realizes halfway into the trip that everyone on the train is dead. Depending on the version, the unfortunate train rider is either found dead in Kymlinge or raving like a lunatic in the nearby forest.
In a more existential narrative, the passenger boards the Silverpilen and discovers it completely empty. Time becomes distorted by dozing or daydreaming, and the trip seems to last forever. The train passes through unfamiliar and empty stations, never stopping. Eventually, it pulls into Kymlinge, and the rider exits. As they make their way home, they realize they have been gone exactly one year. This follows the myth that the Silver Arrow only stops at Kymlinge once a year, at midnight. Still, another variant of this theme claims that the passenger never returns. Worse, they become an unperson, never having existed at all and therefore remembered by no one.
Strangely, there is some truth to be found in the legend of the Silver Arrow. A train popularly known as Silverpilen did exist, almost exactly as described in the myth. In 1965, Stockholm Metro constructed the eight-car train to test its viability as a cheaper solution to their existing fleet. The public response was generally negative, with many finding the cars too stark and dystopian. As a result, the train was employed as a backup for maintenance or rolled out when extra service was required. The Silverpilen was retired in 1995, though its legend continues to this day.
Likewise, Kymlinge Station is also real, though it has never seen service. Construction of the station was halted when it was determined that the expansion of the Blue Line would not be necessary. Technically, the project is only suspended, though it is unknown when work will continue, if ever. One look at the barren station, with its bare walls and empty tracks, and it’s easy to see how the Silver Arrow could call it home.
Jason Roberts is a Seattle-based author noted for his acclaimed Western Horror series The Dead Wind Trilogy and other works of cosmic horror infused with historical fiction. His web-based series, Dark Distractions, examines paranormal mysteries, unexplained phenomena, and all things strange.
