Intro
The Swedish rail market has undergone significant changes in how tickets are retailed. At the heart of this change is the migration to a new digital system, the National Distribution System (NDS).
NDS is based on the Open Sales and Distribution Model (OSDM) and is designed to connect rail and bus operators in a single distribution solution, simplify the ticketing process, and boost cross-selling opportunities
Updates
Thank you for choosing Linkonline. You can always review the latest changes inside the app under “Linkon Info.” Below is a summary of recent enhancements.
February 5, 2026
Private sleepers in 2nd class
It is now possible to book private sleepers in 2nd class for one traveler.
February 10, 2026
Private couchette
It is now possible to book private couchettes for one traveler.
January 20, 2026
VR with Resplus
We are now connected to Samtrafiken DS to fetch VR content. This enables us to provide Resplus for combined bookings from January 20 for start of travel from March 16.
November 27, 2025
SJ new ticket ”Can be rebooked workaround”
A time limited solution for Linkonline, until support for exchangeable tickets is enabled in NDS and the Swedish eco system.
October 14, 2025
Support for Loyalty card
Earning loyalty points in SJ prio is now possible by adding a SJ Prio card number manually in Linkonline.
June 17, 2025
Support for return trips
Return journeys booked through external applications that use the SilverRail API now flow seamlessly into Linkonline. The feature is already live inside Linkonline.
May 14, 2025
Special zone
You can now reserve a Special Seat / Compartment on bookable day trains operated by SJ and Tågab (where this product is offered).
Seat map
Interactive seat-map selection is available for SJ Snabbtåg services and for Tågab. See our How-to guide for further information.
SilverRail releases
Next planned releases
February 2026
- 1 PAX night trains whole compartment (SJ 2nd Class, Snälltåget)
Description of features
In the following table, we provide a brief description of the features mentioned in this article.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Night trains (single bed) | Support for booking a single bed in a night train couchette / compartment |
| Night Trains (Whole compartment) | Support for booking a whole night train couchette / compartment |
| Priority card | Enable use of priority card in the booking flow and Linkonline |
| Placement characteristics | When we receive a seat from the carrier, we are currently only showing the carriage and the seat number. This feature will ensure we also show seat characteristics such as aisle seat, window seat, next to animal, etc. |
| Multiride cards | Enable purchase of Multiride cards, SJ 10-Kort etc. |
| Seat map | Select seat from a map of the train and its carriages |
| tickets | Exchangeable ticket options (currently not available from any carrier) |
| Pay with vouchers | Use Vouchers as a payment method |
| Promotions | Support for using promotion codes in the booking flow |
| All ancillaries | Booking of non-mandatory ancillaries, for example, breakfast |
| Seat availability | Support for showing the number of available seats on a train together with seat characteristics, which provide information about the type of seat on the train e.g., animals allowed, animals not allowed |
| Special needs (PRM) | Support for requesting seats suitable for a wheelchair, seats where pets are allowed, etc. |
Glossary of terms
| EN term | SE term |
|---|---|
| Ancillary services | Tillval/Mattillval |
| Annual cards | Årskort |
| Cancel | Avbokning |
| Couchette | Liggvagn |
| Exchangeable tickets | Ombokningsbara biljetter |
| Refund | Återköp |
| Release seat | Avboka plats |
| Sleeper | Sovvagn |
| Special refund | Specialåterköp |
| Traffic disruptions | Trafikstörningar |
| Whole compartment | Helkupé |
General Questions
Why has SilverRail changed the way its API and Linkonline work?
Due to the system change in the Swedish market and the introduction of Samtrafiken's National Distribution System (NDS), SilverRail needs to adapt its services to the new system landscape and its functionality.
SilverRail is actively working to minimize the impact, but because of the dependencies on external systems (e.g. NDS and carrier IMS), SilverRail cannot guarantee that the functionality in its platform will be available in the same way after the system change.
What is NDS?
NDS stands for "National Distribution System" and is provided by Samtrafiken.
What is the OSDM standard?
OSDM stands for "Open Sales and Distribution Model" and is a standard for booking public transportation. The NDS uses the OSDM.
What is an IMS?
IMS stands for 'Inventory Management System', which is the system used by rail carriers to hold their fares and availability data.
Will there be limitations in content or functionality after Samtrafiken's introduction of NDS?
There will be limitations. SilverRail is committed to informing Partners proactively about those changes. Known changes are published in this FAQ and will be communicated via the usual channels for our respective products.
Will there be a difference between what content is available in the carriers' sales channels and via SilverRail?
Yes, and there are two reasons for this. The first is that rail carriers choose what content is available in their own sales channels and what products they makes available via the NDS.
Secondly, SilverRail needs to adapt its integrations to offer updated content and products from rail carriers.
We sometimes experience longer response times compared to before the migration. Why is that?
Because SilverRail’s system needs to access external systems, such as NDS and carrier IMS, for content and availability, response times have increased in some scenarios.
We are, together with the other parties involved in the ecosystem, investigating how to improve response times.
Following the migration, what timetable period will be available through SilverRail?
Samtrafiken is responsible for the timetable and SilverRail makes the timetable provided by Samtrafiken available. Hence there can be other timetable periods and connection times available in Carrier direct sales channels, as the carrier themselves are responsible for their timetable.
This situation can lead to the possibility that:
• A carrier showing timetable data on their website that is not in sync with what SilverRail is providing to customers due to the delivery mechanism.
• A carrier showing timetable data on their website that is valid for a longer future period, compared to what SilverRail is providing to customers, due to Samtrafiken hard limit.
• Due to connection times that does not follow Samtrafiken’s minimum connection time rules, a carrier might show connections on their website that are not available via Samtrafiken and SilverRail.
Why is the booking not labeled as Resplus in some combinations?
Travelers can still book a combined Resplus journey in one booking. However, for a limited period, some booking combinations will not be labeled RESPLUS, and the Resplus compensation guarantee will not apply.
If the guarantee applies and where the information is provided, this will be visible in the booking flow and on the ticket.
Releases and timelines
Will all accessible content be available via SilverRail's applications (Linkonline and SilverRail API)?
For a period, there may well be gaps in content availability. We are working hard with all parties to make content available as soon as possible.
Will there be a disruption in the sales of SJ multi-ride tickets?
Yes, there will be a disruption in selling monthly cards/multi-ride tickets. Please refer to our release notes/Linkoninfo, which will be updated when this functionality becomes available.
Carrier availability
Following the migration, what carriers will be available and when?
Currently, all carriers that were available before the introduction of NDS are available via SilverRail.
However, RESPLUS journeys will not be available for combined trips, including VR or Vy Buss/Bus4You, after the migration. SilverRail will provide an update when more information on RESPLUS combinations with these carriers is available.
Information about Snälltåget via SilverRail:
• For cross-border tickets, the date of birth for each traveller must be added.
• Products visible on Snälltåget.se can be rebooked or refunded for a fee up to 24 hours before departure. Products sold via SilverRail will either have the flexibility ‘not rebookable’ or ‘can be refunded’. Refundable tickets sold via SilverRail can be refunded up until departure time without a fee and will therefore have a higher price.
• Doctor’s certificates are not allowed as a refund overrule code. Please contact Snälltåget directly.
Functionality
Will it be possible to cancel tickets to receive a refund?
As per the business rules set by the carriers, cancelling a charged ticket for a refund will not be possible. We will update the FAQ if there are any changes.
Will it still be possible to refund a ticket booked through SilverRail on the carrier's sales channels or customer support?
No. The reason is that the carriers have different IMSs and carriers can only access their own tickets. Only the retailer with whom the ticket was booked can refund the whole trip.
Refunds due to traffic disruptions, such as delays, canceled trains/departures, or other complaints, must be refunded by the carrier involved.
If the traveler claims "useless travel" and wants the money back, the carrier that caused the disturbance will compensate the traveler for the entire ticket and any return journey from its payment system and not in the application that the reseller booked the ticket.
Will functionality for special refunds be available?
Yes, SilverRail will offer special refunds (Doctor's certificate and Staff Error), which are available through NDS.
Why do bookings need to be paid for within 60 minutes?
This change is a requirement connected to the introduction of NDS, where SilverRail needs to adapt its solution to the underlying IMS systems held by the carriers. Work is ongoing to enable an extension of the timeframe within which a booking needs to be paid.
This change doesn't affect the invoicing from SilverRail to retailers.
Can ancillary services (e.g., breakfast) be added to my booking?
Yes, mandatory breakfast ancillary services will be added automatically, but not optional ancillaries (e.g., meals onboard).
Will travelers be able to see the booked trip on the carriers' respective sales channels?
Travelers will not see the whole trip in the carriers' respective sales channels/applications. The traveler will only see the travel segment(s) operated by the specific carrier in their respective sales channel/application. This is because the carriers have different IMSs and can only access their own segments, meaning only the retailer where the ticket was booked can see the whole trip.
How does Linkonline handle the different refund scenarios?
Please refer to the following table for information about known refund scenarios, the conditions related to each of those scenarios, and how each of those scenarios are handled in Linkonline:
| Scenario | Conditions/rules | Linkonline handling |
|---|---|---|
| Standard refund | In accordance with carrier's refund rules | Standard refund functionality, ”Refund” |
| Traffic disturbance (for SJ trips) | In the event of a traffic disturbance, SJ may activate the option to refund a delayed journey. If this possibility is not activated or if the customer also wants to refund a return trip, the customer must contact SJ customer service. |
Standalone SJ trips only - Standard refund functionality, "Refund". |
| Traffic disturbance (for Resplus trips) | In the evenrt of a traffic disturbance, travellers should contact the carrier that caused the disturbance. The refund should not be done for the original ticket (as the ticket revenue should remain with the carrier). |
No support in Linkonline – will be managed by the respective carrier. |
| Refund due to sales staff error | For SJ, resellers are allowed to use staff error without contacting SJ. Contact SJ Agent support where necessary. Can be done within 24 hours. For other carriers, please refer to the respective carrier’s refund rules. |
|
| Refund for medical reasons | Travellers need to show a doctors certificate to the travel agency but the travel agency should not forward the doctors certificate to SilverRail. | Special refund functionality, Credit With Reason > Select Reason > Doctors certificate. |
| Special routine | A routine that can be used when no other options are available. The carrier always needs to be contacted before this routine is applied. |
Credit without order (Menu Administration). |
Products
Are Movingo cards available via SilverRail?
Movingo cards are not available via SilverRail.
Is city traffic "Stadszonbiljett" still available?
No. City traffic "Stadszonbiljett" is not available in the Swedish travel ecosystem.
When will exchangeable tickets be available via SilverRail?
SJ launched exchangeable tickets in its own channels on 24 September.
SilverRail has a dependency on Samtrafiken, to make exchangeable tickets available via Samtrafiken’s Distribution System. Samtrafiken estimates that this will be made available in 2026. We will get back to you when we have a more exact date.
As a temporary solution, SJ's flexible fare "Rebookable" can be rebooked in Linkonline as of Thursday 27 November 2025:
• SJ has produced material on rules and procedures in dialogue with SRF.
• Information is available on SJ's Extranet: https://extranet.sj.se (login required).
• SJ Travel Agency Support: Support for SJ dealers. They help with questions relating to SJ trains and SJ-related issues as well as the terms and conditions for SJ's offering, including this work-around. Phone: 0774-40 01 50. E-mail: sjagent@sj.se
Will the booking of international tickets be affected?
There are no known changes to international ticket bookings connected with the implementation of NDS.
What special characters should I use when passing in the name of a passenger using an SJ Prio loyalty card?
SJ has introduced a flexible validation solution, allowing variations of special characters:
- "å", "aa"
- "ä", "ae"
- "æ", "ae"
- "ö", "oe"
- "ø", "oe"
- "œ", "oe"
- "ß", "ss"
- "é", "e"
- "á", "a"
- "ü", "u"
For example, for Åsa Östman the following spellings would also be accepted:
- Aasa Oestman
- Asa Ostman
The validation rules also allow minor character differences, for instance if you enter Jon and the traveller’s name in John.
The following error will be returned if the name of the passenger does not match the name on the SJ Prio card, The name of the traveller does not match the name on the SJ Prio card. (61110)
For questions regarding the name validation logic, please reach out to your contact at SJ.
Support
Where do we go for retailer support?
There are no changes with regard to retailer support. Please continue to use silverdesk.se@silverrailtech.com to contact us for support needs.
Will there be a user manual for all the changes in Linkonline?
Changes are communicated via "Linkonline versionsinformation", which is sent out to all users. The information is also available in "Linkon Info" in Linkonline.
Seating and sleeping
Is it possible to book couchettes and shared compartments on night trains?
Support for booking a single bed in a night train (sleeper and couchette) is available for SJ and Snälltåget. The booking of private 1st-class compartments is supported for SJ (except SJ Euronight).
The booking of 2nd-class private compartments (sleeper and couchette) will come later and will be documented in our release notes/Linkoninfo when this functionality becomes available.
Is it possible to book a night train compartment for travelers with a wheelchair?
It is currently not possible to book a night train compartment for travelers with a wheelchair. Please refer to our release notes/Linkoninfo, which will be updated when this functionality becomes available.
Is it possible to book pets on night trains?
Currently it’s not possible to book pets on night trains, but SilverRail is working on a solution for this.
Is it possible to see seat availability for travel after the NDS migration?
For travel after the NDS migration, it will not be possible to see what seats are available or whether the train is fully booked. Please refer to our release notes/Linkoninfo, which will be updated when this functionality becomes available.
Will it be possible to book a seat reservation for Öresundståg?
It is not possible to book a seat reservation for Öresundståg. This is outside of SilverRail's control and is due to a limitation in the underlying systems. When available in the underlying system, it will automatically be available through SilverRail.
What are the options for booking seats according to a traveler's preference?
It is possible for travelers to select a specific zone on day trains (e.g., pets allowed, aisle, window, etc.).
Are seatmaps available for all carriers?
SilverRail will offer seatmaps for carriers that make them available.