Criminals are transported by rail
In 1858, the first decision was made to transport prisoners by rail, initially between Gothenburg and Alingsås and back. Prisoner transports were carried out in special carriages fitted out for the purpose, once a week: Tuesdays from Gothenburg and Wednesdays from Alingsås.
The prison carriage that was prepared could hold up to twelve prisoners. If more than twelve prisoners needed to be transported at the same time, an extra third class carriage was added to the train.
Prisoner transport by rail increases
With the expansion of the railway network, the possibilities for prisoner transport increased. Complaints from staff accompanying prisoner transports provide an indirect insight into what it was like for the people transported in these railway carriages.
The cold in the prison carriages during the winter and the heat during the summer were a recurring complaint. There were complaints about draughty doors that let in snow and formed snowdrifts inside the carriage. A water container was also requested to meet the need for drinking water during transport.
Prisoners moved to passenger carriages
Prisoner transport in special prison carriages continued until around 1960. SJ's last two carriages were scrapped in 1959 and 1962, respectively. By then, a new law had been in force for a number of years, requiring prisoners to be transported in ordinary passenger carriages.
Today, only one prison carriage remains, the Uddevalla-Vänersborg-Herrljunga-Järnvägs (UVHJ) prison carriage from 1868, which can be seen in the Railway Museum's core exhibition. The carriage was in use from 1868 to 1930.