Kungsträdgården metro station

Kungsträdgården is a station of the Stockholm Metro, located in the district of Norrmalm. It is the end station of line 10 and line 11, and was opened on 30 October 1977, as the 91st station and part of the one-station extension from T-Centralen.^[3] The platform is located approximately 34 meters underground. The station features relics rescued from the many buildings pulled down during the redevelopment of central Stockholm during the 1950s and 1960s throughout the station.^[4]

Kungsträdgården
Stockholm metro station
General information
Location	Norrmalm, Stockholm
Coordinates	59°19′50″N 18°04′24″E
Elevation	−29.3 m (−96 ft) AMSL[1]
Owned by	Storstockholms Lokaltrafik
Distance	0.2 km (0.12 mi) from Kungsträdgården[a][1]
Platforms	1 island platform
Tracks	2
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Depth	34 m (112 ft)
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	KTG
History
Opened	30 October 1977; 47 years ago (30 October 1977)
Passengers
2019	9,850 boarding per weekday[2]
Services
Preceding station Stockholm Metro Following station Terminus Line 10 T-Centralen towards Hjulsta Line 11 T-Centralen towards Akalla
Location

The entrance to the station was originally intended to be in the park Kungsträdgården, but due to the Elm Conflict in 1971 these plans had to change.

Southbound platform

Relics rescued from the redevelopment of central Stockholm during the 1950s and 1960s

Flora and fauna

Moss growing on the station walls

The station is notable for its unique plant, animal and fungal life. It is the only place in Scandinavia where the Lessertia dentichelis spider can be found. The cave-dwelling spider has lived on the station's walls ever since it opened for service in the mid-1970s, but scientists do not know exactly how it got there. Presumably, it traveled on machines and excavation equipment from Southern Europe that was used during the construction. There is also moss growing on the walls that was previously thought to be extinct in the Stockholm region.^[5]

In 2016 a team of scientists conducting a survey of the metro's wildlife discovered two previously unknown species of fungi covering the station walls. Upon closer analysis the fungi turned out to be from a previously unknown genus, with unique DNA compositions.^[6]

In popular culture

In September 1994, a music video for Living in Danger by the band Ace of Base was shot at the station (director: Matt Broadley).^[7]

Notes

1. The kilometre zero of the Blue line – commonly given as "Kungsträdgården" – is actually in a tunnel 200 m (660 ft) east of Kungsträdgården's platforms.