Most railways in Sweden were built before 1930, a time when tunnels were avoided as much as possible. Some shortcuts in the form of tunnels have been constructed in certain areas after 1950.

Railways built after 1990 have significantly more tunnels. This is due to modern trains with high speeds, which require specific demands on the design of the track.

Tunnels are constructed in various types of materials, ranging from loose clay to hard rock. The construction method varies based on the geotechnical conditions, with drilling and blasting being the most common.

In Sweden, there are currently 200 railway tunnels, with a total length of 121 kilometres. The Hallandsås Tunnel, with its 8,733 metres, is the longest. The oldest railway tunnel is located on the island of Oaxen south of Stockholm. With a length of approximately 30 metres, it is also the shortest.