Trollhätte canal
The fast and safe transport route for shipping to Lake Vänern.
Current information
| The locks in Trollhättan and Brinkebergskulle locks are closed for repair work during the daytime 0800 - 1800 LT, September 15 - 19 and September 22 - 26, 2025. At other times, the fairway is open for vessel traffic as usual. Since the locks are closed during the day during this period, the fairway will be kept open in the evenings for pleasure craft during the period. Normally the locks close for pleasure craft at 1900, but these days the fairway will be open until 2030 Local time.
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Please refer to Swedish NtM 19172(T). |
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New locks in Lilla Edet, Trollhättan and Vänersborg |
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Trollhätte Canal is 82 km long. 10 km is dug and blasted canal, the rest is a natural fairway in Göta älv. On the route you pass 12 bridges of which 3 are fixed. The level difference of a total of 44 meters is managed by six locks, one at Lilla Edet, four locks at Trollhättan and one at Brinkebergskulle.
The water depth in the fairway is at least 6.3 meters. In the locks, the depth of the threshold is 5.7 meters at the lowest water level.
The locks, despite their age, are of modern construction with electrical / mechanical operation of doors and gates. Double bottoms makes the water distribute evenly over the entire lock, which gives calm water movements during both filling and emptying.
The Swedish Maritime Administration is constantly working to develop the Trollhätte Canal to make the journey on the canal a safe, environmentally friendly and pleasant experience.
Charge for using Trollhätte Canal
Passage of all locks at Trollhätte Canal: 1100 SEK
- The fee allows for one way travel.
- Payment for the passage of all locks takes place in Trollhättan at Kanalcentralen.
- Payment by Credit card.
Opening hours
Merchant vessels
Merchant vessels operate on the Trollhätte canal 24 hours a day, 7 days a week all year and allways have priority for passage of locks and bridge openings.
Pleasure craft
Bridges and locks between the lock 'Ström's sluss' in Lilla Edet and the bridge 'Gropbron' in Vänersborg are available for passage by pleasure craft, daily between 09.00-19.00 local time.
In the guest harbor Åkersjö Trollhättan, water and electricity are available.
There is also a toilet and shower. One overnight stay is included in the lock fee.
Contact information
For contact with bridges and locks use VHF channel 9.
A service telephone number is available :
+46(0)10-478 6331
You can call this number for information about locks, bridge openings and possible waiting times.
The telephone line is open daily from 09:00 to 19:00.
The app for Trollhätte canal
The Trollhätte Kanal app is temporarily out of order. Please refer to this web site for information about rules and regulations, opening hours, fees, bridges and locks that you should know about, when you are traveling on the canal.
Last updated 2025-07-16