The Swedish Transport Administration’s track works this summer are expected to cause problems for both travelers and the hospitality industry. Daniel Skog, responsible for sustainability at the Swedish Tourist Association, says that they have already been forced to cancel events this summer.
– For example, we have had to cancel our popular family mountain week at Saltoluokta mountain station because tickets could not be released due to track work, he says.
Daniel Skog certainly thinks that it is good that the railway is being upgraded because there are many people who want to travel by train in Sweden, but he is critical of track works being planned with too little notice.
– There are no excuses for them not to be planned in good time so that the train tickets can be released, he says and adds that there are many people who contact SFT who are frustrated with the situation.
– We have many guests who contact us and are upset that they cannot book their train journey, and in the worst case they have to cancel their entire holiday. We also have quite a lot of cancellations from guests and larger groups who simply can’t get to their destinations.
“Need to see a solution already this summer”
The Swedish Transport Administration’s forecast is that many of the problems in train traffic will be resolved when the next train plan is presented in December, but it is far too late, says Daniel Skog.
– We need to see a solution already this summer so that our guests, and everyone who wants to go on holiday, can travel in a climate-smart and simple way, he says.
Some places more vulnerable than others
In addition to STF being forced to cancel the family mountain week in Saltoluokta this summer, there have also been problems with the trains to and from Gällivare – but the problem with train tickets being released late has been witnessed by the hospitality industry for several years.
– Now it’s important that the Swedish Transport Administration comes back quickly and keeps the 18 weeks in advance in track work planning as it should, and that you get the tickets out on time, says Daniel Skog.