Four events behind 9,000 delayed trains

SVT Nyheter has mapped the train delays last year – here you can search for your station and see what was behind the delays.

The main reasons for the delays last year were infrastructure failures and accidents and incidents according to the railway industry’s annual report.

But four individual events are singled out as particularly influential.

• Arlanda Express derailment

On May 27, an Arlanda express train derailed north of Stockholm. This resulted in extensive damage to the track which took several months to repair. Trains were forced to pass the site on single track and at reduced speed.

In its annual report, the Swedish Transport Administration points out the derailment as “the single biggest reason for the lower punctuality in 2023” for the passenger trains. Normally speaking, the Arlanda Express trains are Sweden’s most punctual trains.

In total, the incident resulted in 1,283 disruption hours and critical disruptions for 5,311 trains, meaning a delay of more than five minutes at the terminus.

• Embankment burst after rain chaos

Heavy rain caused the embankment to give way and an SJ train with 120 passengers derailed between Iggesund and Hudiksvall last August. Three people had to be taken to hospital.

High water flows delayed the restoration of the railway, resulting in severe delays for a month.

533 disruption hours were recorded on the incident and 293 trains are estimated to have suffered critical disruptions.

• Freight train derailed

In October, a freight train derailed at Sävenäs marshalling yard in Gothenburg. This contributed to the fact that two tracks could not be used for a couple of months, mainly freight trains were affected but also passenger trains.

In total, it resulted in 980 hours of disruption and 653 trains with critical disruptions.

• Strul with new planning tool

The introduction of a new traffic planning system contributed to major delays last year. Among other things, due to confusion with timetables, track work and planning for personnel and vehicles.

It is estimated to have resulted in at least 4,000 hours of disruption and 2,900 trains with critical disruptions.

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