Train travelers have to put up with more turbulence than usual in train traffic this summer. The Swedish Transport Administration is refurbishing the Södra main line and several train lines will be closed completely for a week in June.
It involves about ten major works and about 50 minor ones on the Södra stambanan’s railway, which covers a stretch of around 35 miles between Norrköping and Hässleholm. Among other things, gears must be replaced, contact lines must be equipped and equipment for communication upgraded.
For travelers, this means that several train routes, such as the one between Norrköping and Hässleholm, will be completely closed at various times during week 24.
– We hope that travelers will tolerate this, says Jenny Nilsson, project manager at the Swedish Transport Administration, to TT.
Replacement traffic in the form of buses and rescheduled train routes will be introduced and it is already possible to book tickets according to the new routes, she announces.
– But to ensure times and replacement traffic at a detailed level, you should contact your train company, she says.
Avoid stops further ahead
Extensive railway work during the summer has drawn criticism from, for example, the Swedish Tourist Association, which has had to cancel planned events due to changed train routes.
TT: Why such extensive work during a summer period when so many travel?
– There is a pent-up need to equip the railway. We try to carry out as much work as possible in a short time so that it disturbs less and in the long run results in fewer unplanned disturbances, says Jenny Nilsson.
Deferred works
At the same time, the Swedish Transport Administration has pushed forward around 50 maintenance works on the tracks this summer to create air in traffic planning.
TT: Can travelers expect to avoid so many train stops and changed times after this work?
– Since there is a pent-up need for maintenance of the railway, we will need more work in the facility. But we do what we can to reduce the total traffic impact as much as possible, says Jenny Nilsson.
The intensive renovation of the Södra main line has been planned since a year and a half ago and is intended to make up for some of the delayed work in maintaining the railway.
Different parts of the affected route will be closed for different parts of the week. Travelers between Stockholm and Malmö will have to travel long detours by train through western Sweden.
FACTS
Train routes are closed for one week in June
Track work on the Södra main line week 24 (12–18 June):
Stockholm-Malmö, Norrköping-Linköping, Kimstad, Norsholm, Mjölby, Mantorp, Nässjö, Värnamo-Forsheda, Sjöatorp, Alvesta, Älmhult-Nässjö and Älmhult-Hässleholm.
A large number of works are carried out during week 24 on the route Norrköping and Hässleholm (South main line) and Alvesta – Värnamo (Coast to Coast line). Travelers are asked to stay updated via the train company they will be traveling with during this week.
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