Published: Just now
Now the messy train week that the Swedish Transport Administration had previously flagged is getting under way. Train travelers can expect more hassle and longer journey times than usual.
During week 24, which starts today, 35 miles of the railway will be closed for maintenance work on the Södra main line. Contact lines, switches and tracks must be replaced, which means stopping parts of the track. The section between Stockholm and Malmö is affected, as is the section between Norrköping and Hässleholm. It is possible to travel between these stations, but the trains run on the Västra instead of the Södra main line.
No tickets have been sold for the affected routes, so customers will not have their journey cancelled, according to what Jonas Olsson at SJ’s press service previously told TT. However, a journey that normally takes just over four hours can take closer to seven hours.
For routes that SJ does not operate during this week, replacement buses are deployed by other operators.
The Swedish Transport Administration has been planning the extensive work for a year and a half.
The reason it is being carried out right now is a pent-up need to equip the railway. In a short time, they want to carry out as much work as possible to avoid unplanned disturbances in the future, according to Jenny Nilsson, project manager at the Swedish Transport Administration.
FACTS
Train routes are closed
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).
The track works also affect the Coast to Coast line from Gothenburg to Karlskrona and Kalmar as well as Mälartåg’s five lines between Norrköping and Linköping.
Travelers are asked to stay updated via the train company they will be traveling with during this week.
Replacement traffic in the form of buses and rescheduled train routes will be introduced.
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