The suitcase is packed in the small student apartment in Umeå when SVT meets Lova Bohman a few hours before her night train journey south.
The fact that she is able to celebrate Christmas with her family is thanks to her own and her mother’s efforts.
– I think I got the last night train ticket, she says.
The trip was canceled by mistake
At the beginning of December, several train travelers, including Lova Bohman, received an incorrect message from SJ that their Christmas train had been cancelled.
“It’s about the human factor,” wrote SJ’s press communicator Johannes Cleris in an email to SVT at the time.
The train was supposed to leave today, Friday, but no train ever came. Lova and several other travelers were left sitting at Umeå östra station for several hours without receiving any information.
– What I am most frustrated about is the lack of communication, says Lova Bohman.
SJ: “Unexpected technical error”
The fact that the train did not depart today had no connection with the earlier miss.
– When the staff were to drive off with the train this morning, they got a problem with the doors. It was unclear if the doors were really locked and when it doesn’t work, you can’t drive the train for safety reasons, says SJ’s press communicator Dan Olofsson to SVT.
For two hours they tried to fix the doors, but finally had to give up.
– Very regrettable, it was an unexpected technical error.
Will get the money back
Since the train never left, everyone has been informed that their tickets are canceled and that they will get their money back.
– The travelers will get on with other train operators.
Many trains are sold out in the days before Christmas, couldn’t you help the travelers more?
– It is very unfortunate that it happened just before Christmas. We tried to get hold of buses but couldn’t get hold of any so travelers had to rebook. Most travelers got on anyway, says Dan Olofsson.
How many passengers were affected is unclear, but the canceled train was fully booked.