HUDIKSVALL. Outside Hudiksvall, a train derailed after the embankment collapsed and in several places the high water flows stop the trains from arriving.
Buses are now replacing the trains in several parts of the country.
– On most routes we have found a solution, says Martina Nord, press communicator at SJ.
On Monday, an SJ train derailed near Hudiksvall. The rainy weather had caused the embankment to collapse and three people were taken to hospital and over a hundred passengers were evacuated.
The rails, which were destroyed in the derailment, have created a stop in train traffic. Initially, it was announced that the stoppage would be for the rest of the week. But on Wednesday, the Swedish Transport Administration announced that the section will not be drivable until August 21.
Lifting cranes must lift the train back onto the rails
The sun shines and the dust swirls as trucks shuttle loads of cargo to create a firm foundation next to the crash site where cranes will be placed to lift the train back onto the tracks.
The work to build the road up to the crashed train has taken longer than the Swedish Transport Administration initially estimated. During the Wednesday afternoon, it was supposed that the train would be salvaged, but large masses of water have made the work difficult and now it is likely that Thursday could be relevant if everything goes as it should.
Buses replace trains
– We currently have bus services between Hudiksvall and Söderhamn. Yesterday we diverted the traffic via Ånge, but it resulted in a significantly extended travel time, says Martina Nord, press communicator at SJ.
At the same time, traffic between Sundsvall and Ånge is also stopped.
– It is due to an electrical fault, a tree fell over a contact line, says Martina Nord.
At the moment, SJ estimates that the travel time on the route between Stockholm and Umeå will be extended by between 30 and 60 minutes due to the replacement buses.
– That solution will last until the rails are fixed, says Martina Nord.
Several routes are affected
The high water flows have also created problems on other train lines in the country. On the stretch from Stockholm to Mora, the high water flows have stopped train traffic between Mora and Borlänge, that stretch is now replaced by buses.
– We are working on making it clear when booking that there are replacement buses on some routes, says Martina Nord.
On the route between Stockholm, Åre and Duved, replacement buses also run on part of the journey.
– There the train goes from Stockholm to Östersund, then a replacement bus for the last bit, says Martina Nord.
Norway has also been hit hard by storm Hans, which affects train traffic to Oslo. Trains go to Arvika and from there replacement buses.
– The high flows in Norway mean that it is not possible to drive there, says Martina Nord.