Emergency inspection of X2000 trains this weekend led to canceled departures between the metropolitan regions. However, SJ downplays the risks for Christmas traffic.
– We hope to have resolved this at the beginning of the week, says Martina Nord at SJ’s press service.
Nine express trains of the X2000 model have been taken out of service after one train suffered a wheel damage on Thursday. The nine trains that have been stopped have the same type of wheels and must now be quickly inspected for safety reasons.
Four of the trains, which had been scattered across the country, were taken during the night to an inspection site and the others are on their way. During Saturday, traffic between Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, as well as between Stockholm and Karlstad, will be affected.
Canceled trains
A few departures have been canceled between Stockholm and Gothenburg, but overall the situation is better than feared, according to Martina Nord at SJ’s press service.
– We have managed to solve the vast majority of departures by using other types of trains and in some cases buses, she says.
Affected travelers can rebook subject to availability or cancel and get their money back.
– According to the circumstances, we have managed to solve a lot considering that we took so many trains out of service at such short notice. I hope you understand that this is an extra security measure.
Christmas in danger?
The Christmas holiday, one of the biggest travel holidays of the year, is a week away. A certain traffic impact is likely because the train that suffered wheel damage will not be ready for Christmas, but Martina Nord urges calm.
– There is nothing at the moment to indicate that there will be major changes, but on the other hand, the vehicle situation this weekend is very strained. We hope it will be resolved next week, but we can’t say anything 100 percent because we don’t have the answers yet.
– You will get clarity on this and be able to see how the trains run at the beginning of next week.