A major fire in Hässleholm has caused a halt to train traffic for just over a week. Traffic will not resume until next Friday at the earliest.
In the meantime, travelers can expect significant delays.
The Swedish Transport Administration urges everyone who plans to travel by train passing through Hässleholm to choose other travel options if possible.
Johanna Nymberg is one of many who will be able to take a replacement bus from Hässleholm. She understands the situation, considering that it is an extraordinary event.
But she was not told in advance that the journey, with Hovmantorp in Småland as the final destination, would be complicated.
”"There was very poor information from SJ. I booked my ticket on August 5th and if you have booked in advance and are going to travel through Hässleholm, I think you can send a text message or an email. I didn't find out or hear anything until I was standing on the platform in Helsingborg," says Johanna Nymberg.
The fire was reported late Wednesday afternoon. Heavy flames erupted from an empty warehouse, which was completely destroyed, and the fire caused extensive damage to overhead wires, tracks and signaling systems on the adjacent railway.
The police are classifying the incident as arson. On Thursday, demolition and inspection were underway at the site, a work that is expected to continue well into the night. The Swedish Transport Administration has around 30 people on site, and describes the damage as extensive. Traffic through Hässleholm can resume no earlier than next Friday.
”There was much more damage than we initially thought,” says Denny Josefsson.
Skånetrafiken states that they are trying to get replacement buses, but that passengers can expect several hours longer travel time.
SJ has two trains per hour that are affected, with a few hundred passengers on each.
”"This is so problematic that we tell customers that if they have the opportunity to travel in another way or at a different time, it is a good alternative," says Karin Starkman Ahlstedt, communications officer at SJ.
The trains run between Stockholm and Alvesta. SJ has no trains running south of Alvesta.
”"Right now we are working to get replacement buses. We have decided that those who want to travel further south than Alvesta will have to arrange the last part of the journey themselves," says Karin Starkman Ahlstedt.
”We are very sorry that our travelers are affected by this and we are working hard to find the best solutions,” she continues.
Source: TT
