Significant Railway Works Over Easter Extend Travel Times

Extensive railway maintenance is scheduled for the upcoming Easter weekend, with significant implications for travel times across various routes.

The Swedish Transport Administration has decided to undertake these works during the Easter holiday period, citing reduced passenger numbers compared to regular weekdays, which minimizes disruption. Favorable weather conditions have also been a contributing factor to this timing.

One major project involves the replacement of the electrical power system between Gothenburg and Alingsås on the West Main Line. This upgrade is expected to severely impact train services between Gothenburg and Stockholm, resulting in fewer departures and additional track changes. Transport officials note that many of the existing systems are nearly a century old and have been subject to ongoing repairs. The complete replacement is necessary to ensure reliability for another hundred years.

As a result of these upgrades, the travel time for high-speed trains operated by SJ between Stockholm and Gothenburg, which typically takes around three hours, will double during the Easter weekend. To circumvent delays and the need for substitute bus services, SJ will reroute its trains. The extended travel times will be most pronounced from Good Friday to Easter Monday, spanning April 18 to 21, with journeys taking approximately 5.5 to 6 hours. Passengers were made aware of the extended travel times at the time of ticket purchase, and tickets were offered at lower prices to reflect the anticipated delays.

Additionally, the train operator VR will replace the train service between Gothenburg and Nässjö with bus transportation during this period.

Beyond the Gothenburg-Stockholm route, the Easter railway maintenance will have a ripple effect on travel from Helsingborg in the south to the Malmbanan in the north. Notably, the Mälarbanan near Stockholm is set for expansion from two to four tracks. Moreover, travelers between Gothenburg and Malmö should prepare for potentially doubled travel times due to construction related to the Varberg Tunnel, which will close portions of the route from April 11 to April 22.

Motorists opting for road travel may also face delays, especially those heading to ski resorts, as certain routes are expected to experience heavy traffic on specific days, such as Maundy Thursday and Easter Monday. Travelers are advised to remain mindful of potential congestion and to check weather forecasts, as varying road conditions can be anticipated across the extensive geography of the country. Those planning to travel to mountainous areas should ensure their vehicles are equipped with winter tires.