Snow brings trains to a standstill
Wintery conditions have paralysed the rail network in central Sweden. Snow and wind have brought all rail traffic to a halt in Norduppland, Dalarna, Gästrikland and Hälsingland. The inclement weather has also meant that 45,000 households are without electricity this morning.
Banverket, the Swedish rail authority, is on high alert after 1,300 passengers were left stranded overnight on trains in Uppsala, Gävle, Ånge and Sundsvall.
"We have now stopped all traffic in our region," said Jonas Westlund, a representative of the Swedish rail authority's central region.
"We have had problems on basically all of our lines. So we now have to start seriously prioritising between the lines, even going so far as to mobilise resources nationally," Westlund continued.
Disruptions are also possible on the high-speed X 2000 trains as a result of trees falling on the tracks between Katrineholm and Hallsberg.
"This may lead to delays on the X 2000 between Stockholm and Gothenburg," said Edvard Lind of SJ, Swedish Rail.
By 8 a.m. this morning 45,000 households had no electricity.
"Our main problems are on the coast of Uppland," said Vattenfall's Christel Thuresson, who expected normal service to resume within twelve hours.
Eon and Fortum also reported problems in the counties of Jönköping, Kronoberg and Gävleborg.
Meteorological service SMHI and the Swedish Road Administration have both warned of deteriorating road conditions today from central Sweden to the south of the country. Temperatures are expected to fall well below zero resulting in icy roads after several days of rainfall.
Harsh winds are predicted in Södermanland, Uppland, and southern Värmland, while winds In Gotland may reach storm force later today.
Check out the latest forecast where you are at www.thelocal.se/weather/
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Banverket, the Swedish rail authority, is on high alert after 1,300 passengers were left stranded overnight on trains in Uppsala, Gävle, Ånge and Sundsvall.
"We have now stopped all traffic in our region," said Jonas Westlund, a representative of the Swedish rail authority's central region.
"We have had problems on basically all of our lines. So we now have to start seriously prioritising between the lines, even going so far as to mobilise resources nationally," Westlund continued.
Disruptions are also possible on the high-speed X 2000 trains as a result of trees falling on the tracks between Katrineholm and Hallsberg.
"This may lead to delays on the X 2000 between Stockholm and Gothenburg," said Edvard Lind of SJ, Swedish Rail.
By 8 a.m. this morning 45,000 households had no electricity.
"Our main problems are on the coast of Uppland," said Vattenfall's Christel Thuresson, who expected normal service to resume within twelve hours.
Eon and Fortum also reported problems in the counties of Jönköping, Kronoberg and Gävleborg.
Meteorological service SMHI and the Swedish Road Administration have both warned of deteriorating road conditions today from central Sweden to the south of the country. Temperatures are expected to fall well below zero resulting in icy roads after several days of rainfall.
Harsh winds are predicted in Södermanland, Uppland, and southern Värmland, while winds In Gotland may reach storm force later today.
Check out the latest forecast where you are at www.thelocal.se/weather/
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