Rail traffic delays after goods train derails
Rail traffic in northern Sweden will suffer interruptions this week after a goods train derailed between Älvsbyn and Jörn on Saturday.
A preliminary forecast from Sweden's Transport Authority (Trafikverket) indicates that the track can re-open on May 17th.
"There is a 100 metre stretch of track which is completely ripped up and 200 metres with damaged sleepers," said Thomas Pihl at the authority to the TT news agency.
Nine of the 13 trucks on a goods train operated by Green Cargo were derailed in the accident which occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The Transport Authority has deployed specialist vehicles to the location to remove the damaged carriages.
A new forecast will be issued regarding the anticipated rail traffic disruption.
Two passenger rail companies - SJ and Norrtåg - use the stretch of track as well as several goods transport companies.
SJ runs only night trains through the area with passengers on trains running on Saturday night forced divert to coaches for transport from Umeå and Luleå to Boden.
The same solution will be used for Sunday night services, according to Maria Hofberg at SJ.
Norrtåg has cancelled four services on Sunday with passengers offered coach transport along the route.
"We are counting on a suspension of services all week. We'll have more information on Monday," said Tomas Hedenius at Norrtåg to the TT news agency.
Green Cargo has meanwhile managed to redirect much of its transports through the Inland railway via Gällivare, Arvidsjaur and Storuman.
The company is also looking at the possibility of freighting goods via truck from Umeå.
The derailed train was transporting ore for mining firm Boliden from Aitik to Skellefteå and the firm confirmed that nine of the 13 carriages left the tracks, causing extensive damage.
No one was however hurt in the incident.
"It is too early to tell if the derailment was caused by the track or the train, the inquiry is ongoing... and is collating the facts," said Mats Hollander at Green Cargo.
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A preliminary forecast from Sweden's Transport Authority (Trafikverket) indicates that the track can re-open on May 17th.
"There is a 100 metre stretch of track which is completely ripped up and 200 metres with damaged sleepers," said Thomas Pihl at the authority to the TT news agency.
Nine of the 13 trucks on a goods train operated by Green Cargo were derailed in the accident which occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The Transport Authority has deployed specialist vehicles to the location to remove the damaged carriages.
A new forecast will be issued regarding the anticipated rail traffic disruption.
Two passenger rail companies - SJ and Norrtåg - use the stretch of track as well as several goods transport companies.
SJ runs only night trains through the area with passengers on trains running on Saturday night forced divert to coaches for transport from Umeå and Luleå to Boden.
The same solution will be used for Sunday night services, according to Maria Hofberg at SJ.
Norrtåg has cancelled four services on Sunday with passengers offered coach transport along the route.
"We are counting on a suspension of services all week. We'll have more information on Monday," said Tomas Hedenius at Norrtåg to the TT news agency.
Green Cargo has meanwhile managed to redirect much of its transports through the Inland railway via Gällivare, Arvidsjaur and Storuman.
The company is also looking at the possibility of freighting goods via truck from Umeå.
The derailed train was transporting ore for mining firm Boliden from Aitik to Skellefteå and the firm confirmed that nine of the 13 carriages left the tracks, causing extensive damage.
No one was however hurt in the incident.
"It is too early to tell if the derailment was caused by the track or the train, the inquiry is ongoing... and is collating the facts," said Mats Hollander at Green Cargo.
TT/The Local/pvs Follow The Local on Twitter
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