According to multiple reports, SJ found a crack in a wheel of an X2000 train on Sunday, with a piece having broken off from the cracked wheel. The discovery led the company to stop all X2000 trains during the night, affecting the Western Main Line between Stockholm and Göteborg, Sweden's busiest rail line. Cracks in train wheels can in worst case lead to derailments, the reports noted. SJ stated that the stop is expected to last until lunchtime on Monday, and that 13 trains are being inspected for similar wheel cracks. Affected passengers are offered rebooking or refunds, and according to SJ customer service representatives, many passengers seem to have rebooked or stayed home.
The incident comes as SJ reported a strong first quarter of 2025. Monica Lingegård, CEO of SJ, said in a press release that SJ is very satisfied with the first quarter of 2025. Passenger numbers increased by ten percent compared to the first quarter of 2024, which was affected by many canceled trains and reduced travel, mainly due to vehicle shortages during and after the severe winter. Ticket revenue rose by 13 percent to 1,781 million SEK from 1,573 million SEK in the same period last year. The yield, or price per passenger kilometer, also improved. Operating profit for the first quarter of 2025 was 102 million SEK, compared to a loss of 74 million SEK in the first quarter of 2024, and the operating margin improved to 3.0 percent from -2.8 percent.
SJ attributed the improved performance partly to a milder winter and a ten-point program that included increased de-icing capacity and more spare parts in stock, which led to significantly fewer canceled and delayed trains. Larger margins in the timetable for the Western Main Line during ongoing replacement of the overhead contact line between Olskroken and Alingsås have also contributed to increased punctuality. Lingegård noted that passengers are affected by longer travel times and more complicated journeys during many weekend closures, but SJ welcomes the extensive investments in infrastructure. She added that canceled and rerouted trains with longer travel times affect commercial operators like SJ very much, and that it is important that Trafikverket and its contractors work as efficiently as possible with large inputs of personnel and machinery.
Looking ahead, Lingegård stated that SJ's most important goal is to get more passengers. She also emphasized that it is also important to make money; SJ is making large investments in new high-speed trains, new regional trains, refurbished X2000 trains, refurbished double-decker trains, refurbished sleeping and couchette cars, and refurbished kiosk cars. According to Lingegård, more passengers after their trip in the first quarter of 2025 were willing to recommend SJ to others.
The cause of the crack in the X2000 wheel remains unknown, and it is unclear how many passengers are affected by the stoppage. The exact time of resumption has not been confirmed, and there are no immediate reports of safety concerns regarding the wheel type used on other trains. The financial impact of the X2000 stoppage on SJ has not been disclosed.