According to multiple reports, SJ discovered a crack in an X2000 train wheel on Sunday, which caused a piece to come off the wheel. The operator decided to stop all X2000 trains overnight on Sunday, affecting the Västra stambanan between Stockholm and Göteborg, Sweden's busiest railway line. Cracks in train wheels can lead to derailments, SJ noted, prompting the precautionary measure.
SJ is conducting emergency safety checks on 13 trains with the same type of wheels, the company said. The stop is expected to last until lunchtime on Monday, according to SJ. All trains with the same type of wheel must be inspected, the company stated in an official announcement. Canceled departures include services from Stockholm to Malmö, Stockholm to Göteborg, Malmö to Stockholm, Malmö to Göteborg, and Göteborg to Stockholm, as reported by multiple media outlets.
Many passengers appear to have rebooked or stayed home, according to SJ customer service representatives. Affected passengers are offered rebooking or refunds, SJ confirmed. The exact number of passengers impacted has not been disclosed.
Despite the operational setback, SJ reported strong financial results for the first quarter of 2025. Monica Lingegård, CEO of SJ, said the company is very satisfied with the first quarter of 2025. Passenger numbers increased by ten percent compared to the same quarter last year, according to company data. The first quarter of 2024 was affected by many canceled trains and reduced travel, mainly due to vehicle shortages during and after the severe winter, the company noted. Ticket revenue increased by 13 percent to 1,781 million SEK compared to 1,573 million SEK in Q1 2024. Operating profit for Q1 2025 was 102 million SEK compared to -74 million SEK in Q1 2024, and operating margin was 3.0 percent compared to -2.8 percent in Q1 2024.
All trains with the same type of wheel must be inspected.
Lingegård emphasized that SJ's most important goal is to get more passengers, and 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, she said.
Operational performance improved in Q1 2025. Lingegård noted that more passengers after their trip in Q1 2025 were willing to recommend SJ to others. Supply increased and overall occupancy rate was in line with the previous year, while the yield (price per passenger kilometer) increased compared to Q1 2024. Due to the milder winter and a ten-point program including expanded de-icing capacity and more spare parts in stock, the number of canceled and delayed trains was significantly lower in Q1 2025 than in Q1 2024. Larger margins in the timetable for the Western Main Line during ongoing replacement of the overhead contact line between Olskroken and Alingsås have contributed to increased punctuality, the company reported.
Infrastructure challenges continue to affect SJ. Lingegård acknowledged that passengers are affected by longer travel times and more complicated journeys during many weekend closures, but SJ welcomes the extensive investments in infrastructure. Canceled and rerouted trains with longer travel times affect commercial operators like SJ very much, she said. It is important that Trafikverket and its contractors work as efficiently as possible with large inputs of personnel and machinery, Lingegård added.
The cause of the wheel crack remains unknown, and it is unclear how many passengers were affected by the X2000 stoppage. SJ has not specified when the X2000 service will fully resume, nor whether there are other safety issues with the fleet beyond the wheel crack. The specific type of wheel involved and how many trains have it have not been disclosed.