The extreme weather system 'Dave' hit Østfold and the Swedish border on Sunday during Easter traffic, according to official sources. A Vy train struck a tree that had fallen across the track between Ed and Öxnered in Sweden. No one was physically injured in the collision, officials said, but the train was damaged and could not continue. Siv Egger Westin, press contact at Vy, stated that a train had driven into a tree that fell over the track due to bad weather in Sweden, and that there were no injuries but the train was damaged, with efforts underway to get passengers away from the site. All Vy RE20 trains between Halden and Gothenburg were cancelled for the rest of Sunday. Westin explained that they decided not to run any more trains to Sweden that day, meaning no trains between Halden and Gothenburg for the rest of the day, and advised passengers to find alternative solutions, noting there were no buses on the Swedish side due to the weather. According to NRK Østfold, passenger Erik Sørdal Landsem described the situation on the stranded train, saying they had experienced a similar incident last year and were taking it with good humor, receiving free chocolate and coffee from staff. The line between Halden and Gothenburg reopened around midnight Monday-Tuesday but closed again around 15:30 due to another tree on the track, multiple reports indicate.
A fire along the railway at Notodden closed the Sørlandsbanen line between Kongsberg and Nordagutu, according to officials. Around 40 personnel from fire services in Tinn, Notodden, and Kongsberg, plus Civil Defence, were working on the fire. The fire started on Wednesday afternoon and flared up again on Thursday at around 16:00, officials said. Pål Svensberg, incident commander at Notodden fire station, stated that there were still a lot of hot spots along the railway, and that it had been quiet through the night but they deployed full strength from the morning because it kept flaring up. The fires at Breisetvegen in Notodden flared up again, burning further west, according to major media reports. A forest fire helicopter was called to the scene. The Sørlandsbanen line reopened between Kongsberg and Nordagutu after inspection, with reduced traffic for fire trains, freight trains, and passenger trains, major media reported. Erik Smidsrød-Brennseter, duty manager at 110 central Sør-Øst, said that it was mostly extinguished and cold, and the railway could open again. Gunnar Børseth, press contact at Bane NOR, noted that the fire was under control but it would still take time before the railway could reopen.
We experienced the same last year, also with the Vy train home from Gothenburg.
Other disruptions included power supply problems to signals, tracks, and overhead lines on the Swedish side, according to officials. Westin said that in addition to trees that had fallen over the track, there was also a lot of trouble with the power supply to signals, tracks, and overhead lines on the Swedish side, and that the power to the infrastructure comes and goes, making the situation unstable, which was the main reason for cancelling remaining departures. Trains between Oslo and Halden were running normally, officials said. Train traffic at Arlanda Central was stopped due to smoke on an SJ train, major media reported. SOS Alarm stated that there was smoke inside a train, but it was not confirmed to be a fire. Agnes Brandt, team leader at SOS Alarm, said emergency services and ambulances were arriving, and it should only be smoke with no flames. Train traffic between Uppsala and Morgongåva was stopped due to trees and power lines falling on the track, according to major media. Train traffic between Støren and Røros was stopped due to a work train breakdown, major media reported. A fire in a locomotive in Oslo caused the closure of the main line between Oslo and Eidsvoll, major media reported. The Oslo Fire Department posted on social media about a fire in a locomotive in the Fagerlia/Etterstad area, with OBRE having several resources on site as well as personnel with a fire train. A tree on the track at Hunderfossen in Øyer municipality could cause delays on the Dovrebanen line, according to major media. Train traffic between Holmestrand and Drammen was stopped due to a fire near the railway track, major media reported. A ground fire was reported near Eskilstuna, spotted by a train driver, major media said. Bane Nor stated that they were clarifying the situation, which takes time.
We can't do anything other than take it with good humor, so we'll hold out. Now we get some free chocolate and coffee from the staff.
They walk back and forth here, and we haven't received any information yet.