Rail services between Denmark and Sweden across the Øresund Bridge are likely to be reduced throughout this week after a fault with the track was discovered during a planned inspection.
Trains crossing the Øresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden are expected to do so at reduced speed throughout this week after a routine inspection revealed wear to the track which must be repaired. There will also be a lower number of rail departures, with reduced services partly covered by replacement buses.
Reduced services and extended travel times were confirmed by Øresundsbron, the company which operates the bridge, in an update on its website.
A “scheduled inspection” of the track uncovered defects requiring a speed reduction on the rail connection, it said in the update.
The issue is only present on limited sections of the railway but the speed has been reduced across longer sections for technical reasons, it said.
“Öresundsbron is working closely with industry partners to reduce disruption and implement measures to prevent broader impacts on the connection,” it added.
“Safety is the highest priority for the Øresund Bridge and therefore a reduction in speed – in both directions – has been requested until measures are taken to minimise disruption. Train services are reduced,” it continued.
Advertisement
While repairs are already underway, some of the materials used take longer to obtain because they are unique to the Øresund Bridge, a 15.9 kilometre-connection consisting of a suspension bridge, a tunnel and the artificial island of Peberholm.
READ ALSO: Danish and Swedish royals to meet on Öresund Bridge
The operating company is “working at full speed to minimise the disruption,” it said.
In a traffic update on its website, southern Swedish public transport operator Skånetrafiken said “significantly” fewer trains than usual are crossing the Øresund Bridge, which could lead to congestion.
The reduced departures mean that, on the Swedish side of the bridge, some Öresundståg services will terminate at Malmö Central Station instead of continuing to Hyllie station and then onwards to Copenhagen. Passengers travelling between Malmö C and Hyllie are advised to use other available departures.
Rail replacement buses will depart from Hyllie to Copenhagen Airport. Passengers are advised to use the Copenhagen Metro to connect to central Copenhagen from the airport. Replacement buses from Copenhagen Airport to Malmö will leave from Terminal 3.
Passengers should check their journey for information on specific departures, Skånetrafiken said.
Although trains are still running, services are reduced, so anyone travelling across the bridge is advised to allow plenty of time for their journey. As of Tuesday morning, two trains per hour are expected to run in each direction.
It’s not known how long the repairs will take, but April 22nd has been set by Øresundsbron as a preliminary end date.