Monica Lingegård feels confident about winter train traffic. But with the winter of 2023-2024 still fresh in mind – where a total of 11,000 departures for all companies were canceled during December and January – there is reason to be prepared.
After 23-24 we made major efforts. We have a completely different maintenance capability today than before, says Lingegård.
SJ, the Swedish Transport Administration and other railway stakeholders met with Infrastructure Minister Andreas Carlson (KD) on Monday to discuss efforts to avoid previous mistakes during the winter months.
But Lingegård is aware that problems may arise this year as well – it all depends on the company's own preparations and collaboration with other actors.
Ahead of winter, SJ is investing in increased de-icing capacity, more spare parts in the warehouse, more employees in the workshop and better customer reception, especially in the event of disruptions.
It will make a big difference, she says.
Trust the Christmas traffic
So you dare to take the train home for Christmas?
This is our most important task to ensure that you can travel sustainably, climate-smart and wonderfully with SJ. And yes, you can trust it, says Lingegård.
The Swedish Transport Administration's Director General Roberto Maiorana agrees – "you should really plan a trip by train" before Christmas.
When we get to Christmas, we all go into further preparedness, he says.
The authority has invested in snow-melting machines and two new snowblowers – in addition to three previously existing ones – are new for the season. Clearing locomotives covering the entire country have been in place for several winters, according to Maiorana.
Ignored maintenance
Even though, according to the Minister of Infrastructure, “there has never been so much maintenance carried out on the Swedish railways as in 2025”, evaluation needs to be carried out on an ongoing basis – and it is not yet complete. The maintenance debt for the infrastructure amounts to approximately SEK 90 billion.
"There are still problems as a result of decades of neglect of the maintenance of the Swedish railways. It is clear that this does not just happen between two winters, but it will require methodical and persistent work to be fully equipped to cope with different weather situations," says Carlson.
