Lokaltog suspends North Zealand services after employee arrest linked to train crash

All train services operated by Lokaltog in North Zealand have been suspended for at least three days due to a collective sick leave by employees. The mass absence reportedly stems from the arrest of a colleague in connection with a serious train accident in April.

According to TV 2, which cited an internal email, the entire staff at Lokaltog's operations center in Hillerød called in sick on Thursday afternoon. This has led to the complete halt of train traffic on all Lokaltog lines in the region, affecting services on the Frederiksværk, Gribskov, Hornbæk, Lille Nord, and Nærumbanen lines. These lines serve numerous towns, including Hundested, Hillerød, Helsingør, Gilleleje, and Nærum.

The arrested employee is reportedly being investigated in connection with a collision between two trains on the Gribskov line in April, an incident that resulted in injuries. Lokaltog's operations director, Stig Allan Nielsen, initially declined to comment on the reason for the sick leave, citing personnel matters, but the connection to the April accident has since emerged.

The suspension of services is expected to last for a minimum of three days, causing significant disruption for commuters and travelers in North Zealand. The situation highlights the sensitive nature of workplace safety and the impact of serious incidents on staff morale and operational capacity.