One in five trains delayed in August; summer may be worst in five years

Norway's train services are experiencing their most delayed summer in at least five years, with August proving particularly problematic. So far this month, only 80.1% of passenger trains have operated on schedule, a stark decline from previous years and well below the government's target of 90% punctuality.

“

It is not unusual for punctuality to be affected when we carry out extensive renewal works on the most trafficked lines in the country, while also running as many trains as possible on other lines.

The situation has worsened throughout the summer. While May saw over 90% of trains running on time, June's punctuality dropped to 87.6%, followed by July at 83.2%. This July performance was significantly lower than in the preceding four years, when punctuality consistently remained above 85%. The last time a summer month saw punctuality below 85% was June 2022, which recorded around 83%.

Bane Nor, the national railway company, explained that the extensive renewal and maintenance work carried out on the country's busiest lines during the summer inevitably impacts punctuality. Atle Lessum, Bane Nor's Director of Communications, stated that delaying necessary maintenance is not an option, as it would lead to greater challenges in the future. The company's goal is to create a more robust railway system with fewer faults and more stable traffic.

“

It should not be like that.

Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård acknowledged the frustration caused by the train disruptions. He emphasized that while the railway system is complex, he expects Bane Nor to implement concrete measures quickly to prevent similar situations during future maintenance periods. Nygård has convened urgent meetings with Bane Nor and the Directorate of Railways to address the ongoing issues and seek rapid improvements.

“

I expect Bane Nor to have a concrete plan with measures that can be implemented quickly, so that we do not end up in such a situation next time we do necessary maintenance and renewal of train lines.