Staff shortages force reduced train services on Zealand

Commuters on Denmark's Zealand island face significant disruptions to regional train services between June 22 and June 30. DSB, the national railway company, announced a reduction in service, advising passengers to check Rejseplanen for updated schedules.

The cancellations will impact three key routes. Trains operating between Slagelse and Copenhagen Airport, bypassing Copenhagen Central Station, have been entirely canceled. Additionally, services on two other lines will be reduced to hourly departures.

These reduced services include the route between Næstved and Copenhagen Central Station via Køge. During peak hours, trains between Nykøbing Falster, Næstved, and Copenhagen Central Station, requiring a change in Næstved, will also run only once per hour. However, peak hour schedules on some other routes will remain unchanged.

DSB's information chief, Tony Bispeskov, cited extensive track work across Zealand as the primary reason for the service cuts. He explained that shorter, rerouted journeys require more train personnel than longer, continuous routes, exacerbating the impact of existing staff shortages.

Bispeskov added that DSB is actively working to train more train drivers to address the ongoing personnel deficit and mitigate future service disruptions.

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When a route is shortened, more train personnel are needed than if the same personnel could be on the entire route.