Train traffic after snow chaos and periods of cold temperatures

Published 19 January 2024 at 14:02

The aftermath of the snow chaos on 17 January and the cold period leading up to it will affect trains in Eastern Norway for some time.

Thank you for your patience

First of all; thank you for your patience recently! We know that January has been demanding for many of you who travel by train, with cancellations, delays and fewer carriages due to the weather situation.

The train service in the coming period

Many departures will run with fewer carriages, due to ice making it difficult to connect the train sets, among other things. It will therefore be crowded on several departures, especially during rush hour. In addition, several rush hour departures have been cancelled, and you must expect delays.

The situation changes quickly, even from day to day, and although we are working to ensure that you have as much predictability as possible, there may be changes along the way. Our best tip is therefore to check the journey planner in the Vy app or on vy.no before and during your travels, so that you are up to date.

It takes time to clear the snow and ice

There is a lot of snow to be removed from tracks, platforms and the areas around the stations. In addition, Bane NOR is working hard to keep switches free of snow and ice. Read more about the clean-up on the Bane NOR website (in Norwegian only)⁠External link.
We have not yet gained full access to the workshop areas for the trains, due to the amount of snow. There are many trains stuck at the workshops waiting to start running. In addition we have many trains that have not received the necessary maintenance, because they can’t get to the workshops. Bane NOR has had to prioritise keeping the tracks open, so that the trains that are out in traffic can run.
Two periods with a lot of snow, and a long period of cold, have meant that there has been a buildup of hard-packed snow and ice on the trains. The lumps of ice are large, up to 400 kg, and take many hours to thaw. As a result, the workshops are behind on maintenance work, because they have to defrost the trains first. Read more about why the trains struggle in the cold and snow.

The travel guarantee applies if you are delayed

Tips for travelling

Check the journey planner in the Vy app or on vy.no before your journey - That way you are up to date on any changes or delays to your departure.
Turn on notifications in the Vy app - Then we can send you a notification regarding any closures or if your train is delayed, canceled or running from a different track. Go to Notifications in the menu to set up notifications.