UPDATE: Which trains could be cancelled due to Sweden's rail strike?
The first stage of the three-stage strike announced by Sweden's transport union is set to break out at 3pm on Monday if negotiations fail. Here's where services are likely to be affected. (update: the strike was called off on Monday morning)
Seko announced plans to strike earlier this month in protest at the rail companies' refusal to enter negotiations over more predictable timetables and shift schedules for drivers.
The union has divided the strike into three separate stages, with roughly 1,200 members stopping work, and disruption escalating the longer the rail companies take to reach an agreement.
The strike was initially set to get under way on Thursday, May 11th, but was postponed as the mediation process with Almega Tågföretagen, the trade body representing Sweden's rail companies, continued. It will now start at 3pm on Monday if no agreement is struck by then.
Here's an updated list of the key dates on which train services could be affected:
May 15th: Öresundståg and some Stockholm commuter trains
In the first stage of the strike, train drivers employed by the company Transdev, who work on the Öresundståg trains travelling from across Skåne over the bridge to Copenhagen will go on strike, as will workers for the train operator MTR based in Älvsjö, south of Stockholm.
This means Öresundståg trains are likely to be affected, as are parts of SL commuter transport (trains and the metro are still expected to be running in the capital, but with some potential cancellations and delays).
National rail operator SJ said that fast trains on the following routes could also be affected from May 16th: Stockholm-Malmö-Copenhagen and Stockholm-Gothenburg, as well as regional trains between Gothenburg and Kalmar and the sleeper between Gothenburg and Umeå.
May 19th: Stockholm underground, Mälardalen regional traffic, and SJ traffic near Gothenburg
If negotiators for the rail companies have still not made any concessions by May 19th, the strike will enter its second stage.
In this, drivers working on the red line between Fruängen and Norsborg in southwest Stockholm and Mörby centrum and Ropsten in the northeast will go on strike.
Regional train traffic in the Mälardalen region between Stockholm, Eskilstuna and Västerås will also be affected, when drivers for MTR Mälartåg go on strike.
Drivers for the Götalandståg division of state rail company SJ will also go on strike affecting regional trains run by SJ in the Västra Götaland region around Gothenburg.
May 22nd: SJ intercity, Regional trains in Skåne and cargo trains in Norrland
If there is still no breakthrough by May 22nd, the strike will enter the third stage, with drivers on SJ's intercity routes stopping working, as well as drivers working for the Pågatågen regional trains in Skåne, and those working on cargo trains in Northern Sweden and on the west coast.
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Seko announced plans to strike earlier this month in protest at the rail companies' refusal to enter negotiations over more predictable timetables and shift schedules for drivers.
The union has divided the strike into three separate stages, with roughly 1,200 members stopping work, and disruption escalating the longer the rail companies take to reach an agreement.
The strike was initially set to get under way on Thursday, May 11th, but was postponed as the mediation process with Almega Tågföretagen, the trade body representing Sweden's rail companies, continued. It will now start at 3pm on Monday if no agreement is struck by then.
Here's an updated list of the key dates on which train services could be affected:
May 15th: Öresundståg and some Stockholm commuter trains
In the first stage of the strike, train drivers employed by the company Transdev, who work on the Öresundståg trains travelling from across Skåne over the bridge to Copenhagen will go on strike, as will workers for the train operator MTR based in Älvsjö, south of Stockholm.
This means Öresundståg trains are likely to be affected, as are parts of SL commuter transport (trains and the metro are still expected to be running in the capital, but with some potential cancellations and delays).
National rail operator SJ said that fast trains on the following routes could also be affected from May 16th: Stockholm-Malmö-Copenhagen and Stockholm-Gothenburg, as well as regional trains between Gothenburg and Kalmar and the sleeper between Gothenburg and Umeå.
May 19th: Stockholm underground, Mälardalen regional traffic, and SJ traffic near Gothenburg
If negotiators for the rail companies have still not made any concessions by May 19th, the strike will enter its second stage.
In this, drivers working on the red line between Fruängen and Norsborg in southwest Stockholm and Mörby centrum and Ropsten in the northeast will go on strike.
Regional train traffic in the Mälardalen region between Stockholm, Eskilstuna and Västerås will also be affected, when drivers for MTR Mälartåg go on strike.
Drivers for the Götalandståg division of state rail company SJ will also go on strike affecting regional trains run by SJ in the Västra Götaland region around Gothenburg.
May 22nd: SJ intercity, Regional trains in Skåne and cargo trains in Norrland
If there is still no breakthrough by May 22nd, the strike will enter the third stage, with drivers on SJ's intercity routes stopping working, as well as drivers working for the Pågatågen regional trains in Skåne, and those working on cargo trains in Northern Sweden and on the west coast.
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