Train traffic suspended between Järvenpää and Hyvinkää, causing delays. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva
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A widespread disruption halted train traffic on Finland’s main railway line on Saturday evening, stranding hundreds of passengers overnight and affecting thousands more.
The incident occurred just before 7pm in Palopuro, near Hyvinkää, when overhead electrical cables fell onto a northbound Pendolino train. The damage cut power to both directions of the main line and caused a complete shutdown of rail traffic.
According to national rail operator VR, the electrical fault was more complex than initially estimated. Repairs were completed just before noon on Sunday, nearly 17 hours after the disruption began.
“This was a major disruption with effects on thousands of customers,” said Elli Hiiroinen, VR’s head of communications. “We’re now gradually restarting traffic, but delays and cancellations will affect operations all day.”
More than ten long-distance trains were cancelled overnight and into Sunday morning. VR attempted to replace some services with buses between Helsinki and Riihimäki, but limited capacity meant not all passengers could be accommodated.
Three northbound overnight trains were halted, with passengers remaining aboard through the night. Around midday on Sunday, these services were cancelled and the trains began returning to Helsinki.
Three southbound trains were also stranded on station tracks overnight. VR said they would resume their journeys to Helsinki during Sunday.
While most stranded trains were stopped at stations, allowing passengers to disembark and stretch their legs, many travellers had to arrange their own transport or seek hotel accommodation. VR has pledged to reimburse travel expenses for unused tickets during the disruption.
Local commuter services ran from Helsinki to Saunakallio and from Hyvinkää towards Riihimäki. Replacement bus transport was provided between Saunakallio and Hyvinkää.
The damage to the overhead wires, though described as a common type of electrical fault, caused rare collateral damage to adjacent tracks, further complicating repairs.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
