SHARE
COPY LINK

LIGHTNING

IN PICTURES: Thunderstorms hit trains and roads in southern Sweden

Severe thunderstorms and heavy winds on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning have delayed trains and disrupted road traffic across southern Sweden, according to the Swedish Transport Administration.

IN PICTURES: Thunderstorms hit trains and roads in southern Sweden
A lightning bolt spreads out over the sea at the Scaniabadet swimming area in Malmö on Tuesday night. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
“There was a huge amount of lightening over night and this morning, and that knocked out the power systems,” Katarina Wolfram, a press spokesperson for the Agency told the DN newspaper. “On several stretches, barriers are down at level crossings even though there is no train coming.” 
 
Lightning strikes near the Turning Torso in Malmö's Western Harbour district. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
 
The routes between Hässleholm and Kalmar, Karlskrona and Kalmar, and Värnamo and Alvesta have all been affected.
 
Wolfram said it had been difficult to carry out repairs in the morning as there was still a risk of lightning strikes. 
 
“Lightning and working on electrical faults are not the best combination, so we are not sending out personnel to areas where there are still thunderstorms,” she said. 
 
The administration expects normal traffic to resume after midday. 
 
According to Sweden's state weather forecaster, parts of northern Skåne received as much as 24mm of rainfall on Tuesday night, while a photographer for the TT newswire took spectacular photos of forked lightning in the skies of Malmö.
 
The storm front is now moving north towards Östergötland in central Sweden. 
 
Lightning in the skies above Malmö on Tuesday night. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

TRAVEL NEWS

How has Storm Louis been affecting travel in Sweden?

Trains in and out of Gothenburg have suffered major delays, several bridges have been closed and drivers have been advised to stay at home. Here is how Storm Louis has affected traffic in Sweden.

How has Storm Louis been affecting travel in Sweden?

Trains

Trains in and out of Gothenburg station more or less ground to a halt between 8.30am and 11.30am, but began moving again around noon. 

According to Sweden’s national rail company SJ there are still delays and disruptions to services between Gothenburg and Stockholm, Gothenburg and Västerås, Gothenburg and Malmö, and Gothenburg and Karlstad. 

Västtrafik, which operates regional trains in western Sweden has cancelled several trains with other services facing significant delays. 

On the company’s website, they said services between Ed and Trollhättan, Strömstad and Gothenburg, Uddevalla and Varberg and Gothenburg to Lidköping and Örebro would all be cancelled, with replacement buses provided. 

The company recommended checking its To Go app, or looking at its travel planner website

Värmlandstrafik, which operates local transport in Värmland has cancelled services between Sunne and Torsby due to a tree on the line, with replacement buses provided. 

Ferries 

Ferries to islands such as Styrsö and Vrångö in the archipelago south of Gothenburg have been cancelled.  The Gullmarsleden ferry over to Lysekil was also cancelled, as was the chain ferry across to the Bolmsö in the middle of lake Bolmen.

Bridges 

The Tjörn Bridge to the island of Tjörn was closed on Friday morning and remained closed at 1.30pm. The Uddevalla Bridge across Sunninge sound was also closed, blocking the E6 motorway, but reopened around noon. 

Roads 

Fallen trees have blocked roads such as the E18 between Knöstad och Valnäs, road 702 between Trossnäs and Bofasterud, road 62 between Tjörnheden and Olsäter, road 664 between Norsbron and Björkåsmotet and road 240 at Väse Kyrka.

SHOW COMMENTS