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STOCKHOLM

What you need to know about public transport disruption in Stockholm this summer

Major renovations and track works will cause disruption to public transport across the country this summer, which this year brings the added risk of crowding as travellers will need to seek out alternative routes.

Published: 9 June 2020 11:21 CEST
What you need to know about public transport disruption in Stockholm this summer
The Gullmarsplan transport hub in southern Stockholm is one of the affected stations. Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

Most transport renovations take place during Sweden's long summer holidays, partly because there are typically fewer commuters at this time and partly because the work is easier during longer, clearer days.

But with more people likely to stay in their hometown this summer due to global travel restrictions and the risk of infection of the coronavirus, this year the disruption could have particularly negative consequences. 

From June 13th, people without any cold- or flu-like symptoms are able to travel freely within Sweden, but the advice from the Public Health Agency remains to limit use of public transport as much as possible. That's especially relevant in more densely populated cities. Stockholm public transport operator SL continues to ask all residents to travel “only if you must”, and to avoid travelling during rush hour if at all possible.

“The corona pandemic makes this summer special,” said SL traffic director Fredrik Cavalli-Björkman. “Travel by public transport always goes down after Midsummer, but nevertheless it can be difficult for SL passengers to keep the recommended distances from each other, especially at Gullmarsplan. Our request remains not to use public transport, and to avoid rush hour if you have to travel with SL.”

If you find yourself needing to travel, these are the changes you'll have to be aware of.

Tunnelbana

Stockholm's subway line is set to get significantly extended, and work on that project means the busy stretch between Globen and Gullmarsplan on the green line will be closed for eight weeks between June 22nd and August 16th.

Gullmarsplan is a transport hub and one of the city's busiest tunnelbana stations, so a few different measures will be taken to avoid congestion. People will be able to switch to the tvärbanan (tram) which also runs between these two stations and will be strengthened by more frequent departures, and there will also be extra departures on the other two green line routes, towards Farsta and Skarpnäck, during rush hour.

Things like vending machines will be removed at Gullmarsplan to create more space, and the following bus lines will get extra departures: line 143 (Älvsjö-Hökarängen), line 173 (Skarpnäck-Skärholmen), line 195 (Gullmarsplan-Hagsätra weekend night bus), line 163 (Älvsjö-Dalen), line 195 (Högdalen-City during day time).

Tvärbanan

The closure of the tunnelbana between Globen and Gullmarsplan might make the tvärbanan route busier, and in the north of the city, the tvärbanan will be closed between Johannesfred and Solna from July 5th to July 31st. Passengers along that route will need to take a replacement bus between Alvik and Solna instead.


Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

Regional trains

If you're leaving Stockholm by train to travel elsewhere in Sweden, check your ticket and timetables carefully.

The regional train track (which is separate from the pendeltåg track) between Stockholms Central and Stockholms Södra is closed over summer due to planned renovations. This will take place between June 22nd and August 17th.

Customers therefore need to travel from either Stockholm Södra or Flemingsberg on many regional routes going south from Stockholm, rather than the usual central train station. However, the Stockholm Central station remains open and some trains will continue to arrive and depart from there, including many northbound trains. Make sure you've checked your ticket and/or the SL website carefully.

Commuter trains

Travellers on the pendeltåg lines should be aware of the disruptions outlined above, since this will mean more passengers at Stockholms Södra and Flemingsberg stations, and busier trains on this stretch. SL has increased trains on this stretch by 33 percent to help avoid crowding, although fewer long-distance train travellers are expected this summer.

Apart from that, there is just one change to be aware of. The route between Sundbyberg and Jakobsberg will not be running between July 4th and 26th. 

During this time, passengers will need to take replacement buses connecting to the tunnelbana and then use the blue tunnelbana line, which will have extra departures.

And it's important to know that, although the pendeltåg doors open automatically through the rest of the year, during summer you need to press the button to open them (this is in order to help maintain a comfortable temperature onboard). The exceptions to this are Stockholm Södra, Stockholm City, Stockholm Odenplan, and Arlanda. Don't miss your stop!  

Buses

In Stockholm, SL continues to request that passengers board using the rear doors only, and wait for the next bus rather than board a crowded one.

Archipelago ferries

One of the main companies which operates ferries to the archipelago islands, Waxholmsbolaget, is operated by SL and therefore the recommendation to make only essential journeys applies for these boats too.

Capacity on the boats is limited in order to ensure social distancing can be maintained onboard. During the coronavirus outbreak, priority for boarding will go to crew members and island residents, and the crew may deny boarding to other passengers if the boats get too full, or if you are showing symptoms of illness. It's also temporarily not possible to make bookings for large groups.

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EES PASSPORT CHECKS

EES border checks could undergo ‘soft launch’, UK says as app concerns mount

The UK government is preparing for a "soft launch" of the new EU border system – the Entry/Exit (EES) system - in October but authorities are still waiting for European Commission to confirm the start date, amid concerns over the delay of a new app.

Published: 4 May 2024 09:30 CEST
EES border checks could undergo 'soft launch', UK says as app concerns mount

The UK government is preparing for a soft launch of the new EU border system – the entry/exit (EES) system – on the assumption that it will go live on October 6th, ministers told a hearing at the House of Commons European scrutiny committee this week.

But the European Commission is expected to confirm the exact launch date of the new biometric checks for non-EU travellers entering the Schengen area at some point this summer, they added.

“We are very much working on a basis whereby this policy will go live on the 6th of October. It is important that we plan for that eventuality. We are expecting to hear definitively from the European Union that ‘go live’ arrangement in the summer,” Tom Pursglove, UK Minister for Legal Migration and the Border told the committee.

The parliamentary committee is conducting an inquiry on the disruptions the system will cause in the UK.

Pursglove also said that “precautionary measures” have been agreed by the EU, that will be put in place in certain circumstances after the start of EES, for example if delays at the borders exceeded a certain length of time.

Guy Opperman, Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, said that in practice this meant a “soft launch” of EES for 6 months before “a full go live”. During that soft launch EU member states and the UK could deploy flexibility measures should problems occur.

“The likelihood is, after multiple delays, that the 6th of October will proceed” and the implementation looks “very different” compared to previous scenarios considering the flexibility allowed in the first 6 months, he argued.

No details were given on what these “flexible” measures would involve however. 

READ ALSO: Your questions answered about Europe’s EES passport checks

He conceded that “a lot of work” still needs to be done but the UK “should be as ready as everybody” and “better be at front of the queue”.

App not ready

During the meeting, it also emerged that a much-anticipated app that would allow remote pre-registration of non-EU citizens subject to the checks will not be available for testing until August “at best”, prompting concerns about the EES launch date.

“You don’t need to be a sceptic about future projects to think that the provision of the app in August for going live in October is optimistic,” Opperman said.

Ministers confirmed that the app will not be ready in time for October and the committee previously stated it might be delayed until summer 2025.

The app will facilitate pre-registration, but photo and fingerprints will still have to be taken at the border in front of a guard, the committee heard.

READ ALSO: How do the EU’s new EES passport checks affect the 90-day rule?

Several MPs asked whether the entry into operation of the EES should be delayed again if technology is not ready. But Under-Secretary Opperman said the app “is not going to be a panacea to fix all problems”.

The main aim of EES is to increase security and to ensure that non-EU nationals visiting the Schengen area for a short-term do not stay more than 90 days in any 180-day period.

The entry into operation of the system has already been delayed several times and there have been calls from certain travel companies and national authorities to delay it again.

Under the new scheme, non-EU/EFTA travellers who do not need a visa will have to register their biometric data (finger prints and facial images) in a database that will also record each time they enter and exit the Schengen area.

Instead of having passports manually stamped, travellers will have to scan them at self-service kiosks before crossing the border. However, fingerprints and a photo will have to be registered in front of a guard at the first crossing and there are concerns the extra time needed will generate long queues, especially in Dover, Folkestone and St. Pancras station in London, where there are juxtaposed French and UK border checks.

Progress in preparations

Minister Pursglove also updated MPs on ongoing preparations. He said some testing of the system will take place within days, 5 kiosks have been installed at St. Pancras station and are available for testing. “You are beginning to see the physical infrastructure appear,” he said.

Kiosks and extra lanes are also being created at the port Dover and it was agreed with the EU passengers travelling by coach will be checked away from the Eastern dock, where controls usually take place, allowing to gain space. The vehicles will then sealed and drive on the ferries.

MPs also discussed the infrastructure cost linked to the introduction of the EES. Opperman said all EU countries will have to make “huge investments” in their ports. In the UK, he argued, this will help “address problems that have existed for some time”. Because of this “massive investment”, in a few years time “Dover will be totally transformed,” he said.

This article is published in cooperation with Europe Street News.

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