Delayed trains created outbursts of rage among passengers

After a train arrived 80 minutes late to Umeå from Stockholm, several passengers missed their connections to other parts of the county.

According to the report, some managed to book a taxi to their destinations, but the staff had also contacted the traffic management, who announced that no replacement traffic could be arranged. It was a message that was not well received by the passengers, which created chaos and rage.

“The travelers' reactions were very unpleasant. We endured harassment and scornful words at the station. A passenger had an outburst of rage and shouted all over the station ", writes one of the employees at the train company.

Several of the passengers followed the staff towards the station office where the staff had to barricade themselves for hours.

"They tore at the door and rang several times. Then they stood outside the door. We stayed for two hours before we ventured out ”.

The incident has now been reported as a threat by two employees to the Swedish Work Environment Authority and SJ tells SVT that they are currently unable to comment on the incident due to the fact that it is an ongoing process.

But the company writes in an email that: "An incident when employees have been subjected to harassment, we take very seriously and always follow up internally".

SJ explains that the delay to Umeå is due to the train having to wait for another oncoming train that was delayed.

Why was it not possible to arrange replacement traffic for the travelers who had to wait in Umeå?

- We ran replacement traffic shortly after arrival in Umeå for several of the travelers who had a change to bus. Unfortunately, some passengers had to wait until the next connection by regular bus as it was difficult to get enough replacement traffic that could drive all the way - a distance of just over 370 km. We offered these travelers food and drink in Umeå, says Simon Hermansson in an email to SVT.