Planning often changes at a late stage for the freight train company Green Cargo. According to the company, it is often the case that the Swedish Transport Administration, which manages the railway tracks in Sweden, comes up with far too late information about, for example, track work and traffic diversions. The situation is something that affects many, says Patrik Strömqvist, deputy operations manager.
"There will be a negative effect on our customers and our production staff, who find it difficult to combine leisure and work," he says.
18 weeks in advance
The Swedish Transport Administration must notify traffic information regarding the railway at least 18 weeks in advance. But for now, they have a week's notice. This is partly due to the fact that the Swedish Transport Administration launched a digital planning system in December.
According to the authority, the system was needed within the business, but then did not work as well as had been thought.
"It didn't have quite the same performance we had hoped for. There has been a backlog that we have had to live with ever since, says Bengt Olsson, press officer at the Swedish Transport Administration.
Risk of having to pay 24 million
Earlier this year, the Swedish Transport Agency criticized the Swedish Transport Administration's planning and foresight towards the train companies. If they do not solve the difficulties with the system this year, they will have to pay a penalty of a total of SEK 24 million. According to the Swedish Transport Administration, the problems with planning may remain into the autumn.
"We are working closely with the supplier of this system. It will take parts of this year to get it right, says Bengt Olsson.