Troubled start for night train service between Stockholm and Hamburg
Swedish operator SJ ran its first night train between Stockholm and Hamburg on late Thursday afternoon, albeit not without difficulties. A delay in the approval of carriages by Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority resulted in a shorter train.
“In order for trains to operate in more than one European country, all carriages must be approved for international traffic. SJ EuroNight has been approved in Sweden and Germany, but we are still awaiting approval in Denmark”, SJ wrote on Wednesday about its so-called EuroNight service.
As a result, the train only featured a number of couchette carriages; the sleeping compartment carriages had to be eliminated. SJ was forced to cancel booked tickets as a result. The constraints were also noticeable at a service level, with the operator only able to offer snacks and beverages.
Travellers that have seen their journeys cancelled, are eligible for a refund. They have also been offered a free round trip on the night train to Hamburg.
The hiccups for the Stockholm-Hamburg service did not end there. Due to track works near the Swedish city of Lund, the night train won’t be calling there throughout September.
The EuroNight service is SJ’s first international sleeper train. It does, however, already offer domestic night train services.
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