An SJ train traveling from Stockholm to Gothenburg came to an abrupt halt in Hallsberg on Sunday, April 26, 2026, after passengers reported a loud bang followed by intense shaking of the carriages. The incident occurred around midday, prompting an evacuation of the train and significant disruptions to rail traffic between Hallsberg and Laxå.
Passenger Sebastian Sandberg described the experience, saying the train suddenly stopped after a bang, and then “the whole carriage shook violently and kept bumping.” He initially suspected a derailment, noting it sounded like the rear section of the train had left the tracks.
Following inspection, SJ officials confirmed the stop was due to a vehicle fault, specifically wheel damage on the rear carriage. According to SJ press officer Lina Edström, the damage was severe enough that the train could not be reversed back to the Hallsberg platform. Passengers were evacuated to a replacement train running alongside the disabled vehicle.
The disruption caused temporary suspensions on the Stockholm–Gothenburg, Stockholm–Västerås–Gothenburg, and Stockholm–Karlstad–Oslo routes. While the blockage between Hallsberg and Laxå was later lifted, services continued to experience delays of approximately four hours as of the afternoon update.
SJ emphasized that there was no derailment, attributing the incident solely to mechanical failure. The damaged train is scheduled for repair, and normal service is expected to resume once repairs are completed and safety checks are passed.
