Bane NOR reports summer decline in Norwegian train punctuality

A new report from Bane NOR reveals a decline in passenger train punctuality across Norway during the summer months, particularly in July and August. Roger Wold, head of punctuality and analysis at Bane NOR, noted that the organization was ‘a bit too ambitious’ with the number of train departures scheduled, which contributed to delays. Significant disruptions were also linked to ongoing work in the Romeriksporten tunnel.

Despite the challenges in the Greater Oslo region, performance varied significantly by operator and route. SJ Norge emerged as the top performer with a punctuality rate of 90.9 percent, followed by Vy vest. Conversely, Go-Ahead faced difficulties, with the Sørlandsbanen line recording a punctuality rate of only 60.3 percent due to issues with aging rolling stock and infrastructure.

While passenger services struggled, the freight sector showed marked improvement. Bane NOR reported that freight punctuality and volume have increased, reaching levels not seen since before the pandemic. Additionally, Wold stated that Norway ranks 7th out of 20 European countries regarding passenger train punctuality.