lars' transport worldAug 13, 2025
Some days, 🚅, 🚂, 🚌, ⛴️, two switch failures (🇧🇪), fully booked trains with mandatory seat reservations (🇳🇱->🇩🇪), a lack of alternatives due to construction works and compatible rolling stock (🇳🇱->🇩🇪) later, #BlankSpots continues in northern 🇩🇪 Germany.
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 13, 2025
My 238th obligatory Antwerp main station appreciation post 😍 #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 13, 2025
Lars at a train station so early in the morning... That means it's going to be an eventful day. 👀 #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 13, 2025
The Kiel-Flensburg line provides a curiosity. Due to the construction of a new bridge across the Schlei and the poor condition of the old one, the Schlei can only be crossed on foot. The train line isndisrupted and has two terminus station on both ends of the bridge: "Rieseby Schleibrücke Süd" and "Boren-Lindaunis Schleibrücke Nord". This may be inconvenient for locals, but is randomly interesting to me. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 13, 2025
The advantage of this route is that I can change to the IC 🇩🇪 Flensburg - 🇩🇰 Fredericia, which doesn't require a seat reservation. Otherwise I would habe ended in the often crowded EuroCity Hamburg-Copenhagen. But more importantly, it is a DSB MF/IC3 also known as 'rubber nose', which is one of the most cozy train I have ever been on! #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 13, 2025
Tog er fantastiske! 😍
(Trains are fantastic!) #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
In Fredericia, I finally spot an DSB IC4 train running in the right direction. Two minutes later, I board this regional train to Odense.
The IC4 were manufactured by Ansaldo-Breda between 2005 and 2013. However, the train is considered deficient and the delivery was late. The trains are going to be replaced by the also delayed IC5. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
It was completely unnecessary to hunt after an IC4, since my next train was going to be an IC4 anyway. 🥴 I am surprised, though. Is it usual for the IC Fredericia-Østerport to be an IC4? Or might the temporary timetable due to construction works be the reason? I have never seen one before on this line before and it could be replaced by an electric train. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
I get off the IC4 at Slagelse. Unlike the regions I have just visited (🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪), I have passed through 🇩🇰 Denmark many times before. To stick to #BlankSpots, I have to try some new lines like at least. I choose the Lokaltog Slagelse-Tølløse and it's a jackpot: A Lokaltog IC2, another type of 'rubber nose train'!
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
The trio of rubber noses would be incomplete without the IR4, the electric version of the IC2/IC4. I take the Regionaltog from Tølløse to Copenhagen H. This train is cosy as well, but the floor is a little bit filthy and smelly. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
Did I say a trio of rubber noses? There is a fourth rubber nose in Denmark, approaching the country from the East. Unfortunately, I can't spend any more time in 🇩🇰 Denmark, so I board an #Øresundståg towards 🇸🇪 Sweden at Copenhagen Main Station. This time, I can choose which train I take, as there is an Øresundståg queue. I opt for the second train, which is almost empty in the front coaches. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
Arriving in 🇸🇪 Sweden means that it's time for a bulle! At Malmö Central Station, I even find 🌱 plant-based ones. Perfect for boarding SJ's snabbtåg. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
I get off the Snabbtåg at Nässjö. Two trains to Jönköping follow each other within eight minutes, so I can choose between Krösatågen and Västtrafiken! #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
Impressions of Jönköping 😍 #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport world
Jönköping has an interesting bus infrastructure. A 1.5km long two-lane "bus street" runs through the city centre. It even crosses a roundabout in the middle. #BlankSpots
Aug 16, 2025 at 12:47pmMastodon for Android
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
There are also #BlankSpots in countries I have been to many times before. I just have to look more closely. 😁 I am doing some #Streckensammeln on #Krösatågen 's diesel network.
✅ Nässjö C–Vaggeryd
✅ Nässjö C–Eksjö
✅ Nässjö C–Vetlanda
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
Apparently, #Krösatågen has started to apply the new red livery to existing trains. The interior appears to be unchanged (picture taken in a Y32). The new red trains are expected to be operational by 2026. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
Impressions of Eksjö 😍 #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
Fråga till svenskarna: Does anyone know why Jönköpings Länstrafik has two different dates for the timetable change, only one week apart? Isn't any timetable coordination needed for that week? Is this also the case for any other län? https://www.jlt.se/nyhetsarkiv/tidtabellsskifte-augusti-2025/ #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 22, 2025
My journey continues from Nässjö on another SJ Snabbtåg (not the one in the picture). 'If you are in the right carriage and seat, we have all the information we need', so there's no ticket control! This is a convenient difference compared to the platform gates and rushed ticket controls in an underpass in other countries, but it is also an act of trust. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 22, 2025
It's time for the SJ X55 Regina! As you know, I have to celebrate my favourite train. It's really cosy and comfortable to ride in. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 22, 2025
Due to track works in the Uppsala region, the Snabbtåg between Stockholm and Sundsvall (-Umeå) are deviated via Västerås this weekend. This means the journey is 100 km longer than usual!
Unfortunately, the modified timetable is not entirely realistic. Cleaning and restocking takes more than the planned 15 minutes, so we leave Stockholm 15 minutes late. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 22, 2025
The landscape changes slowly as you travel over 800 km. The #SJ Snabbtåg Regina jingle is the only thing that reminds me of home. 🔊 "Wir begrüssen Sie in der S7 nach Stadelhofen, Meilen..." Anyway, let's move on. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 22, 2025
With SJ's Snabbtåg service, you can pre-order meals. In second class, you must collect your order from the bistro. In first class, your order is served at your seat and you have a wider selection, including a full 🌱 plant-based menu. As the food does not come from the dining car, the selection of cold food is limited. I am asked when exactly I would like to receive my food on this six-hour journey. I answer around 7 pm. At exactly 18:59, my food is served. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 22, 2025
#Norrtåg usually operates with a limited number of three X11 and four X52 Reginas north of Umeå. The diagrams are optimised, but upside-down on this Sunday due to an overhead wire failure. Luckily, I still manage to take some good pictures of Norrtåg. 😍 #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 22, 2025
🔊 "SJ Nattåg 93 mot Örnskoldsvik, Sundsvall, Gävle, Uppsala, Stockholm Central med avgångstid 1:44 beräknas avgå 16:45" 🤯 #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 22, 2025
Unexpected freight trains somewhere near Umeå #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 23, 2025
This part of the journey feels more like #Norrut than #BlankSpots, but that doesn't matter right now. Unfortunately, the train I'm taking from Umeå to Vindeln is an X62 Coradia, so I have to wait for the next one. Finally, it's my first Norrtåg X11 ride!
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 23, 2025
A passing Norrtåg X52 Regina #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 24, 2025
While waiting at Vindeln station, I had a bizarre conversation in Swedish. An elderly couple drove onto the platform in a car. They asked, 'Are you Lars?' I didn't expect the question to be meant for me.
'Is your name Lars?'
'Yes. Why?'
'You resemble a student of mine called Lars. Didn't you go to school here in Vindeln?'
'No, sorry, I didn't'
'Are you sure?' 🤨
I guess I don't mistake my childhood in the Swiss suburbs for one in Northern Sweden. Besides, my Swedish isn't even fluent. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 24, 2025
The Norrtåg journey continues from Vindeln to Luleå. The X52 Regina is rather crowded. I pass endless forests and calm rivers, as well as a few villages with idyllic names, such as Älvsbyn (literally 'river village') and Bastuträsk ('sauna swamp' or 'lake'). #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 24, 2025
Due to track works, the Luleå–Narvik line has a different timetable. Currently, only one #SJ Intercity train runs daily between Kiruna and Narvik. I get on this one and only Intercity train at Luleå. At Boden, many tired hikers with large backpacks get off the night train from Stockholm and board our train that is heading for the beautiful Tornedalen. Last summer, I visited some of the intersting intermediate stations on #Norrut: https://mastodon.social/@larstransportworld/112950853782011169 #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 24, 2025
As I pass the small settlement and station of Riksgränsen, the 🇸🇪 Malmbanan turns into 🇸🇯 Ofotbanen. A spectacular view of a deep valley opens up. It soon turns into a fjord. The line descends to sea level until it reaches Narvik. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 25, 2025
The terminus of the Ofotbanen is located in Narvik. The line's main purpose is to transport ore from Sweden to the ice-free Atlantic port. Passenger trains here are a by-product and the network is not designed for tourists purposes primarily. So if you want to travel further north, you need to use other means of transport.
This also makes Narvik the northernmost standard-gauge terminus in Europe. #BlankSpots
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 25, 2025
My trip continues from Narvik to Tromsø by bus line 100. There are only two or three services a day that run the whole route. The journey takes you along the stunning fjords of northern 🇸🇯 Norway. This is probably the most beautiful bus journey I've ever taken! #BlankSpots
Show threadonterofAug 24, 2025
@larstransportworld Aha, so this is why they had rebooked some folks onto my train (the one to Luleå) and then with replacement bus/day train from Boden. That sounded rather terrible. Especially because this one was not only diverted over night but then cancelled from Umeå, too. Why the heck did they even sell tickets before they knew of this?! 🫣
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 24, 2025
@onterof Yes, today and tomorrow are exceptions to the exception. There are planned replacement buses north of Gällivare. But I guess, the cancellation north of Umeå are because of something different?!
Show threadonterofAug 24, 2025
@larstransportworld yes on that day there had been a fault with the overhead wire near Boden which couldn't be fixed fast enough, so the cancellation was rather unexpected.
Show threadTor LillqvistAug 24, 2025
@larstransportworld Ah! Thanks for the information, somehow I had thought that there was no passenger traffic at all at the moment all the way between Luleå and Narvik. But SJ indeed sells tickets Narvik–Luleå for many dates in the next weeks just fine. (Some days have bus substitution Narvik–Abisko Östra.)
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 24, 2025
@tml Exactly. It seems that only today and tomorrow, there is a complete closure north of Gällivare. Usually, there is one single daily train. But apparently, you've discovered some other days without any train services. 😅
Show threadTor LillqvistAug 24, 2025

@larstransportworld Hmm, for some reason I had always in my mind associated the name Tornedalen with a much smaller area, just the area around the river where it forms the border between Sweden and Finland. But you are right, as this map from Wikipedia shows, the darker red is Tornedalen.

If you compare to the catchment area of Torne River, Tornedalen is then a bit larger than that. So it is not a geographical concept.

https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornedalen

https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torne_älv

Show threadlars' transport worldAug 24, 2025
@tml Thanks for the explanations! Well, it seems the Malmbanan touches only the northern part of the Tornedalen 🤔
Show threadcanAug 24, 2025
@larstransportworld eerie
Show threadNorra kommissionenAug 24, 2025
@larstransportworld Sheesh, you could really have played Lars for them, Lars! 😀
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 24, 2025
@nordkommission I could have. 😅 The question is how long it would have taken for my theatre to blow up.
Show threadMatt[ingham] Aug 23, 2025
@larstransportworld Aww, I remember doing an X11 train to and from Ystad many years ago. Really liked them as a train 
Show threadTor LillqvistAug 22, 2025

@larstransportworld Oh good grief. When Swedish long-distance night trains are delayed, they are seriously delayed.

Edit: Or is this a joke? Can’t see that delay on https://www.sj.se/trafikinformation/tag/93?date=2025-08-22

SJ

SJ

SJ
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 23, 2025
@tml No, unfortunately it isn't a joke. That was the night train leaving Luleå on August 16th. There was an "elfel" north of Hällnäs. I never manage to report realtime on Mastodon 😅
Show threadAnders NorénAug 22, 2025
@larstransportworld
Was the train rerouted Tillberga-Sala-Krylbo-Storvik?
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 22, 2025
@violanders Almost, it was Västerås-Sala-Krylbo-Storvik-Gävle. Despite the change of direction, the stop in Västerås was not official for the trains to Sundsvall-Umeå.
Show threadAnders NorénAug 22, 2025
@larstransportworld
Oh, I forgot that you can't reach Tillberga from the east, a bit of the old track is removed in Tortuna.
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 22, 2025
@violanders Do you know why? I didn't even notice in the map that the track was removed.
Show threadAnders NorénAug 22, 2025
@larstransportworld
I think Tillberga-Tortuna is a test track nowadays.
Show threadJonas BoströmAug 22, 2025
@violanders @larstransportworld Correct! At least part of it. There is a large maintenance facility in Tillberga.
Show threadFCAug 16, 2025
@larstransportworld They prob have been thinking ahead and that working people got back last week and schools start next. Here the fall times start next week for both. It has been crowded in the morning and when people get off work to say the least this week
Show threadJulianAug 16, 2025
@larstransportworld noooo I loved the yellow 😭
Show threadonterofAug 16, 2025
@larstransportworld I wonder how many different variants oft the Itino they have?I had a Y31 with blue fabric seats.
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
@onterof Oh, really?! I just had the beige-red seats.
Show threadonterofAug 16, 2025
@larstransportworld That was on the Västervik/Kalmar - Linköping service, these propably don't ever serve anything else.
Show threadlars' transport worldAug 16, 2025
@onterof The former Kustpilen Itinos seem indeed to have a different interior. These trains also have a different livery (red instead of yellow). I saw a red-silver Itino in Nässjö yesterday. Maybe they were transferred to other Krösatåg lines due to the reduced services on the Västervik line.
https://www.jarnvag.net/vagnguide/y31
Vagnguide - Motorvagn Y31/Y32 - järnväg.net

Allt om dieselmotorvagnen Y31 som används av Krösatågen, Västtrafik och Värmlandstrafik. Bilder, fakta och historia.

Show threadNorra kommissionenAug 16, 2025
@larstransportworld And it's completely insane if you try to drive a car there 🫣