Train delays due to trackwork in Sweden

Only well-maintained railway systems can function without severe interruptions. However, maintenance activities can themselves cause train delays if they conflict with train movements. Trackwork refers to maintenance performed on a railway track. This study aims to investigate the effect of trackwork on train delays in Sweden. It presents a logistic regression analysis based on more than 225,000 planned trackwork and 25,600,000 train movements during 2017. The results show that trains that pass through trackwork on single-track segments were on average 44% more likely to be delayed than those that do not. The corresponding value for double-track segments was 25%, and the weighted average was an increased risk of 31%. With the number of trackwork set to increase over the coming years, these results highlight the importance of improved scheduling and performance of trackwork to reduce the conflicts between trackwork and train movements.