Local authorities report that a freight train carrying ammunition and lithium batteries derailed in northern Sweden, likely due to heavy rains.
A freight train transporting ammunition and lithium batteries derailed in northern Sweden, according to local sources.
The incident occurred around 8 AM on Sunday near Skorped, in the Vasternorrland region. Initial assessments suggest that heavy rainfall caused damage to the railway infrastructure, leading to the derailment. The specific type of ammunition and the train’s destination remain unknown.
Emergency services are currently handling the hazardous cargo. Following this, the site will be cleared, and a thorough assessment of the damage will be conducted. Peter Jonsson, a spokesman for the Swedish Transport Administration, told TV4 that restoration efforts will take time, but the exact duration is yet to be determined.
The Transport Administration estimates that repairing the railway will take several weeks.
Images from the site reveal sections of the railway suspended over fast-flowing water. Four carriages behind the locomotive derailed, with portions submerged in a nearby lake. Local authorities attributed the incident to significant rainfall over the weekend, which caused road washouts and strained infrastructure. Another timber train also derailed on the same line between Solleftea and Kramfors, further south.
Sweden became a NATO member last year, ending its long-standing neutrality. Like many Western countries, Sweden has increased its defense production. In 2024, the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) entered into an agreement with Nammo, a Norwegian-Finnish weapons manufacturer, to increase the production of 155mm artillery shells.
Officials stated that the agreement aims to enhance support for Ukraine while also strengthening the long-term security of supply of artillery ammunition in Sweden and the Nordic region.
Moscow has criticized Western arms shipments to Ukraine and NATO, calling it “saber-rattling.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that “reckless European militarism” is hindering the peace settlement process.
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