Øresund Bridge: no trains for 24 hours this weekend – replacement buses limited
No trains will cross the Øresund Bridge from 2pm Saturday to 2pm Sunday. Which replacement buses run and what travellers should know.
Anyone planning to travel by train between Sweden and Denmark this coming weekend will need to rethink: from 2pm on Saturday 7 November until 2pm on Sunday 8 November, no trains will run across the Øresund Bridge. According to the bridge operator Øresundsbron, the reason is planned railway maintenance. Buses will replace trains only to a limited extent, while road traffic is not affected.
24 hours without trains between Malmö and Copenhagen
The closure hits the Øresund trains that normally link Malmö and Copenhagen directly. On the Swedish side, the point of contact is the transport operator Skånetrafiken, which has published the replacement service on its website. In addition, separate maintenance work in Denmark will affect train services on Saturday between 2pm and 7pm. The announcements do not specify what work is being carried out on the bridge.
How the replacement buses will run
Skånetrafiken has divided the replacement service into three time windows:
- Saturday, 2pm to 7pm: buses between Malmö C and Copenhagen Airport (CPH).
- Saturday 7pm to Sunday 6am: buses between Malmö C and Copenhagen Central Station.
- Sunday, 6am to 2pm: buses between Hyllie and Copenhagen Airport.
Between Malmö C and Hyllie, during the two Saturday windows, Skånetrafiken refers passengers to Pågatåg regional trains and regular buses. The operator points out that the bus journey takes noticeably longer than the train. It does not give specific journey times.
Lessons from the July closure
A similar 24-hour closure took place on 18–19 July. The restart did not go smoothly: according to a report by SVT, an urgent track repair on the Sunday afternoon led to cancellations and delays, after services had been due to resume at around 2pm. Whether similar problems will arise this time cannot be predicted. But the episode shows that travellers should also allow a margin for the hours after the official end of the closure.
What this means for travellers and people in Sweden
- Air passengers: if you need to get from southern Sweden to Copenhagen Airport on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning, set off considerably earlier than usual. For Sunday morning flights in particular, it is worth checking your connection now.
- Commuters and weekend visitors: if you work in the Øresund region or are visiting family, try to arrange shifts and meetings outside the 24 hours, or allow extra time.
- Travelling on to Copenhagen on Sunday: until 2pm, the replacement plan names only the Hyllie–airport section. Travellers should check the onward connection into the city in advance on the Danish journey planner Rejseplanen.
- Drivers: according to the operator, the motorway across the bridge remains open. It can, however, also be closed at short notice because of wind, weather or accidents, so check Øresundsbron’s traffic information before setting off. Alternatives and prices are covered in our guide From Denmark to Sweden, with tips for longer trips in Driving to Sweden.
- Latest information: Skånetrafiken refers passengers to its app and website. Check your journey there again shortly before departure, as plans may change.