SJ delay compensation: Your rights when delayed

Train delays continue to be a common issue in Sweden. The Swedish Transport Administration recently reported that punctuality for 2024 was at 87.2% for a total of 1 million passenger trains, the lowest in over 14 years. Despite delays becoming a part of daily life, the compensation processes at train companies remain unnecessarily complicated. An article from SVT last year revealed that more and more travelers are contacting the Consumer Agency for help reclaiming money after delays. To simplify the process and provide a clear picture of your rights as an SJ traveler, we have compiled a guide on what you can claim in case of train delays.

If you want to read SVT's article, you can do so here. If you want to read the full report from the Swedish Transport Administration, click here.

Summary of the Blog

Trips Shorter Than 150 km

Trips Longer Than 150 km

Introduction

If you travel with SJ and experience a long delay, you are entitled to compensation for the delay. If you have traveled with both SJ and a connecting train, bus, or ferry company and your ticket is marked with RESPLUS, different compensation rules apply.In this blog post, we will go through SJ’s delay compensation. To read about compensation for a Resplus journey, visit Resplus’ official website by clicking here.

Your Rights

SJ's journeys are covered by two sets of regulations: the Act on Public Transport Passengers' Rights and the EU Rail Passengers' Rights Regulation. Which law applies to you depends on the train you have traveled with.If you have traveled on an SJ train that covers a longer distance (150 km or more) or crosses national borders, the Rail Passengers' Rights Regulation applies. However, if you have traveled on a train that operates a shorter route (less than 150 km), the Act on Public Transport Passengers' Rights applies.The applicable regulation is based on the train's entire route, not just the distance you have traveled. If you want to learn more about SJ’s travel terms, you can visit their website. You can also read more about your rights under the Rail Passengers' Rights Regulation at europa.eu.

What Assistance Are You Entitled To?

The assistance and rights you have depend on the train's total journey length.

Longer distance

If you are traveling or planning to travel on a train that covers a longer distance (150 km or more), SJ must assist you in reaching your final destination as soon as possible. This may include arranging alternative travel options (e.g., booking a ticket for another train).In case of a delay of 60 minutes or more, you are entitled to assistance in the form of food and accommodation under the Train Passenger Regulation—provided it is practically feasible. You also have the option to cancel your journey entirely and receive a full refund.

Shorter distance

If you are traveling or planning to travel on a train that covers a shorter distance (less than 150 km) and the train is expected to be at least 20 minutes late, you have the right to use an alternative means of transport to reach your final destination and receive compensation for it.According to the Public Transport Passengers' Rights Act, you are entitled to a maximum compensation of 1,433 SEK. If you have not purchased your ticket before the delay occurs, the compensation you are entitled to will be reduced by the ticket price.

How do I know if the train is traveling a long or short distance?

The distance is based on the train's entire route, meaning the distance between its actual departure and final destination—not just the distance between the stations you, as a passenger, travel. For example, if you book a ticket for a train running between Gothenburg Central and Stockholm Central but your ticket is only for the journey between Gothenburg Central and Alingsås, the train's total route (Gothenburg to Stockholm, 486 km) is considered. Not just your traveled distance (Gothenburg to Alingsås, 45 km). This means your trip is classified as long-distance. If you are unsure whether your SJ train travels a distance shorter than 150 km, you can check this on SJ's website.

Compensation for Delays

If your SJ train is delayed, you are entitled to delay compensation. The amount you are entitled to depends primarily on the train’s route and the length of the delay.

Trains that run 150 km or more

To be eligible for compensation, the train must be delayed by at least 60 minutes. After that, your compensation is calculated based on the journey's length and the ticket price.

Example: If the train you traveled on is delayed by 75 minutes and your ticket costs 300 SEK, you are entitled to receive 75 SEK back from SJ.

Trains that run less than 150 km

To be eligible for compensation, the train must be delayed by at least 20 minutes. After that, your compensation is calculated based on the journey's length and the ticket price.

Example: If the train you traveled on is delayed by 75 minutes and your ticket costs 300 SEK, you are entitled to receive 300 SEK (the full ticket price) back from SJ.

Compensation for delays if your journey includes two or more consecutive train routes

If your journey consists of two or more train routes operated by SJ trains that run 150 km or more, you will be compensated according to the Train Passenger Regulation, based on the total ticket price. You will be compensated in the same way if your combined journey includes a train with a total route of more than 150 km (unless the rules for trains running shorter than 150 km are more favorable for you). If the ticket price for trains running less than 150 km is not stated on your ticket, SJ uses a fixed price list. You can find this price list on SJ’s website, see here [pdf].

SJ Card or Movingo Ticket

Do you have an SJ 30-day card for InterCity or Regional travel, or are you using a Movingo ticket? According to SJ, you are entitled to enhanced compensation in such cases. For enhanced compensation, the following applies:

What differs between the SJ card and the Movingo ticket, however, is how the ticket price is calculated. For SJ's 30-day card, you divide the price of the card by 22. For Movingo, it is divided by:

Movingo Annual Pass

The ticket price divided by 365.

Movingo 90 days pass

The ticket price divided by 90.

Movingo 30 days pass

The ticket price divided by 30.

It is important to remember that SJ only provides compensation in cases where an SJ train has been delayed. You will not receive compensation if you miss your SJ train because a previous mode of transport arrived late.

SJ Annual Pass and SJ 30-Day Pass for High-Speed Trains

If you instead have an SJ Annual Pass or an SJ 30-Day Pass, the compensation amount is based on the above compensation levels and the ticket price, which is calculated by dividing it by:

SJ Annual Pass

The ticket price divided by 160.

SJ 90 days pass

The ticket price divided by 50.

SJ 30-Day Pass for High-Speed Trains

The ticket price divided by 22. Example: If your SJ 30-day pass costs 2,200 SEK, the ticket price will be 100 SEK (2,200 / 22). In the event of a 40-minute delay, you will be refunded 75 SEK.

Tips for Getting Compensation Quickly

With the help of these tips and an understanding of how compensation is calculated, you can easily get your money back in case of delays.

Conclusion

Claiming compensation is a complicated process. As a traveler, you need to keep track of how far your train travels, how long the delay is, and to determine how much money you are entitled to, you need to know the ticket price—which can be difficult to calculate. If you want to read more details about SJ’s delay compensation, you can visit their website, where they explain the process in detail. But why make it complicated? With a Klimra account, we handle everything for you. We take care of the entire process from start to finish. Does that sound like something for you? Create an account with Klimra today and let us make your compensation process smooth and hassle-free.