Train drivers report safety risks and equipment failures at Lokaltog
Tuesday 23rd June 2026 on 05:30 in
Denmark
Train drivers at Lokaltog in North Zealand report reduced job satisfaction, lack of days off, and compromised safety, according to a new member survey by the Danish Railway Union obtained by DR.
A new schedule introduced in December 2025 has affected safety, with over half of the respondents stating it has had a negative impact. Additionally, one in three report increased overtime, while two in three have felt pressured to take on unwanted overtime at least once.
More than half have been asked to work on scheduled days off or holidays. The survey, launched after the April train accident on the Gribskov line that injured 22 people, reveals widespread concerns.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents believe safety has weakened under the new schedule, and 58 percent have felt pressured to operate equipment they considered unsafe. Reported issues include malfunctioning doors and pedals, a cracked windshield on one train set, excessive heat in the cab, and faulty radios.
“You’re supposed to drive with a cracked windshield, and then you get a call telling you to drive anyway,” one driver wrote.
Seventy drivers, roughly 65 percent of those on the Hillerød, Hundested, and Grønnehave routes, participated in the survey. Many describe a high-pressure work environment with shortened breaks, insufficient turnaround time, and difficulty finding time to use the restroom.
“Several times, I’ve thought that if an incident happened now, I’d be too tired to react properly,” one driver stated.
Nearly half report that work pressure has affected their family or personal time. Preben Steenholdt Pedersen, chair of the Danish Railway Union, warns that the strain is not just a workplace issue but a safety risk.
“When employees and the entire organization are under pressure, the risk of mistakes increases—and on the railway, even small mistakes can have serious consequences,” he said.
DR has sought comment from Lokaltog A/S, which declined to respond to TV 2 Kosmopol on Monday.