Togbus replacement service extended with ‘robust’ schedule reassurance

Passengers between Odense and Fredericia will face four more days of replacement bus service after authorities pushed back the resumption of regional train traffic.

The Danish Road Directorate announced on Thursday that the reopening of the regional track, originally scheduled for July 27, has been delayed until July 31. The extension follows earlier delays that triggered widespread delays and passenger disruptions this week.

Søren Andersen, area manager at the Road Directorate, said the decision came after consultations with contractors to assess realistic completion timelines. “We chose to postpone the opening based on a dialogue about what could be achieved and how their schedule looked,” he said. “We have revised the timeline and added four days to ensure we have a train system that works.”

The extension comes after last-minute technical issues were discovered during final tests of the power supply system on a parallel track, forcing authorities to cancel the planned July 23 restart. Those same tests must now be completed on the regional line before passenger service resumes.

“I can never give a guarantee, but we are fairly confident that this revised schedule is robust enough to succeed,” Andersen said.

Passengers should still expect longer travel times until July 31, when regional trains are now expected to return to the route.