Train Driver Strike Continues in Norway After Vy Offer Rejected

Ongoing Contract Disagreements and Core Demands

Union leadership confirmed that talks stalled late Sunday night, September 27, despite a revised proposal from Vy concerning equal pay for equal work. Rolf Ringdal, leader of the Norwegian Locomotivemen’s Union, stated via an email distributed by the Norwegian Railway Union that the offer would have resulted in a pay cut for employees transferred from Flytoget. Ringdal also noted that Vy failed to provide sufficient concessions regarding work locations, operational duties, and rest periods, leaving the labor organization with no alternative but to continue the strike.

Employer organization Spekter expressed readiness to return to the negotiating table. Tonje Sagstuen, communications director at Spekter, maintained that the organization’s door remains open for the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and the locomotivemen’s union to resume discussions at any time.

Impact on Commuter Train Lines

The continuing work stoppage severely disrupts suburban and regional rail services across the Oslo region. Operations on several major lines face significant reductions in daily departures:

• L1 Spikkestad–Lillestrøm: 22 departures canceled, representing 14.5 percent of the schedule.
• L2 Stabekk–Ski: 36 departures canceled, accounting for 23.5 percent of operations.
• R13 Drammen–Dal: 4 departures canceled, or 5.1 percent of the line.
• R14 Asker–Kongsvinger: 21 departures canceled, severely impacting half of all scheduled trips at 50 percent.
• R21 Stabekk–Moss: 26 departures canceled, totaling 34.2 percent of the route.
• R22 Oslo S–Mysen/Rakkestad: 6 departures canceled, equaling 14.3 percent.
• R23 Oslo S–Ski: 3 departures canceled, representing 4.6 percent of the service.

Passengers traveling along the Kongsvinger corridor experience the most acute shortages, with half of all daily runs grounded.