Metro lines 2, 3 and 4 have tens of thousands of travelers every day. Now all lines are closed east from Helsfyr for upgrades and construction work. The collective company Ruter has put in extra buses to replace the subways that are not running, but so far it has not worked according to plan. On Monday, many travelers spent hours trying to get there. In the afternoon rush hour on Tuesday, there was chaos again. – It is hot, clammy and packed. I take twice as long as usual, says Agsitha Jeyakumar, who is trying to get home. Agsitha Jeyakumar takes the problems with a smile, even if she has to wait for a long time. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news The reason for the subway closure is that a new track, a new bridge and a new tunnel are being built between Hellerud and Brynseng. Line 4 will reopen on 30 May, but lines 2 and 3 will be closed until September. – I was not prepared for that. I don’t know how it will go, says Benjamin Sæverås. He is waiting for the bus with his daughter. Sæverås is not looking forward to three more months of traffic problems. – It quickly becomes a home office or driving your own car. Maybe I can find the bike. The bus chaos surprised Benjamin Sæverås. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news Pernille Hvalby has sprained her ankle, and would like to take the bus home to Bergkrystallen. – There are such long queues that I don’t think it is realistic to get on the bus, says Hvalby. More travelers give up waiting for the bus and start walking instead. Asking people to walk or cycle The collective company Ruter apologizes for the problems. Communications adviser Øystein Dahl Johansen says other traffic means that their buses do not arrive. – There is too much private driving in the area which prevents us from getting the buses back to Helsfyr. Communications advisor at Ruter, Øystein Dahl Johansen, believes the chaos will subside. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news Ruter asks travelers to use other travel routes to get where they are going. – If you can walk two extra minutes and take a bus that does not go via Helsfyr, then do it, says Johansen. He still believes that traffic flows better on Tuesday than the day before. – There are more regular departures. It also looks like people have spread out, and don’t all come together at the same time. He says it may be appropriate to take measures to limit traffic in Østensjøveien. – We will have assistance from the police in the coming weeks. They have motorcycle patrols in the area here, and make ongoing assessments of traffic flow. The buses stand and stamp in the traffic on Østensjøveien, complains Ruter. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news Ruter has put in all the extra buses there is room for. Extra security guards and information staff have also been deployed at Helsfyr. In any case, Johansen believes that the problems will ease from next week. – From Sunday, line 4 will open again. Then there will be fewer travelers who need a bus for the railway, he says. Many have to wait a long time for their bus at Helsfyr during the day. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news
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New chaos with buses for the subway at Helsfyr in Oslo – Routes blame private cars in the area – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
