The Norwegian railway system comprises 4,109 km of (
standard gauge
A standard-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge of . The standard gauge is also called Stephenson gauge (after George Stephenson), international gauge, UIC gauge, uniform gauge, normal gauge in Europe, and SGR in East Africa. It is the ...
) track of which 2,644 km is
electrified and 274 km
double track
A double-track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single-track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.
Overview
In the earliest days of railways in the United Kingdom, most li ...
. There are 697
tunnel
A tunnel is an underground or undersea passageway. It is dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, or laid under water, and is usually completely enclosed except for the two portals common at each end, though there may be access and ve ...
s and 2,760
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...
s.
The
Norwegian Railway Directorate manages the railway network in Norway on behalf of the
Ministry of Transportation.
Bane NOR
Bane NOR SF is the Norwegian government agency responsible for owning, maintaining, operating and developing the Norwegian railway network, including the track, stations, and the majority of other infrastructure assets. It took over the operati ...
is a
state enterprise
A state-owned enterprise (SOE) is a business entity created or owned by a national or local government, either through an executive order or legislation. SOEs aim to generate profit for the government, prevent private sector monopolies, provide goo ...
which builds and maintains all
railway
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...
tracks, while other companies operate them. These companies include
Vy and subsidiaries
Vy Gjøvikbanen and
CargoNet
CargoNet AS is the primary operator of freight rail transport, freight trains on the rail transport in Norway, Norwegian railway system.
It was originally formed as NSB Gods after Vy, NSB (now Vy) was split into separate passenger and freight ...
,
Flytoget
Flytoget (') is a high-speed rail, high-speed airport rail link, airport railway service connecting Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, Oslo Airport to Oslo Central Station. Run by Flytoget AS (formerly NSB Gardermobanen AS), it operates on the high-speed ...
,
Go-Ahead,
SJ Norge
SJ is the primary passenger train operator in Sweden. A wholly state-owned company operated for-profit under market conditions, SJ operates various services across Sweden. SJ's operations include high-speed trains, intercity trains, night trains ...
,
Green Cargo
Green Cargo AB is a Swedish state-owned logistics company that transports various types of goods by train. It was created on 1 January 2001 out of the logistics division of Swedish State Railways (SJ). While organised as a public limite ...
,
Grenland Rail and
Hector Rail
Hector Rail is a Sweden, Swedish-based independent train haulage provider. It operates in the European rail transport market and possesses its own rolling stock, including a fleet of 100 locomotives. The company provides both locomotives and driv ...
.
Norway is a member of the
International Union of Railways
The International Union of Railways (, UIC) is an international rail transport industry body based in Paris.
History
The railways of Europe had originated during the nineteenth century as many separate concerns across numerous nations; this le ...
(UIC). The
UIC Country Code for Norway is 76.
History

The first railway in Norway was the
Hoved Line between
Oslo
Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...
and
Eidsvoll
Eidsvoll (; sometimes written as ''Eidsvold'') is a Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Akershus Counties of Norway, county, Norway. It is part of the Romerike Districts of Norway, traditional region. The administrative centre of the munic ...
and opened in 1854. The main purpose of the railway was to move
lumber
Lumber is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes (dimensional lumber), including beams and planks or boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, window frames). ...
from
Mjøsa
Mjøsa is the largest lake in Norway and the fourth deepest in Norway and Europe. It is located in the southern part of Norway, about north of the city of Oslo. Its main tributary is the river Gudbrandsdalslågen flowing in from the north; the ...
to the capital, but passenger service was also offered. In the period between the 1860s and the 1880s Norway saw a boom of smaller railways being built, including isolated railways in Central and Western Norway. The predominant
gauge
Gauge ( ) may refer to:
Measurement
* Gauge (instrument), any of a variety of measuring instruments
* Gauge (firearms)
* Wire gauge, a measure of the size of a wire
** American wire gauge, a common measure of nonferrous wire diameter, especia ...
at the time was (
narrow gauge
A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and .
Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...
), but some lines were built in (
standard gauge
A standard-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge of . The standard gauge is also called Stephenson gauge (after George Stephenson), international gauge, UIC gauge, uniform gauge, normal gauge in Europe, and SGR in East Africa. It is the ...
). The height of the era came in 1877 when the
Røros Line
The Røros Line () is a rail transport, railway line which runs through the districts of Norway, districts of Hedmarken, Østerdalen, and Gauldalen in Innlandet and Trøndelag, Norway. The line branches off from the Dovre Line at Hamar Station ...
connected Central Norway to the capital. In 1883 the entire main railway network was taken over by
Norwegian State Railways
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
*Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
*Demographics of Norway
*Norwegian language, including the two ...
(NSB), though a number of industrial railways and branch lines continued to be operated by private companies.
Three urban railways, in
Oslo
Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...
,
Bergen
Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo.
By May 20 ...
and
Trondheim
Trondheim ( , , ; ), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros, and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2022, it had a population of 212,660. Trondheim is the third most populous municipality in Norway, and is ...
, were started as in 1875 (Oslo), 1897 (Bergen) and Trondheim (1901). Oslo's system, as the only one, started with horse cars, the others were electrified from the beginning. Electric cars were introduced in Oslo in 1894 and the last horse car operated in 1900.
Bergen closed down its first generation system between 1944 and 1965, but (re-)introduced light rail transit (LRT) in 2006.
The second construction boom of the main railway arose in the 1910s and included the
Bergen Line
The Bergen Line, or the Bergen Railway ( or ), is a long scenic overlook, scenic standard gauge railway line between Bergen and Hønefoss, Norway. The name is often applied to the entire route from Bergen to Oslo, including the Randsfjord Line ...
across
Finse to
Bergen
Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo.
By May 20 ...
, connecting Eastern and Western Norway. A number of other larger projects were also built in the 1920s, including a second line, the
Dovre Line
The Dovre Line () is a Norwegian railway line with three slightly different lines which all lead to the historic city of Trondheim (city), Trondheim.
Definition
*Dovre Line is the main line between Eidsvoll Station and Trondheim Station, used b ...
, to Trondheim. This period also saw the first
electrified railways and a steady
conversion
Conversion or convert may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''The Convert'', a 2023 film produced by Jump Film & Television and Brouhaha Entertainment
* "Conversion" (''Doctor Who'' audio), an episode of the audio drama ''Cyberman''
* ...
from narrow gauge to standard gauge. Norway chose to electrify its network at .
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
there was a massive construction by the
German Forces as part of creating
Festung Norwegen, including large sections of the
Nordland Line and the completion of the
Sørland Line
Sørland is a seaside resort, fishing village, and the administrative centre of Værøy Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located on the southern side of the island of Værøya. The village is the main population center of the isla ...
. After the war the main effort was to complete the Nordland Line (which reached
Bodø in 1962) and the decision to electrify 50% of the network, a task not completed until 1970. This allowed the retirement of
steam locomotives
A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, oil or, rarely, wood) to heat water in the locomot ...
, which were replaced with electric engines like the
El 11 and
El 13 or the diesel powered
Di 3. In 1966 Norway's only
rapid transit
Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT) or heavy rail, commonly referred to as metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport that is generally built in urban areas. A grade separation, grade separated rapid transit line below ground su ...
,
Oslo T-bane
The Oslo Metro ( or or simply ) is the rapid transit system of Oslo, Norway, operated by Sporveien T-banen on contract from the transit authority Ruter. The network consists of five lines that all run through the city centre, with a total length ...
was opened, but in the same decade the Bergen tramway was closed. In the 1970s and 80s many
branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line. Branch lines may serve one or more industries, or a city or town not located ...
s were also abandoned.
In 1980 the massive project of connecting the eastern and western railway networks around Oslo was completed with the opening of the
Oslo Tunnel and
Oslo Central Station
Oslo Central Station (, abbreviated ) is the main railway station in Oslo, and the largest railway station within the entire Norwegian railway system. It connects with Jernbanetorget station, which is served by trams and the Oslo Metro. It's ...
. In 1996 NSB was split into the
Norwegian Railway Inspectorate
The Norwegian Railway Authority () is a Norwegian government agency responsible for practical control and supervision of rail transport in Norway, including railways, tramways, rapid transits, heritage railways and side tracks.
The agency was cr ...
,
Jernbaneverket
Jernbaneverket () was a government agency responsible for owning, maintaining, operating and developing the Norwegian railway network, including the track, stations, classification yards, traffic management and timetables. Safety oversight wa ...
and an operating company NSB BA. Since then, the companies have been split into 10 separate corporations. In 1998 the first new line in 36 years was opened when the
high-speed Gardermoen Line
The Gardermoen Line () is a high-speed railway line between Oslo and Eidsvoll, Norway, running past Lillestrøm and Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. The line is long and replaced the older Hoved Line as the main line north-east of Oslo. The older ...
was opened to allow travel at 210 km/h between Oslo,
Oslo Airport and Eidsvoll. The 1990s also saw the massive introduction of
multiple unit
A multiple-unit train (or multiple unit (MU)) is a self-propelled train composed of one or more Coach (rail), carriages joined, and where one or more of the carriages have the means of propulsion built in. By contrast, a locomotive-hauled ...
s on passenger trains. In the 2000s the
freight segment was
deregulated
Deregulation is the process of removing or reducing state regulations, typically in the economic sphere. It is the repeal of governmental Economic regulation, regulation of the economy. It became common in advanced industrial economies in the 19 ...
and a number of freight companies have started competing with the NSB subsidiary CargoNet.
The national main routes in Norway are considered to be among the slowest in Europe, and slower than parts of
East Africa
East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...
, with average speeds below 80 km/h.
Network
Track
The main railway network consists of 4,087 km of lines, of which 262 km is
double track
A double-track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single-track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.
Overview
In the earliest days of railways in the United Kingdom, most li ...
and 60 km
high-speed rail
High-speed rail (HSR) is a type of rail transport network utilising trains that run significantly faster than those of traditional rail, using an integrated system of specialised rolling stock and dedicated railway track, tracks. While there is ...
(210 km/h). In addition there is 225 km of
urban railways, of which 218 km is double track. In addition there are some industrial tracks and minor branch lines and some abandoned and
heritage railway
A heritage railway or heritage railroad (U.S. usage) is a railway operated as living history to re-create or preserve railway scenes of the past. Heritage railways are often old railway lines preserved in a state depicting a period (or periods) ...
s. The entire main network is (
standard gauge
A standard-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge of . The standard gauge is also called Stephenson gauge (after George Stephenson), international gauge, UIC gauge, uniform gauge, normal gauge in Europe, and SGR in East Africa. It is the ...
), as are the urban railways in
Oslo
Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...
and
Bergen
Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo.
By May 20 ...
. Of the operational railways in Norway, only the
Trondheim Tramway
The Trondheim Tramway in Trondheim, Norway, is the world's most northerly tramway system, following the closure and dismantling of the Arkhangelsk tramways in Russia. It consists of one line, the Gråkallen Line, running from St. Olav's Gate ...
has a different gauge, the
meter gauge
Metre-gauge railways ( US: meter-gauge railways) are narrow-gauge railways with track gauge of or 1 metre.
Metre gauge is used in around of tracks around the world. It was used by several European colonial powers including France, Britain and ...
, . Some heritage railways, though, operate with various kinds of narrow gauge.
The
Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line
The Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line (), or the Sydvaranger Line (), is a long railway line between Kirkenes and Bjørnevatn in Sør-Varanger Municipality, Norway. Owned by the private mining company Northern Iron, the single track (rail), single-tr ...
used to be the northernmost railway in the world, but was in 2010 beaten by the
Obskaya–Bovanenkovo Line
The Obskaya–Bovanenkovo Line is a railway line in northern Russia, built and owned and operated by Gazprom. It was opened for traffic in 2010 and was built for the gas fields around Bovanenkovo on the Yamal Peninsula, the Yamal project. In ...
in Russia. Still,
Narvik
() is the third-largest List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Nordland Counties of Norway, county, Norway, by population. The administrative centre of the municipality is the Narvik (town), town of Narvik. Some of the notable villag ...
is one of the northernmost towns in the world to have a railway connection, as the terminus for the
Ofoten Line. It connects to
Kiruna
(; ; ; ) is the northernmost Stad (Sweden), city in Sweden, situated in the province of Lapland, Sweden, Lapland. It had 17,002 inhabitants in 2016 and is the seat of Kiruna Municipality (population: 23,167 in 2016) in Norrbotten County. The c ...
,
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
, but not to
Bodø, the northern
terminus of the Norwegian railway network. Kiruna is, however, connected to the
Swedish railway network, which again is connected to the Norwegian network at the Swedish stations of
Charlottenberg
Charlottenberg is a locality in Värmland County, Sweden, and the administrative centre of Eda Municipality.
Situated some seven kilometres from the Norwegian border, the town has a population of around 3,000. Charlottenberg railway station is ...
,
Storlien and
Kornsjø.
Traction
2,622 km (64%) of the railway network is electrified, all of it at with
overhead wire
An overhead line or overhead wire is an electrical cable that is used to transmit electrical energy to electric locomotives, electric multiple units, trolleybuses or trams. The generic term used by the International Union of Railways for the te ...
s. The only sections that are not electrified are the lines north of
Mjøsa
Mjøsa is the largest lake in Norway and the fourth deepest in Norway and Europe. It is located in the southern part of Norway, about north of the city of Oslo. Its main tributary is the river Gudbrandsdalslågen flowing in from the north; the ...
, with the sole exception of the
Dovre Line
The Dovre Line () is a Norwegian railway line with three slightly different lines which all lead to the historic city of Trondheim (city), Trondheim.
Definition
*Dovre Line is the main line between Eidsvoll Station and Trondheim Station, used b ...
and the
Ofoten Line. On non-electrified sections diesel locomotives are used. All of the urban railways use 600 or 750
V DC, via overhead wires on the tramways and via
third-rail
A third rail, also known as a live rail, electric rail or conductor rail, is a method of providing electric power to a railway locomotive or train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway ...
on the
Oslo T-bane
The Oslo Metro ( or or simply ) is the rapid transit system of Oslo, Norway, operated by Sporveien T-banen on contract from the transit authority Ruter. The network consists of five lines that all run through the city centre, with a total length ...
.
Future expansion plans
In its plans,
Bane NOR
Bane NOR SF is the Norwegian government agency responsible for owning, maintaining, operating and developing the Norwegian railway network, including the track, stations, and the majority of other infrastructure assets. It took over the operati ...
will concentrate its expansions primarily on the cramped network around Oslo and the larger cities.
*New tunnel under Oslo city center.
*
Vestfold Line
The Vestfold Line () is a railway line which runs between Drammen and Eidanger in Norway. The line connects to the Drammen Line at the northern terminus at Drammen Station and continues as the Bratsberg Line past Skien Station. The line is excl ...
: A new alignment between Larvik and Porsgrunn around long, reducing travel time by 22 minutes. Double track between Drammen and Tønsberg is under construction and due by 2025. The plan is to make the whole line double tracked from Drammen to Porsgrunn.
*
Sørland Line
Sørland is a seaside resort, fishing village, and the administrative centre of Værøy Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located on the southern side of the island of Værøya. The village is the main population center of the isla ...
: Plans may include between Porsgrunn and Skorstøl, which would realign trains to southern Norway via Vestfold.
*
Østfold Line
The Østfold Line () is a railway line which runs from Oslo through the western parts of Follo, Norway, Follo and Østfold to Kornsjø in Norway. It continues through Sweden as the Norway/Vänern Line. The northern half is double track and the en ...
: The Østfold Line is today double track both north and south of Moss, but in Moss remains as a single track bottleneck. Plans is to realign the railway through Moss, with double track through two tunnels.
*
Ringerike Line is a planned railway between Sandvika and Hønefoss that will reduce travel time between Oslo and Hønefoss/Bergen by 50 minutes. Construction is postponed indefinitely.
*
Bergen Line
The Bergen Line, or the Bergen Railway ( or ), is a long scenic overlook, scenic standard gauge railway line between Bergen and Hønefoss, Norway. The name is often applied to the entire route from Bergen to Oslo, including the Randsfjord Line ...
: Double track from Bergen to Arna. Later plans call for double track further east to Stanghelle and Voss.
*
Dovre Line
The Dovre Line () is a Norwegian railway line with three slightly different lines which all lead to the historic city of Trondheim (city), Trondheim.
Definition
*Dovre Line is the main line between Eidsvoll Station and Trondheim Station, used b ...
: Expanding the rest of the line between Eidsvoll and Hamar to double track by 2027. Realignment of Dovrebanen south of Trondheim may be done together with relocating of Trondheims freight terminal.
*
Nordland Line/
Meråker Line
The Meråker Line ( �meːroːkərˌbɑːnən is a railway line which runs through the district and valley of Stjørdalen in Trøndelag county, Norway. The line branches off from the Nordland Line at Hell Station and runs eastwards to the No ...
: Electrifying of the Meråker Line and the Nordland Line up to Stjørdal is planned to be finished by 2024. Later plans may include double tracking between Trondheim and Stjørdal, and a new tunnel between Stjørdal and Levanger.
*The
Bergen Light Rail
Bergen Light Rail () is a light rail system in Bergen, Norway. The first stage of the project was a twenty-station stretch between the city center and Lagunen Storsenter, Nesttun, where the first 15 stations comprising a stretch opened in 2010, ...
was opened in 2010, and extensions are being built.
*The
Oslo T-bane
The Oslo Metro ( or or simply ) is the rapid transit system of Oslo, Norway, operated by Sporveien T-banen on contract from the transit authority Ruter. The network consists of five lines that all run through the city centre, with a total length ...
will be expanded, as will the
Trondheim tramway
The Trondheim Tramway in Trondheim, Norway, is the world's most northerly tramway system, following the closure and dismantling of the Arkhangelsk tramways in Russia. It consists of one line, the Gråkallen Line, running from St. Olav's Gate ...
.
;High speed rail
The question about building a
high-speed rail
High-speed rail (HSR) is a type of rail transport network utilising trains that run significantly faster than those of traditional rail, using an integrated system of specialised rolling stock and dedicated railway track, tracks. While there is ...
way between the largest Southern Norwegian cities has been discussed at political level, and a report was ready by the end of 2007. Advocates for rail transport and
environmentalists
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology, and social movement about supporting life, habitats, and surroundings. While environmentalism focuses more on the environmental and nature-related aspects of green ideology and politics, ecologi ...
have wanted to build high speed railways, including upgrades to 250 km/h on the
Sørland Line
Sørland is a seaside resort, fishing village, and the administrative centre of Værøy Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located on the southern side of the island of Værøya. The village is the main population center of the isla ...
,
Bergen Line
The Bergen Line, or the Bergen Railway ( or ), is a long scenic overlook, scenic standard gauge railway line between Bergen and Hønefoss, Norway. The name is often applied to the entire route from Bergen to Oslo, including the Randsfjord Line ...
, and
Dovre Line
The Dovre Line () is a Norwegian railway line with three slightly different lines which all lead to the historic city of Trondheim (city), Trondheim.
Definition
*Dovre Line is the main line between Eidsvoll Station and Trondheim Station, used b ...
while others, including
Norsk Bane, have suggested construction of a new line through
Haukeli to Stavanger, Haugesund and Bergen.
;Platform heights
There are current proposed figures:
* above rail for long-distance trains
* above rail for commuter trains
* above rail for shared platforms
*For or broad gauge lines, passenger platforms shall be as low to above rail should be allowed.
Heritage
There are also several operational museum railways in Norway, including the
Krøder Line,
Setesdal Line,
Urskog–Høland Line
The Urskog–Høland Line (), also known as Tertitten, is a narrow-gauge railway between Sørumsand and Skulerud in Norway.
History
The original line was long and was built in three stages: Urskogbanen opened in 1896, running from Bingsfossen t ...
,
Thamshavn Line
The Thamshavn Line () was Norway's first electric railway, running from 1908 to 1974 in what is now Trøndelag county. Today it is operated as a heritage railway and is the world's oldest railway running on its original alternating current elec ...
,
Rjukan Line,
Valdres Line,
Nesttun–Os Railway and
Old Voss Line
The Old Voss Line () is a heritage railway between Garnes and Midttun near Bergen, Norway.
Originally constructed as a narrow gauge line, it formed part of the Bergen to Voss railway opened in 1883. Following the decision to complete the railw ...
. The
Norwegian Railway Museum is located in
Hamar
Hamar is a List of cities in Norway, town in Hamar Municipality in Innlandet Counties of Norway, county, Norway. Hamar is the administrative centre of Hamar Municipality. It is located in the Districts of Norway, traditional region of Hedmarken. ...
and includes exhibits of train hardware, related objects, as well as document and photography archives.
Lines
Fully operational lines
Freight only lines
Lines with no regular traffic
Heritage railway
No traffic allowed
Urban railways
*
Holmenkoll Line
The Holmenkollen Line () is an Oslo Metro line which runs between Majorstuen and Nordmarka in Oslo, Norway. Operating as Metro Line 1, it is the route with the fewest passengers and the only one still to have level crossings and short station ...
(
Oslo T-bane
The Oslo Metro ( or or simply ) is the rapid transit system of Oslo, Norway, operated by Sporveien T-banen on contract from the transit authority Ruter. The network consists of five lines that all run through the city centre, with a total length ...
) (1898)
*
Gråkallen Line (
Trondheim Tramway
The Trondheim Tramway in Trondheim, Norway, is the world's most northerly tramway system, following the closure and dismantling of the Arkhangelsk tramways in Russia. It consists of one line, the Gråkallen Line, running from St. Olav's Gate ...
) (to
Ila 1893,
Lian 1933)
*
Røa Line (Oslo T-bane) (1912)
*
Fløibanen (
Bergen
Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo.
By May 20 ...
) (1914)
*
Lilleaker Line
The Lilleaker Line () is a suburban tramway from Skøyen in Oslo westwards to Jar,_Norway, Jar, Bærum in Norway. It is operated by Line 13 from Ljabru tram stop, Ljabru to Bekkestua (station), Bekkestua of the Oslo Tramway, operated by Oslo Spor ...
(
Oslo Tramway
The Oslo tram network (, short from ', 'electric') is the tram system in Oslo, Norway. It consists of six lines with 99 stops and has a daily ridership of 132,000. It is operated by , a subsidiary of the municipally-owned who maintain the trac ...
) (1919)
*
Sognsvann Line (Oslo T-bane) (1933)
*
Kjelsås Line
The Kjelsås Line () is a tramway line running from Storo to Kjelsås in the northern part of Oslo, Norway. The line opened by Oslo Sporveier on 25 September 1934 as an extension of the Grünerløkka–Torshov Line that terminated at Storo. I ...
(Oslo Tramway) (1934)
*
Kolsås Line
The Kolsås Line () is a line of the Oslo Metro. It branches off from the Røa Line at Smestad (station), Smestad Station and runs through western Oslo and Bærum to Kolsås (station), Kolsås Station. It serves the neighborhoods of Ullernåsen, ...
(Oslo T-bane) (1924)
*
Østensjø Line
The Østensjø Line () is a line on the Oslo Metro which runs from Brynseng (station), Brynseng to Mortensrud (station), Mortensrud. It further shares track with the Lambertseter Line along the section from Tøyen (station), Tøyen to Brynseng. ...
(Oslo T-bane) (1926)
*
Lambertseter Line
The Lambertseter Line () is a line on the Oslo Metro which runs from Brynseng (station), Brynseng to Bergkrystallen (station), Bergkrystallen. It further shares track with the Østensjø Line along the section from Tøyen (station), Tøyen to B ...
(Oslo T-bane) (1957)
*
Grorud Line
The Grorud Line () is a line on the Oslo Metro between Tøyen (station), Tøyen and Vestli (station), Vestli in Oslo, Norway. Built as a mix of underground, at ground level and as an elevated line, it runs through the northern part of Groruddale ...
(Oslo T-bane) (1966)
*
Furuset Line (Oslo T-bane) (1970)
*
Bybanen (
Bergen Light Rail
Bergen Light Rail () is a light rail system in Bergen, Norway. The first stage of the project was a twenty-station stretch between the city center and Lagunen Storsenter, Nesttun, where the first 15 stations comprising a stretch opened in 2010, ...
) (2010)
Railway links with adjacent countries
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
is the only country with which Norway shares railway borders. Sweden and Norway share gauge, loading gauge, signaling system, electric system,
GSM-R
GSM-R, Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway or GSM-Railway is an international wireless communications standard for railway communication and applications.
A sub-system of European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), it is use ...
and automatic trains stop systems. Most rolling stock can cross the border. There are four border crossings: the
Østfold Line
The Østfold Line () is a railway line which runs from Oslo through the western parts of Follo, Norway, Follo and Østfold to Kornsjø in Norway. It continues through Sweden as the Norway/Vänern Line. The northern half is double track and the en ...
–
Norway/Vänern Line, the
Kongsvinger Line
The Kongsvinger Line () is a railway line between the towns of Lillestrøm and Kongsvinger in Norway and onwards to Charlottenberg in Sweden. The railway was opened on 3 October 1862 and is Norway's second standard gauge line (after the Hoved ...
–
Värmland Line, the
Meråker Line
The Meråker Line ( �meːroːkərˌbɑːnən is a railway line which runs through the district and valley of Stjørdalen in Trøndelag county, Norway. The line branches off from the Nordland Line at Hell Station and runs eastwards to the No ...
–
Central Line and the
Ofoten Line–
Iron Ore Line. All crossings have electric traction on the Swedish side, but the Meråker Line lacks it on the Norwegian side. There have previously been operational
train ferries
A train ferry is a ship (ferry) designed to carry railway vehicles, as well as their cargoes and passengers. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to t ...
to
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
.
There are proposals to connect
Northern Norway
Northern Norway (, , ; ) is a geographical region of Norway, consisting of the three northernmost counties Nordland, Troms and Finnmark, in total about 35% of the Norwegian mainland. Some of the largest towns in Northern Norway (from south to no ...
to
Finland
Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...
(the planned
Arctic Railway) and
Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
. At
Kirkenes
(Norwegian language, Norwegian; ), (Northern Sami language, Northern Sami; , or is a List of towns and cities in Norway, town in Sør-Varanger Municipality in Finnmark county, in the far northeastern part of Norway. The town lies on a peninsu ...
, the
Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line
The Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line (), or the Sydvaranger Line (), is a long railway line between Kirkenes and Bjørnevatn in Sør-Varanger Municipality, Norway. Owned by the private mining company Northern Iron, the single track (rail), single-tr ...
is proposed to be connected to Russia's
Murmansk–Nikel Railway, and the line is also proposed for connection to the Finnish network in
Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi ( , ; ; ; ) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Lapland (Finland), Lapland. It is located near the Arctic Circle in the northern interior of the country. The population of Rovaniemi is approximately , while the Rovaniemi su ...
(there has been a line between Rovaniemi and the Murmansk railway). Russia has generally dismissed this proposal in favour of using Russian ports instead of Kirkenes. Another proposal has been to build a line from Kolari to
Skibotn and
Tromsø
Tromsø is a List of towns and cities in Norway, city in Tromsø Municipality in Troms county, Norway. The city is the administrative centre of the municipality as well as the administrative centre of Troms county. The city is located on the is ...
, even if connecting to the existing
line to Narvik is the main suggestion.
Operation
Railway companies
Traditionally, all trains were operated by Vy (formerly NSB), but the deregulation in the 2000s has led to the introduction of a number of new
freight
In transportation, cargo refers to goods transported by land, water or air, while freight refers to its conveyance. In economics, freight refers to goods transported at a freight rate for commercial gain. The term cargo is also used in ...
operators, including
CargoNet
CargoNet AS is the primary operator of freight rail transport, freight trains on the rail transport in Norway, Norwegian railway system.
It was originally formed as NSB Gods after Vy, NSB (now Vy) was split into separate passenger and freight ...
,
Hector Rail
Hector Rail is a Sweden, Swedish-based independent train haulage provider. It operates in the European rail transport market and possesses its own rolling stock, including a fleet of 100 locomotives. The company provides both locomotives and driv ...
,
Tågåkeriet and
Ofoten Line. The
conservative-liberal government tried to introduce
public service obligation
In the context of European Union law, a public service obligation or PSO is an obligation imposed on an organisation by legislation or contract to provide a service of general interest within EU territories. PSOs may operate in any field of publi ...
bids on
subsidized passenger routes in 2005, but the contract was won by the NSB subsidiary
NSB Anbud and the following
red-green government has cancelled further PSO contracting. Also the
Airport Express Train
An airport rail link is a service providing passenger rail transport between an airport and a nearby city. Direct links operate straight from the airport terminal to the city, while other links require an intermediate use of a people mover or ...
has been made a separate company.
In 2017 Norway's Ministry of Transport and Communications decided to develop tenders for the operation of passenger rail services. On 4 February 2018, it launched a tender to deliver Traffic Package 1 that will commence on 15 December 2019, comprising long-distance services on the
Sørlandet Line
The Sørlandet Line () is a railway line between Drammen (though this is connected to Oslo by means of the Drammen Line) via Kristiansand to Stavanger. The line is long between Oslo and Stavanger.
History
The railway was constructed in several ...
from Oslo to Stavanger. In October 2018 this package was awarded to
Go-Ahead Nordic.
In March 2018, the Norwegian Railway Directorate launched tenders for Traffic Package 2, passenger services on the
Røros Line
The Røros Line () is a rail transport, railway line which runs through the districts of Norway, districts of Hedmarken, Østerdalen, and Gauldalen in Innlandet and Trøndelag, Norway. The line branches off from the Dovre Line at Hamar Station ...
,
Meråker Line
The Meråker Line ( �meːroːkərˌbɑːnən is a railway line which runs through the district and valley of Stjørdalen in Trøndelag county, Norway. The line branches off from the Nordland Line at Hell Station and runs eastwards to the No ...
,
Rauma Line
The Rauma Line () is a long railway between the town of Åndalsnes (in Rauma Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county), and the village of Dombås (in Dovre Municipality in Innlandet county), in Norway. Running down the Romsdalen valley, the line ...
, and
Nordland Line, plus regional services in Trøndelag county.
SJ will commence operating the package on 7 June 2020.
On 21 December 2018, the Norwegian Railway Directorate launched tenders for Traffic Package 3, passenger services on the Oslo to Bergen line starting on 13 December 2020.
Passenger services
Passenger rolling stock
Until the 1990s only commuter and regional trains were operated with
multiple unit
A multiple-unit train (or multiple unit (MU)) is a self-propelled train composed of one or more Coach (rail), carriages joined, and where one or more of the carriages have the means of propulsion built in. By contrast, a locomotive-hauled ...
s, but since then Vy has ordered numerous multiple units for its regional and express lines. Express trains are operated with 16
BM 73 units with
tilting technology, regional trains with 16
BM 70, 6
BM 73b (both electric) and 15
BM 93 (diesel) units while the local trains are operated by 71
BM 69 and 36
BM 72 (both electric) while the local trains around Trondheim,
Trøndelag Commuter Rail
The Trøndelag Commuter Rail (, ) is a commuter train service operating in Trøndelag county, Norway. It was operated with NSB Class 92, Class 92 diesel multiple units by Vy (formerly Norwegian State Railways (1883–1996), Norwegian State Railw ...
, uses 14
BM 92 diesel multiple unit. The Airport Express Train uses 16
BM 71 and
Vy Gjøvikbanen operates 9
BM 69g units. The Ofoten Line operates three
BM 68 electric multiple units.
Vy still uses locomotive hauled passenger trains on a few of the long-distance lines. For this task they use 22
El 18s and 5
Di 4s in addition to six
El 17 on the
Flåm Line
The Flåm Line () is a long railway line between Myrdal and Flåm in Aurland Municipality, in Vestland county, Norway. A branch line of the Bergen Line, it runs through the valley of Flåmsdalen and connects the mainline with Sognefjord. The li ...
. Most of the cars are
B7 on long-distance services and
B5 on regional services. Most of the locomotives have been transferred to the freight division CargoNet.
Freight rolling stock
CargoNet uses a combination of 30
El 14, 15
El 16, 19
Di 8 and 6
CD66. The other companies use stock retired by NSB, including the Ofoten Line's 7
El 13, 5
Di 3 and 2
T43, HectorRail's 6
El 15 (now known as 161) and Tåkåkeriet's
Rc2.
Abandoned railways
''See
Chronology of Norwegian railway lines.''
*
Losbylinja (
Østmorksaga–
Fjellhamar) (1861–ca 1940)
*
Kalvskinnet-Heimdallinjen (
Kalvskinnet–
Heimdal) (1864–1884)
*
Krøder Line (
Vikersund
Vikersund is a town of 3,232 (in 2020) inhabitants in the municipality capital of Modum, in the county of Buskerud, Norway.
Overview
Vikersund is located 30 kilometers south of Hønefoss and 40 kilometers northwest of Drammen. The village is l ...
–
Krøderen) (1872–1985)
*
Sulitjelma Line (
Finneid–
Sulitjelma
, , or is a village in Fauske Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. Sulitjelma is situated in a lush inland valley at an elevation of above mean sea level, above sea level. It is located on the shore of Langvatnet (Fauske), Langvatnet lake, ...
) (1892–1972)
*
Nesttun–Os Railway (
Nesttun
Nesttun is an urban settlement in the borough of Fana in the municipality of Bergen in Vestland county, Norway. It is located approximately south of the city centre. It was the centre of the old Fana municipality, which merged with Bergen in 19 ...
–
Os) (1894–1935)
*
Setesdal Line (
Kristiansand
Kristiansand is a city and Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Agder county, Norway. The city is the fifth-largest and the municipality is the sixth-largest in Norway, with a population of around 116,000 as of January 2020, following th ...
–
Byglandsfjord) (1896–1962)
*
Urskog–Høland Line
The Urskog–Høland Line (), also known as Tertitten, is a narrow-gauge railway between Sørumsand and Skulerud in Norway.
History
The original line was long and was built in three stages: Urskogbanen opened in 1896, running from Bingsfossen t ...
(
Sørumsand–
Skulerud) (1896–1960)
*
Lillesand–Flaksvand Line
The Lillesand–Flaksvand Line () or LFB was a railway between Flaksvand (now called Flaksvatn) and Lillesand in Agder, Norway. The private line was built with narrow gauge and was not connected to the rail transport in Norway, national railway ...
(
Lillesand
Lillesand () is municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sørlandet. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Lillesand. Some of the larger villages in Lillesand municipality include ...
–
Flaksvann) (1896–1953)
*
Hafslund Line (
Hafslund–
Sundløkka) (1898–1973)
*
Tønsberg–Eidsfoss Line
The Tønsberg–Eidsfoss Line () or TEB is an abandoned railway between Eidsfoss and Tønsberg
Tønsberg (), historically Tunsberg, is a List of towns and cities in Norway, city in Tønsberg Municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. It is lo ...
(
Tønsberg
Tønsberg (), historically Tunsberg, is a List of towns and cities in Norway, city in Tønsberg Municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. It is located about south-southwest of the capital city of Oslo on the western coast of the Oslofjord near ...
–
Eidsfoss) (1901–1938)
*
Holmestrand–Vittingfoss Line
The Holmestrand–Hvittingfoss Line () or HVB is an abandoned railway between Holmestrand to Hvittingfoss in Norway. It consisted of two sections: a line from Holmestrand (town), Holmestrand to Hillestad, Vestfold, Hillestad and a section from ...
(
Holmestrand
is a List of towns and cities in Norway, town in Holmestrand Municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The town is the administrative centre of the municipality. It is located along the shore of the Ytre Oslofjord, about northwest of the Horten ...
–
Vittingfoss) (1902–1938)
*
Skreia Line (
Reinsvoll
Reinsvoll is a village in Vestre Toten Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. The village is located along the Norwegian National Road 4 between the villages of Eina and Raufoss. Reinsvoll has a train station that is located along the Gjøv ...
–
Skreia
Skreia is a village in Østre Toten Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. The village is located on the western shore of the large lake Mjøsa, about southeast of the village of Lena, Norway, Lena and about to the south of the village of Ka ...
(1902–1987)
*
Lier Line (
Lier–
Svangstrand) (1904)
*
Flekkefjord Line (
Sira–
Flekkefjord
Flekkefjord () is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Lister Region, Lister. The administrative centre of the municipality is the ...
) (1904–1990)
*
Valdres Line (
Eina–
Fagernes) (1906–1988)
*
Grimstad Line (
Grimstad
Grimstad () is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Agder counties of Norway, county, Norway. It belongs to the geographical region of Southern Norway, Sørlandet. The administrative center of the municipality is the Grimstad (to ...
–Rise) (1907–1961)
*
Oslo Port Line (
Loenga–
Filipstad
Filipstad is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality and the seat of Filipstad Municipality, Värmland County, Sweden, with 10,644 inhabitants in 2019.
Filipstad was granted city privileges in 1611 by Charles IX of Sweden, who named it after his son Ch ...
) (1907–1983)
*
Thamshavn Line
The Thamshavn Line () was Norway's first electric railway, running from 1908 to 1974 in what is now Trøndelag county. Today it is operated as a heritage railway and is the world's oldest railway running on its original alternating current elec ...
(
Løkken–
Thamshavn
Thamshamn or Thamshavn is a small port village in Orkland Municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is the site of the port for the town of Orkanger and the ferrosilicon plant Elkem Thamshavn. It is located right along European route E39 an ...
) (1908–1974)
*
Rjukan Line (
Rjukan
Rjukan () is a List of towns and cities in Norway, town in Tinn Municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The town is also the administrative centre of Tinn Municipality. The town is located in the Vestfjorddalen valley, between the lakes Møsvatn ...
–
Mæl) (1908–1991)
*
Tinnos Line (
Tinnoset–
Notodden
is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Aust-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Notodden. Other population centres include the villages of Bolkesjø, G ...
) (1908–1990)
*
Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line
The Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line (), or the Sydvaranger Line (), is a long railway line between Kirkenes and Bjørnevatn in Sør-Varanger Municipality, Norway. Owned by the private mining company Northern Iron, the single track (rail), single-tr ...
(
Kirkenes
(Norwegian language, Norwegian; ), (Northern Sami language, Northern Sami; , or is a List of towns and cities in Norway, town in Sør-Varanger Municipality in Finnmark county, in the far northeastern part of Norway. The town lies on a peninsu ...
–
Bjørnevatn
, , , or is a village in Sør-Varanger Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The village lies about south of the town of Kirkenes and about west of the Norway-Russia border. The village has a couple of suburbs including Hesseng to the nort ...
) (1910–1997)
*
Treungen Line (
Nelaug–
Treungen) (1913–1967)
*
Vestmarka Line (
Skotterud–
Vestmarka) (1918–)
*
Solbergfoss Line (
Askim
Askim () is a town and a former municipality in (from January 1, 2020) Indre Østfold municipality in the county of Østfold, Norway.
The administrative centre of the Askim municipality was the town of Askim. Askim was established as a municip ...
–
Solbergfoss) (1918–)
*
Ålgård Line (
Ganddal–
Ålgård
Ålgård (historic: ''Aalgaard'') is the administrative centre of Gjesdal municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The village is located along the European route E39 highway, about southeast of the Sandnes (town), city of Sandnes in the Jær ...
) (1924–1988)
*
Sperill Line (
Hen
Hen commonly refers to a female animal: a female chicken, other gallinaceous bird, any type of bird in general, or a lobster. It is also a slang term for a woman.
Hen, HEN or Hens may also refer to:
Places Norway
*Hen, Buskerud, a village in R ...
–
Sperillen) (1926–1957)
*
Numedal Line (
Kongsberg
Kongsberg () is a historical mining town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The city is located on the river Numedalslågen at the entrance to the valley of Numedal. Kongsberg has been a centre of silver mining, arms production and fo ...
–
Rødberg) (1927–1988)
*
Kragerø Line (
Neslandsvatn–
Kragerø
Kragerø () is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional districts of Grenland and the smaller Vestmar. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kragerø. Villages in Kragerø include H ...
) (1927–1988)
*
Namsos Line (
Grong Grong may refer to:
Places
*Grong Municipality, a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway
*Medjå
Medjå or Grong is a village which serves as the administrative center of Grong Municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located along th ...
–
Namsos Namsos may refer to:
Places
*Namsos Municipality, a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway
*Namsos (town)
Namsos is a List of towns and cities in Norway, town and the administrative center of Namsos Municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. ...
) (1933)
*
Hardanger Line
The Hardanger Line () was a railway between Voss and Granvin in Hordaland, Norway. The line connected to the Bergen Line in Voss and ran to the Hardangerfjord and the district of Hardanger. Construction started in 1921, but the line did not op ...
(
Vossevangen
Vossevangen or Voss is the administrative centre of Voss municipality in Vestland county, Norway.
Location
The village lies on the northeastern shore of the lake Vangsvatnet in the central part of the municipality, about east of the city of Berg ...
–
Granvin) (1935)
*
Røykenvik Line (
Jaren–
Røykenvik)
*
Ilsvika Line (
Skansen
Skansen (; "the Sconce") is the oldest open-air museum and zoo in Sweden located on the island Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden. It was opened on 11 October 1891 by Artur Hazelius (1833–1901) to show the way of life in the different parts ...
–
Fagervika)
*
Hauerseter–Gardermoen Line (
Hauerseter–
Gardermoen)
Abandoned urban railways
*
Lade Line (
Trondheim Tramway
The Trondheim Tramway in Trondheim, Norway, is the world's most northerly tramway system, following the closure and dismantling of the Arkhangelsk tramways in Russia. It consists of one line, the Gråkallen Line, running from St. Olav's Gate ...
) (1901–1988)
*
Elgeseter Line (Trondheim Tramway) (1913–1983)
*
Singsaker Line (Trondheim Tramway) (1927–1968)
See also
*
Rail transport by country
This page provides an index of articles on rail transport by country.
International railway organisations
* International Union of Railways (UIC)
* International Union of Public Transport (UITP)
* Association of American Railways (AAR)
* O ...
*
Transport in Norway
*
Narrow-gauge railways in Norway
*
Norwegian railway signalling
*
Norges Statsbaner rolling stock
References
External links
* illustrated description of Norwegian railways in the 1930s
{{Norway topics