Norway - General Information: Difference between revisions
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==National Railway System== | ==National Railway System== | ||
[https://www.vy.no/en Vy], formerly Norges Statsbaner (NSB). The NSB Group was renamed the Vy Group on 24 April 2019. The company is owned by the Norwegian government via the Ministry of Transport and Communications. | |||
The train service between Oslo and Gardermoen Airport is operated by a subsidiary company, NSB Gardermobanen AS, since re-named 'Flytoget'. Through services between Oslo and Stockholm are operated by SJ. Oslo - Göteborg is operated by Vy in cooperation with Svenska Tågkompaniet (TKAB), and in 2007 NSB acquired full ownership of TKAB, which has been renamed to Vy Tåg AB. | |||
On 22 October 2024 the Transport Minister announced that the government believed that state control is important to ensure good train services, and that it could get better quality service by direct awards rather than through competition. The railway agency Jernbanedirektoratet will therefore directly award state operator Vy an interim contract to run Lot 1 Sør passenger services (inter-city services on the Sørlandet line to Stavanger, Jærbanen local services from Stavanger, and the Arendal branch) for up to five years from the expiry of the current contract with Go-Ahead Group in December 2027. Vy’s contract for the operation of the Flåmsbanen will also expire in December 2027. This interim contract is intended to give time for the ministry and Jernbanedirektoratet to revise the scope and structure of future public service obligation contracts, and to enable the end of dates of multiple operating contacts to be aligned. | |||
The remaining contracts are as follows: | |||
The [https://www.sj.no/ SJ Norge AS] subsidiary of Sweden’s national passenger operator was awarded the Lot 2 Nord operating contract on 17 June 2019. The contract covers long-distance passenger services on the Dovrebanen and Nordlandsbanen routes from Oslo to Trondheim and Bodø, as well as the Rørosbanen, Raumabanen, Trønderbanen, Meråkerbanen, and Saltenpendelen regional services and runs for 10 years from 08 June 2020. | |||
The Lot 3 Vest operating contract, covering long-distance passenger services from Bergen to Voss, Myrdal and Oslo, and local services between Bergen and Arna was awarded to Vy Tog on 09 December 2019. The nine-year contract running from 13 December 2020, has an optional two-year extension, but does not include the passenger services on the Flåm branch which are operated under a separate contract between line manager Flåm Utvikling and the national operator until December 2029 with an optional two-year extension. | |||
The Lot 4 contract, covering services around Oslo, was never awarded and Vy has retained the traffic. Lot 5, covering Inter-City services, was never defined. | |||
===National Railway Operator=== | ===National Railway Operator=== | ||
* Vygruppen AS ([https://www.vy.no/en Vy]), formerly Norges Statsbaner (NSB). | |||
Other Railway Operators: | |||
* Flytoget AS, [https://flytoget.no/en/ Flytoget], a Vy subsidiary company | |||
* Vy Gjøvikbanen AS, Vy subsidiary company | |||
* Go-Ahead Norge AS, branded as [https://go-aheadnordic.com/no/ Go-Ahead Nordic] | |||
* SJ Norge [https://www.sj.no/en SJ Norge] | |||
==Language== | ==Language== | ||
Norwegian. There are two forms of Norwegian, Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål predominates, with Nynorsk used mainly in western fjord and central mountain areas. | Norwegian. There are two forms of Norwegian, Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål predominates, with Nynorsk used mainly in western fjord and central mountain areas.</br> | ||
Additional vowels come at the end of the Danish/Norwegian alphabet, with Æ, Ø and Å following Z in that order. Accordingly, Åsen comes last in the index of Norwegian railway stations and Mære is further down the list than Mysen. If the keyboard in use does not have these, use ae/Ae for æ/Æ, oe/Oe for ø/Ø and aa/Aa for å/Å. | |||
==Currency== | ==Currency== | ||
| Line 18: | Line 37: | ||
==Timetable== | ==Timetable== | ||
Timetables are issued by Vy in December and June, the other operators annually in December. | |||
===Journey Planner=== | ===Journey Planner=== | ||
[ | [https://www.vy.no/ Vy] ([https://www.vy.no/en English version]) or [https://entur.no/ Entur] covering all operators. | ||
===Downloadable Timetable=== | ===Downloadable Timetable=== | ||
There does not appear to a website providing timetables for all operators; each operator provides timetables for their own services only: | |||
[https://www. | * [https://www.vy.no/en/traffic-and-routes/times Vy] | ||
* [https://go-aheadnordic.no/status-train-lines-and-timetables/timetables Go-Ahead Nordic] | |||
* [https://www.sj.no/rutetabeller/ SJ Norge] | |||
===Working (Staff) Timetable=== | ===Working (Staff) Timetable=== | ||
The working timetable is available on the Bane NOR website [https://www.banenor.no/togselskap/kapasitetsfordeling/ here]. | |||
* [https://www.banenor.no/togselskap/kapasitetsfordeling/tjenesteruteboker/ ''Tjenesterutebøker R23''] contains what are termed "current (gjeldende)" timetables for 2023 for individual trains by operator | |||
It should be noted that detailed distances are given as part of the individual train routing files. | |||
Route train /time graphs (for 2024 + 2025) are available [https://www.banenor.no/for-deg-i-bransjen/togselskap/kapasitetsfordeling/grafiske-togruter/ here]. | |||
Daily graphical timetable [https://www.banenor.no/for-deg-i-bransjen/togselskap/kapasitetsfordeling/daglige-rutegrafer/ here] Line section and date must be selected for download. | |||
===Printed Timetable=== | ===Printed Timetable=== | ||
Vy does not publish a single comprehensive timetable or printed leaflets and the "Rutebok for Norge" is no longer printed. | |||
===Engineering Information=== | ===Engineering Information=== | ||
[https://www. | There is no comprehensive source of information. | ||
* Bane NOR provide a [https://www.banenor.no/reise-og-trafikk/trafikkmeldinger/ summary of current disruptions] and a [https://www.banenor.no/reise-og-trafikk/arbeid-pa-jernbanen/ list of planned work] (both in Norwegian only) | |||
It should be noted that during the Norwegian summer holiday period (from late June to early August) a reduced service is run over some lines, particularly in the Oslo area, where suburban and metro services are affected. Major engineering works requiring line closures are also often scheduled for this period of reduced local demand. | |||
Individual operators list only disruptions affecting their own services: | |||
* Vy: [https://www.vy.no/en/traffic-and-routes/traffic-info-for-train-and-bus "traffic info"] | |||
* Go-Ahead Nordic: [https://go-aheadnordic.no/status-train-lines-and-timetables/traffic-information "traffic info"] | |||
* SJ Norge: [https://www.sj.no/en/scheduled-maintenance/ "scheduled maintenance"] | |||
For weather reasons, major engineering work takes place in the summer season (late June to early August). | |||
==Maps== | ==Maps== | ||
===Printed Maps=== | ===Printed Maps=== | ||
*European Railway Atlas | *[[Printed Maps#ERA-E | European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition)]] by M.G. Ball. | ||
*[ | *[[Printed Maps#ERA-R-1 | European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)]] by M.G. Ball. | ||
*There are numerous maps of particular lines and complex areas in "Norwegian Railways from Stephenson to high speed" by Roy Owen. | *There are numerous maps of particular lines and complex areas in "Norwegian Railways from Stephenson to high speed" by Roy Owen. | ||
===Web-based Maps=== | ===Web-based Maps=== | ||
* | *Bane NOR [https://networkstatement.banenor.no/doku.php?id=vedlegg:strekningskart map from the Network Statement] and [https://banekart.banenor.no/kart/ for detailed interactive map] | ||
* | *[https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps/norway_sweden_denmark.html Map of Denmark, Norway and Sweden] dated July 2023 - on the [https://websites.umich.edu/~yopopov/rrt/railroadmaps Railroad Maps site]. | ||
*[https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ Open Railway map.] Zoom into Norway and this shows detailed track layouts | |||
*[[Maps and Plans#Norway|Maps and Plans - Norway]] | |||
==Ticketing== | ==Ticketing== | ||
Seat reservations are essential on most long-distance trains and reserved seats are not indicated as such. | Ticket and seat reservation purchase is now almost entirely online via [https://entur.no/ Entur], a company owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications, which took over from NSB the sale of tickets at stations in October 2018 as part of the government’s effort to create a level playing field for all passenger operators. Only five staffed ticket offices remain - Oslo S., Oslo Lufthavn, Trondheim, Stavanger and Bergen. | ||
Seat reservations are essential on most long-distance trains and reserved seats are not indicated as such. Be aware that access to fully-booked trains without a reservation maybe denied. | |||
Suburban trains, such as in the Oslo area, have carriages marked "betjent" or "ubetjent",the former denoting in which carriage the conductor travels (for on-train ticket purchase or validation). Ticketless travel or use of an unvalidated ticket in an "ubetjent" carriage is subject to a penalty. | |||
On some services First and Second Class accommodation has been redesignated Økonomiklasse (Economy) and Kontorklasse (Business), but on many trains only Second or Economy Class is provided. First or Kontorklasse accommodation is generally not indicated by a yellow stripe on the outside of vehicles. Couchettes are not provided on internal overnight trains, but sleeping cars have up to three berths per compartment. | On some services First and Second Class accommodation has been redesignated Økonomiklasse (Economy) and Kontorklasse (Business), but on many trains only Second or Economy Class is provided. First or Kontorklasse accommodation is generally not indicated by a yellow stripe on the outside of vehicles. Couchettes are not provided on internal overnight trains, but sleeping cars have up to three berths per compartment. | ||
Premium fares are charged on the "Airport Express" service between Oslo and Gardermoen Airport, | Premium fares are charged on the Flytoget "Airport Express" service between Drammen, Oslo and Gardermoen Airport, InterRail and similar tickets are not valid. In addition, ordinary NSB trains run between Oslo and the Airport twice hourly. | ||
==Infrastructure== | ==Infrastructure== | ||
===Infrastructure Authority=== | ===Infrastructure Authority=== | ||
Infrastructure is owned and managed by a public authority, [ | Infrastructure is owned and managed by a public authority, [https://www.banenor.no/ Bane NOR]. | ||
===Network Statement=== | ===Network Statement=== | ||
[ | [https://networkstatement.banenor.no/doku.php Network Statement multiple years]. | ||
===Gauge=== | ===Gauge=== | ||
| Line 71: | Line 114: | ||
===Distances=== | ===Distances=== | ||
The best source is the [https:// | The best source is the [https://networkstatement.banenor.no/doku.php?id=stasjoner:stasjoner_start Network Statement Stations and Lines]. | ||
==Other Railways== | ==Other Railways== | ||
None, but iron ore trains to Narvik are operated by Malmtrafik AS (and Swedish company Malmtrafik AB) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Swedish mining company LKAB. Passenger trains between Narvik and Sweden are | None, but iron ore trains to Narvik are operated by Malmtrafik AS (and Swedish company Malmtrafik AB) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Swedish mining company LKAB. Passenger trains between Narvik and Sweden are from December 2024 back with Swedish SJ, on an one year contract with with Swedish Trafikverket including an one year extension. Vy Tåg AB did not want to use an option to operate one year more. | ||
Trains on the Flåm branch are operated by Vy, but commercial responsibility for the service rests with Flåm Utvikling, a company owned by local councils. The railway agency Jernbanedirektoratet has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for a new operating agreement, to start in December 2027. | |||
==Tourist lines== | ==Tourist lines== | ||
(Standard gauge unless shown otherwise) | (Standard gauge unless shown otherwise) | ||
* Krøderbanen: Vikersund - Krøderen [ | * Krøderbanen: Vikersund - Krøderen [https://njk.no/kroderbanen-hjem Krøderbanen museum] | ||
* Gamle Vossebanen: Garnes [near Bergen] - Midttun: [ | * Bergens Elektriske Sporvei - [https://www.besporvei.net/ Bergen Electric Tramway], operate a short tram line out of the old tramway depot in Begen, which has been converted into the Bergen Techical Museum. | ||
* Lommedalsbanen: Lommedalen in Bærum (600 mm gauge) [ | * Gamle Vossebanen: Garnes [near Bergen] - Midttun: [https://njk.no/tourist-information www.njk.no/tourist-information] Note that an additional section from Garnes to Tunes is covered on only one day in September each year. See the Obscure Services entry: Garnes - Tunes | ||
* Norsk Bergverksmuseum: Saggrenda (west of Kongsberg) (800 mm gauge) [ | * Lommedalsbanen: Lommedalen in Bærum (600 mm gauge) [https://mia.no/lommedalsbanen/en https://mia.no/lommedalsbanen/en] | ||
* Numedalsbanen: Kongsberg - Rødberg (mainly cycle draisine facility with occasional trains when advertised) [ | * The Norsk Jernbanemuseum at Hamar has a very short line [https://jernbanemuseet.no/tertittoget/ the Tertittoget] | ||
* Rjukanbanen | * Norsk Bergverksmuseum: Saggrenda (west of Kongsberg) (800 mm gauge) [https://norsk-bergverksmuseum.no/ Norsk Bergverksmuseum] | ||
* Setesdalsbanen: Grovane - Røyknes (1067 mm gauge) [ | * Numedalsbanen: Kongsberg - Rødberg (mainly cycle draisine facility with occasional trains when advertised) [https://dresin.net/ Numedalsbanen] | ||
* Thamshavnbanen: Løkken - Fannrem (electric, metre gauge) [ | * Rjukanbanen (part of the Norsk Industriarbeidermuseum): Mæl - Rjukan [https://www.nia.no/en/the-rjukan-railway/ The Rjukan Railway]. | ||
* Urskog-Hølandsbanen: Sørumsand - Fossum (750 mm gauge) [ | * Setesdalsbanen: Grovane - Røyknes (1067 mm gauge) [https://setesdalsbanen.no/ Setesdalsbanen]. | ||
There is a listing of | * Thamshavnbanen: Løkken - Fannrem (electric, metre gauge) [https://oi.no/en/thamshavn-railway The Thamshavn Railway]. | ||
* Urskog-Hølandsbanen: Sørumsand - Fossum (750 mm gauge) [https://mia.no/tertitten https://mia.no/tertitten] | |||
There is a listing of Norwegian narrow gauge tourist lines on the [https://www.scanrailsoc.org.uk/ Scandinavian Railways Society] website. | |||
Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines; see the [http://www.draisinenfahrten.de/index.html IG Draisinenfahrten website]. Click on 'International', followed by 'Draisinenlinks' to obtain website details under the heading 'Draisinenstrecken in Norwegen (NO)'. | Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines; see the [http://www.draisinenfahrten.de/index.html IG Draisinenfahrten website]. Click on 'International', followed by 'Draisinenlinks' to obtain website details under the heading 'Draisinenstrecken in Norwegen (NO)'. | ||
==Metro== | ==Metro== | ||
[ | [https://ruter.no/ Oslo] | ||
Details of the Metro system (T-banen) with maps appear in Robert Schwandl's "Tram Atlas Nordeuropa" (ISBN 978-3-936573-63-3, 2021). | |||
== | ==Tram/LRT Systems== | ||
[ | [https://www.bybanen.no/ Bergen], [https://ruter.no/ Oslo], [https://www.boreal.no/rutetilbud/bane/grakallbanen/ Trondheim] | ||
Details of these tram systems with maps and track diagrams appear in Robert Schwandl's "Tram Atlas Nordeuropa" (ISBN 978-3-936573-63-3, 2021). | |||
Track plans for the Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim tram systems are available on the [https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/ Gleisplanweb site]. | |||
See also [[Norway_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Norway - Tram services over obscure routes]] | See also [[Norway_-_Tram_services_over_obscure_routes|Norway - Tram services over obscure routes]] | ||
==Recent and | ==Recent and Future Changes== | ||
===Line Openings=== | In January 2017 the responsibilities of the public rail authority Jernbaneverket were split. [https://www.banenor.no/ Bane NOR] deals with day to day management of infrastructure, while [https://www.jernbanedirektoratet.no/ Jernbanedirektoratet] (Railway Directorate, a government office) is responsible for the specification and management of main line passenger services. Competitive tendering of passenger services started during 2017. | ||
===Recent Changes ''(Latest first)''=== | |||
====Line Openings==== | |||
The Meråker line between Hell and Storlien reopened on 26 July 2025.</br> | |||
Services between Mo i Rana and Bodø resumed on 5 April 2025 with the return of through daytime passenger trains between Trondheim and Bodø from that date. But see 'Closures' below regarding the subsequent closure further south. | |||
The Dovrebanen, between Dombås and Vinstra, reopened on the afternoon of 4 April 2025, after completion of repairs to the Otta River Bridge closed following discovery of flood water damage on 21 January 2025. Full passenger services are expected to return on Monday 7 April 2025. | |||
The Dovrebane between Hamar and Dombås reopened on 20 May 2024, following reconstruction of the Randklev bridge which was destroyed by floods in August 2023. | |||
11 December 2022 - the new Follobane high speed line between Oslo and Ski opened to public traffic. Unusually, the ceremonial opening took place the following day. However it was closed on 19 December following a fire at Ski, and reopened on 5 March 2023.</br> | |||
It includes the 19.5 km Blix tunnel, the longest in the Nordic region. Completion was scheduled for Dec 2021 but the contracts were cancelled after the contractors had financial difficulties. (See [http://www.banenor.no/Prosjekter/prosjekter/follobanen/om-follobaneprosjektet Follobanen Link] and [http://www.banenor.no/globalassets/global/bilder/follobanen/pressefoto/hoyopploselig/follo_tidslinje_juli-2016_eng.jpg Timeline]). Considerable re-modelling of the eastern end of Oslo Sentral station was required, with realignment or closure of existing links. A new 600m tunnel/covered way was constructed at Middelalderparken to Ekebergåsen [https://www.banenor.no/Nyheter/Nyhetsarkiv/2020/i-hovedsak-god-styring-av-follobanen/ see] and the current Østfold line diverted into a new tunnel on the approach to Oslo S. after completion of the summer 2021 work. At Ski, Østfoldbanen trains were diverted on 31 August 2020 to the new Follobane platforms on the western side of the station to allow the existing eastern station to be rebuilt. | |||
21 November 2022 - Public operation on the new 9 km Bergen Tram Line 2 to Fyllingsdalen commenced after an opening ceremony on 18 November 2022. | |||
21 June 2021 - Oslo Trams resumed use of the northern section of Storgata, with the diversionary loop, to the south, and the associated stop at Lilletorget ceasing in regular use. | |||
====Closures==== | |||
30 August 2025: A landslide in Levanger has swept away a section of the Trønder line, north of Trondheim, and the adjacent E6 road. Replacement buses are provided between Åsen and Steinkjer. The Nordlandsbanen line between Mo i Rana and Trondheim is closed to passenger trains with bus replacement until further notice. The daytime trains between Trondheim and Bodø are buses throughout and the overnight train is cancelled. | |||
19 July 2025: A landslide occurred at Verma and the whole Raumabanen, between Dombås and Åndalsnes, is closed until at least 1 October 2025 with buses replacing regional trains. | |||
27 February 2025: A train on the Nordlandsbane hit a rock in a tunnel between Skonseng og Ørtfjellet, leaving only two operational passenger locos on the line. Another became due for maintenance on 3 March 2025. From this date only one passenger train is running as far as Mo i Rana [and back] with buses between Mo i Rana and Bodø. Through daytime services between Trondheim and Bodø resumed 5 April 2025. | |||
21 January 2025: Following discovery of potential ice/melt water damage [scouring/undermining] to an abutment/embankment at the southern end of the of the Otta River rail bridge it was closed to traffic. Assessment of the damage (reported 30 January 2025) means it will be closed until April 2025, with a further update 25 February 2025. Meanwhile the Dovrebane is closed to through traffic between Dombås and Vinstra, with a bus shuttle substitution until at least April 2025. Freight is being diverted via the Rørosbane. The Rørosbane passenger service is operating normally but there are no extra paths for through passenger services. | |||
24 October 2024: a Trondheim to Bodø train derailed because of a rock slide between Bjerka and Finneidfjord, south of Mo i Rana on the Nordlandsbane. Trains were running as far as Mosjøen, with buses north of there. The line reopened for passengers on 2 December 2024 after freight trains started operating from 30 November 2024. Daytime passenger trains from Trondheim resumed running as far as Mo i Rana, with bus connections to Bodo (and v/v), from 11 December 2024. The overnight trains between Trondheim and Bodø (and v/v) are cancelled entirely, with no bus alternative, for the rest of 2024 and into 2025, due to a shortage of available locomotives. | |||
7 August 2023: Owing to heavy rainfall, the Randklev bridge over the river Gudbrandsdalslågen, immediately south of Ringebu, collapsed. As a result, the Dovrebane between Oslo and Trondheim was initially closed north of Lillehammer. As at April 2024, a few trains operated as far north as Fåvang (about 10km south of Ringebu) and north of Ringebu, with a bus connection between them. The Dovrebane, between Hamar and Dombås, reopened on 20 May 2024 after the Randklev bridge was rebuilt. | |||
===Older Changes=== | |||
For details of older changes dating back to the year 2004 see [[Norway - Older General Information]]. | |||
===Future Changes=== | |||
In May 2023 Bergen city council approved plans for the construction of a 12.7 km extension of the Bybanen light rail network from Kaigaten in the city centre northwards to Vågsbotn in Åsane. Construction started 7 January 2025, with completion in 2032 at the earliest. | |||
The | It is planned to electrify the following lines, with battery locomotive operation, on some sections. The priority order is:<br> | ||
(1) The the Nordland line (Trondheim -) Stjørdal - Mo i Rana - Bodø, (2) the Røros line (Hamar - Røros - Støren) and (3) the Solør line (Kongsvinger - Elverum).<br> | |||
It is not planned to electrify the Rauma line (Dombås - Åndalsnes). | |||
The | There are a number of projects in the Bane NOR portfolio. [https://www.banenor.no/contentassets/ee7ebcdfb1454d25a6a1a8cdb757a766/we-create-the-railway-of-the-future.pdf Railway of the Future in English], but there are [https://www.banenor.no/Prosjekter/ more in Norwegian]. | ||
* Electrification of Stavne - Leangen, Trondheim S - Stjørdal and Hell - Storlien(SE) started in early 2021, with completion scheduled for December 2025. | |||
* The Follo Line Project: south of Ski, work began in October 2020 under a contract signed on June 28, 2019 for a new 10.3 km section of double track line from Sandbukta to Såstad, replacing the existing sinuous single track alignment. The new route will include two tunnels of 2 700 m and 2 300 m and a new Moss station with 800 m long platforms, and is due to be completed by December 2024. | |||
* Drammen – Tønsberg – Larvik – Porsgrunn (Vestfoldbanen Project): [http://www.banenor.no/Prosjekter/prosjekter/intercity/dokumenter/ 2016 Intercity Plan] has double track to Tønsberg for completion by 2024-2026 and onwards to Larvik by 2032. | |||
* By June 2015 the upgraded Drammen to Holm section was in use. The 14.3 km Holm – Holmestrand – Nykirke cut-off, including a replacement underground station replacing the existing line through Holmestrand opened on 28 November 2016. The realigned and double tracked Barkåker – Tønsberg tunnel section was formally opened on 19 November 2011. The new connections result in services now using the complete circle round Tønsberg in the opposite direction to that previously taken - see [[Maps and Plans#Norway|Maps and Plans - Norway]]. | |||
* Bane NOR is constructing a new 10km double track route from Drammen to Kobbervikdalen with new stations in Drammen and Gulskogen, for completion in 2024, with the 13.6km Nykirke – Barkåker double-track section to follow in 2025. | |||
* Two long tunneled sections have been constructed between Skøyen and Asker. The first section, Sandvika – Asker, was completed in 2005; rebuilding of Lysaker station was completed in 2009; the new Baerum Tunnel between Lysaker and Sandvika opened on 28 August 2011; the original Lysaker - Sandvika line reopened on 13 December 2015 after being closed for 15 months for reconstruction. Work on the last section, Skøyen – Lysaker, was due to start in 2015 at the earliest, appears to be in abeyance. | |||
* Doubling of Eidsvoll - Hamar (the Dovre line) on a new alignment is planned by 2024, with the Minnesund - Steinsrud section jointly with the E6 road development. A new 17 km double track route from Langset (just north of Minnesund) to Kleverud (south of Espa) opened on 1 December 2015. Construction work on the 13km Venjar – Eidsvoll – Langset section is continuing while work will start on the 1.8km Kleverud – Sørli section in 2021. Planning is also underway on the 14km Sørli – Åkersvika section of the Oslo – Lillehammer line. | |||
* Oslo - Bergen: In December 2015 the government announced plans to double the main line and reconstruct the section between Arna and Voss, starting with the Arna - Stangehlle section, mostly in tunnel to overcome problems caused by avalanches and mud slides. The old Ulriken tunnel between Arna and Fløen (Bergen) is closed for upgrading. When this is completed in 2024, double track will be available between Arna and Bergen. | |||
* A new double track line between Gulskogen and Hokksund eliminating the current route through Steinberg | |||
* The Ringerike Line and E16. A new 40 km double track line between Sandvika and Hønefoss, part of which will be a joint project with the new E16 road. This will reduce the journey time between Oslo and Hønefoss/Bergen by an hour. Construction is expected to start in 2021/2022. | |||
* The Norwegian parliament approved funding in December 2015 for planning the doubling of Narvik - Kiruna. | |||
Extensive re-alignments and new lines have been built to improve journey times. The line from Oslo to Sarpsborg via Moss has been rebuilt over much of its length. Work on the Bergen line has included construction of a long tunnel below the summit at Finse. | |||
==Special notes== | ==Special notes== | ||
| Line 158: | Line 228: | ||
*Dokka - Bjørgo | *Dokka - Bjørgo | ||
*Ganddal - Figgjo - Ålgård; track cut at Figgjo (9 km) | *Ganddal - Figgjo - Ålgård; track cut at Figgjo (9 km) | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
{{Navbox Norway}} | {{Navbox Norway}} | ||
[[Category:General Information]] | |||
Latest revision as of 09:44, 18 September 2025
Country Name
Norway (Norge)
National Railway System
Vy, formerly Norges Statsbaner (NSB). The NSB Group was renamed the Vy Group on 24 April 2019. The company is owned by the Norwegian government via the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
The train service between Oslo and Gardermoen Airport is operated by a subsidiary company, NSB Gardermobanen AS, since re-named 'Flytoget'. Through services between Oslo and Stockholm are operated by SJ. Oslo - Göteborg is operated by Vy in cooperation with Svenska Tågkompaniet (TKAB), and in 2007 NSB acquired full ownership of TKAB, which has been renamed to Vy Tåg AB.
On 22 October 2024 the Transport Minister announced that the government believed that state control is important to ensure good train services, and that it could get better quality service by direct awards rather than through competition. The railway agency Jernbanedirektoratet will therefore directly award state operator Vy an interim contract to run Lot 1 Sør passenger services (inter-city services on the Sørlandet line to Stavanger, Jærbanen local services from Stavanger, and the Arendal branch) for up to five years from the expiry of the current contract with Go-Ahead Group in December 2027. Vy’s contract for the operation of the Flåmsbanen will also expire in December 2027. This interim contract is intended to give time for the ministry and Jernbanedirektoratet to revise the scope and structure of future public service obligation contracts, and to enable the end of dates of multiple operating contacts to be aligned.
The remaining contracts are as follows:
The SJ Norge AS subsidiary of Sweden’s national passenger operator was awarded the Lot 2 Nord operating contract on 17 June 2019. The contract covers long-distance passenger services on the Dovrebanen and Nordlandsbanen routes from Oslo to Trondheim and Bodø, as well as the Rørosbanen, Raumabanen, Trønderbanen, Meråkerbanen, and Saltenpendelen regional services and runs for 10 years from 08 June 2020.
The Lot 3 Vest operating contract, covering long-distance passenger services from Bergen to Voss, Myrdal and Oslo, and local services between Bergen and Arna was awarded to Vy Tog on 09 December 2019. The nine-year contract running from 13 December 2020, has an optional two-year extension, but does not include the passenger services on the Flåm branch which are operated under a separate contract between line manager Flåm Utvikling and the national operator until December 2029 with an optional two-year extension.
The Lot 4 contract, covering services around Oslo, was never awarded and Vy has retained the traffic. Lot 5, covering Inter-City services, was never defined.
National Railway Operator
- Vygruppen AS (Vy), formerly Norges Statsbaner (NSB).
Other Railway Operators:
- Flytoget AS, Flytoget, a Vy subsidiary company
- Vy Gjøvikbanen AS, Vy subsidiary company
- Go-Ahead Norge AS, branded as Go-Ahead Nordic
- SJ Norge SJ Norge
Language
Norwegian. There are two forms of Norwegian, Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål predominates, with Nynorsk used mainly in western fjord and central mountain areas.
Additional vowels come at the end of the Danish/Norwegian alphabet, with Æ, Ø and Å following Z in that order. Accordingly, Åsen comes last in the index of Norwegian railway stations and Mære is further down the list than Mysen. If the keyboard in use does not have these, use ae/Ae for æ/Æ, oe/Oe for ø/Ø and aa/Aa for å/Å.
Currency
Norwegian Krone
UIC code
NSB: numeric 76; alpha N
Timetable
Timetables are issued by Vy in December and June, the other operators annually in December.
Journey Planner
Vy (English version) or Entur covering all operators.
Downloadable Timetable
There does not appear to a website providing timetables for all operators; each operator provides timetables for their own services only:
Working (Staff) Timetable
The working timetable is available on the Bane NOR website here.
- Tjenesterutebøker R23 contains what are termed "current (gjeldende)" timetables for 2023 for individual trains by operator
It should be noted that detailed distances are given as part of the individual train routing files.
Route train /time graphs (for 2024 + 2025) are available here.
Daily graphical timetable here Line section and date must be selected for download.
Printed Timetable
Vy does not publish a single comprehensive timetable or printed leaflets and the "Rutebok for Norge" is no longer printed.
Engineering Information
There is no comprehensive source of information.
- Bane NOR provide a summary of current disruptions and a list of planned work (both in Norwegian only)
It should be noted that during the Norwegian summer holiday period (from late June to early August) a reduced service is run over some lines, particularly in the Oslo area, where suburban and metro services are affected. Major engineering works requiring line closures are also often scheduled for this period of reduced local demand.
Individual operators list only disruptions affecting their own services:
- Vy: "traffic info"
- Go-Ahead Nordic: "traffic info"
- SJ Norge: "scheduled maintenance"
For weather reasons, major engineering work takes place in the summer season (late June to early August).
Maps
Printed Maps
- European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball.
- European Railway Atlas (Regional Atlas Series, Book 1: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) by M.G. Ball.
- There are numerous maps of particular lines and complex areas in "Norwegian Railways from Stephenson to high speed" by Roy Owen.
Web-based Maps
- Bane NOR map from the Network Statement and for detailed interactive map
- Map of Denmark, Norway and Sweden dated July 2023 - on the Railroad Maps site.
- Open Railway map. Zoom into Norway and this shows detailed track layouts
- Maps and Plans - Norway
Ticketing
Ticket and seat reservation purchase is now almost entirely online via Entur, a company owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications, which took over from NSB the sale of tickets at stations in October 2018 as part of the government’s effort to create a level playing field for all passenger operators. Only five staffed ticket offices remain - Oslo S., Oslo Lufthavn, Trondheim, Stavanger and Bergen.
Seat reservations are essential on most long-distance trains and reserved seats are not indicated as such. Be aware that access to fully-booked trains without a reservation maybe denied.
Suburban trains, such as in the Oslo area, have carriages marked "betjent" or "ubetjent",the former denoting in which carriage the conductor travels (for on-train ticket purchase or validation). Ticketless travel or use of an unvalidated ticket in an "ubetjent" carriage is subject to a penalty.
On some services First and Second Class accommodation has been redesignated Økonomiklasse (Economy) and Kontorklasse (Business), but on many trains only Second or Economy Class is provided. First or Kontorklasse accommodation is generally not indicated by a yellow stripe on the outside of vehicles. Couchettes are not provided on internal overnight trains, but sleeping cars have up to three berths per compartment.
Premium fares are charged on the Flytoget "Airport Express" service between Drammen, Oslo and Gardermoen Airport, InterRail and similar tickets are not valid. In addition, ordinary NSB trains run between Oslo and the Airport twice hourly.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure Authority
Infrastructure is owned and managed by a public authority, Bane NOR.
Network Statement
Network Statement multiple years.
Gauge
Standard
Electrification
15 kV 16.7 Hz.
Rule of the road
Right, but almost all lines in Norway outside the Oslo suburban area are single track.
Distances
The best source is the Network Statement Stations and Lines.
Other Railways
None, but iron ore trains to Narvik are operated by Malmtrafik AS (and Swedish company Malmtrafik AB) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Swedish mining company LKAB. Passenger trains between Narvik and Sweden are from December 2024 back with Swedish SJ, on an one year contract with with Swedish Trafikverket including an one year extension. Vy Tåg AB did not want to use an option to operate one year more.
Trains on the Flåm branch are operated by Vy, but commercial responsibility for the service rests with Flåm Utvikling, a company owned by local councils. The railway agency Jernbanedirektoratet has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for a new operating agreement, to start in December 2027.
Tourist lines
(Standard gauge unless shown otherwise)
- Krøderbanen: Vikersund - Krøderen Krøderbanen museum
- Bergens Elektriske Sporvei - Bergen Electric Tramway, operate a short tram line out of the old tramway depot in Begen, which has been converted into the Bergen Techical Museum.
- Gamle Vossebanen: Garnes [near Bergen] - Midttun: www.njk.no/tourist-information Note that an additional section from Garnes to Tunes is covered on only one day in September each year. See the Obscure Services entry: Garnes - Tunes
- Lommedalsbanen: Lommedalen in Bærum (600 mm gauge) https://mia.no/lommedalsbanen/en
- The Norsk Jernbanemuseum at Hamar has a very short line the Tertittoget
- Norsk Bergverksmuseum: Saggrenda (west of Kongsberg) (800 mm gauge) Norsk Bergverksmuseum
- Numedalsbanen: Kongsberg - Rødberg (mainly cycle draisine facility with occasional trains when advertised) Numedalsbanen
- Rjukanbanen (part of the Norsk Industriarbeidermuseum): Mæl - Rjukan The Rjukan Railway.
- Setesdalsbanen: Grovane - Røyknes (1067 mm gauge) Setesdalsbanen.
- Thamshavnbanen: Løkken - Fannrem (electric, metre gauge) The Thamshavn Railway.
- Urskog-Hølandsbanen: Sørumsand - Fossum (750 mm gauge) https://mia.no/tertitten
There is a listing of Norwegian narrow gauge tourist lines on the Scandinavian Railways Society website.
Rail cycling is possible on a number of lines; see the IG Draisinenfahrten website. Click on 'International', followed by 'Draisinenlinks' to obtain website details under the heading 'Draisinenstrecken in Norwegen (NO)'.
Metro
Details of the Metro system (T-banen) with maps appear in Robert Schwandl's "Tram Atlas Nordeuropa" (ISBN 978-3-936573-63-3, 2021).
Tram/LRT Systems
Details of these tram systems with maps and track diagrams appear in Robert Schwandl's "Tram Atlas Nordeuropa" (ISBN 978-3-936573-63-3, 2021).
Track plans for the Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim tram systems are available on the Gleisplanweb site.
See also Norway - Tram services over obscure routes
Recent and Future Changes
In January 2017 the responsibilities of the public rail authority Jernbaneverket were split. Bane NOR deals with day to day management of infrastructure, while Jernbanedirektoratet (Railway Directorate, a government office) is responsible for the specification and management of main line passenger services. Competitive tendering of passenger services started during 2017.
Recent Changes (Latest first)
Line Openings
The Meråker line between Hell and Storlien reopened on 26 July 2025.
Services between Mo i Rana and Bodø resumed on 5 April 2025 with the return of through daytime passenger trains between Trondheim and Bodø from that date. But see 'Closures' below regarding the subsequent closure further south.
The Dovrebanen, between Dombås and Vinstra, reopened on the afternoon of 4 April 2025, after completion of repairs to the Otta River Bridge closed following discovery of flood water damage on 21 January 2025. Full passenger services are expected to return on Monday 7 April 2025.
The Dovrebane between Hamar and Dombås reopened on 20 May 2024, following reconstruction of the Randklev bridge which was destroyed by floods in August 2023.
11 December 2022 - the new Follobane high speed line between Oslo and Ski opened to public traffic. Unusually, the ceremonial opening took place the following day. However it was closed on 19 December following a fire at Ski, and reopened on 5 March 2023.
It includes the 19.5 km Blix tunnel, the longest in the Nordic region. Completion was scheduled for Dec 2021 but the contracts were cancelled after the contractors had financial difficulties. (See Follobanen Link and Timeline). Considerable re-modelling of the eastern end of Oslo Sentral station was required, with realignment or closure of existing links. A new 600m tunnel/covered way was constructed at Middelalderparken to Ekebergåsen see and the current Østfold line diverted into a new tunnel on the approach to Oslo S. after completion of the summer 2021 work. At Ski, Østfoldbanen trains were diverted on 31 August 2020 to the new Follobane platforms on the western side of the station to allow the existing eastern station to be rebuilt.
21 November 2022 - Public operation on the new 9 km Bergen Tram Line 2 to Fyllingsdalen commenced after an opening ceremony on 18 November 2022.
21 June 2021 - Oslo Trams resumed use of the northern section of Storgata, with the diversionary loop, to the south, and the associated stop at Lilletorget ceasing in regular use.
Closures
30 August 2025: A landslide in Levanger has swept away a section of the Trønder line, north of Trondheim, and the adjacent E6 road. Replacement buses are provided between Åsen and Steinkjer. The Nordlandsbanen line between Mo i Rana and Trondheim is closed to passenger trains with bus replacement until further notice. The daytime trains between Trondheim and Bodø are buses throughout and the overnight train is cancelled.
19 July 2025: A landslide occurred at Verma and the whole Raumabanen, between Dombås and Åndalsnes, is closed until at least 1 October 2025 with buses replacing regional trains.
27 February 2025: A train on the Nordlandsbane hit a rock in a tunnel between Skonseng og Ørtfjellet, leaving only two operational passenger locos on the line. Another became due for maintenance on 3 March 2025. From this date only one passenger train is running as far as Mo i Rana [and back] with buses between Mo i Rana and Bodø. Through daytime services between Trondheim and Bodø resumed 5 April 2025.
21 January 2025: Following discovery of potential ice/melt water damage [scouring/undermining] to an abutment/embankment at the southern end of the of the Otta River rail bridge it was closed to traffic. Assessment of the damage (reported 30 January 2025) means it will be closed until April 2025, with a further update 25 February 2025. Meanwhile the Dovrebane is closed to through traffic between Dombås and Vinstra, with a bus shuttle substitution until at least April 2025. Freight is being diverted via the Rørosbane. The Rørosbane passenger service is operating normally but there are no extra paths for through passenger services.
24 October 2024: a Trondheim to Bodø train derailed because of a rock slide between Bjerka and Finneidfjord, south of Mo i Rana on the Nordlandsbane. Trains were running as far as Mosjøen, with buses north of there. The line reopened for passengers on 2 December 2024 after freight trains started operating from 30 November 2024. Daytime passenger trains from Trondheim resumed running as far as Mo i Rana, with bus connections to Bodo (and v/v), from 11 December 2024. The overnight trains between Trondheim and Bodø (and v/v) are cancelled entirely, with no bus alternative, for the rest of 2024 and into 2025, due to a shortage of available locomotives.
7 August 2023: Owing to heavy rainfall, the Randklev bridge over the river Gudbrandsdalslågen, immediately south of Ringebu, collapsed. As a result, the Dovrebane between Oslo and Trondheim was initially closed north of Lillehammer. As at April 2024, a few trains operated as far north as Fåvang (about 10km south of Ringebu) and north of Ringebu, with a bus connection between them. The Dovrebane, between Hamar and Dombås, reopened on 20 May 2024 after the Randklev bridge was rebuilt.
Older Changes
For details of older changes dating back to the year 2004 see Norway - Older General Information.
Future Changes
In May 2023 Bergen city council approved plans for the construction of a 12.7 km extension of the Bybanen light rail network from Kaigaten in the city centre northwards to Vågsbotn in Åsane. Construction started 7 January 2025, with completion in 2032 at the earliest.
It is planned to electrify the following lines, with battery locomotive operation, on some sections. The priority order is:
(1) The the Nordland line (Trondheim -) Stjørdal - Mo i Rana - Bodø, (2) the Røros line (Hamar - Røros - Støren) and (3) the Solør line (Kongsvinger - Elverum).
It is not planned to electrify the Rauma line (Dombås - Åndalsnes).
There are a number of projects in the Bane NOR portfolio. Railway of the Future in English, but there are more in Norwegian.
- Electrification of Stavne - Leangen, Trondheim S - Stjørdal and Hell - Storlien(SE) started in early 2021, with completion scheduled for December 2025.
- The Follo Line Project: south of Ski, work began in October 2020 under a contract signed on June 28, 2019 for a new 10.3 km section of double track line from Sandbukta to Såstad, replacing the existing sinuous single track alignment. The new route will include two tunnels of 2 700 m and 2 300 m and a new Moss station with 800 m long platforms, and is due to be completed by December 2024.
- Drammen – Tønsberg – Larvik – Porsgrunn (Vestfoldbanen Project): 2016 Intercity Plan has double track to Tønsberg for completion by 2024-2026 and onwards to Larvik by 2032.
- By June 2015 the upgraded Drammen to Holm section was in use. The 14.3 km Holm – Holmestrand – Nykirke cut-off, including a replacement underground station replacing the existing line through Holmestrand opened on 28 November 2016. The realigned and double tracked Barkåker – Tønsberg tunnel section was formally opened on 19 November 2011. The new connections result in services now using the complete circle round Tønsberg in the opposite direction to that previously taken - see Maps and Plans - Norway.
- Bane NOR is constructing a new 10km double track route from Drammen to Kobbervikdalen with new stations in Drammen and Gulskogen, for completion in 2024, with the 13.6km Nykirke – Barkåker double-track section to follow in 2025.
- Two long tunneled sections have been constructed between Skøyen and Asker. The first section, Sandvika – Asker, was completed in 2005; rebuilding of Lysaker station was completed in 2009; the new Baerum Tunnel between Lysaker and Sandvika opened on 28 August 2011; the original Lysaker - Sandvika line reopened on 13 December 2015 after being closed for 15 months for reconstruction. Work on the last section, Skøyen – Lysaker, was due to start in 2015 at the earliest, appears to be in abeyance.
- Doubling of Eidsvoll - Hamar (the Dovre line) on a new alignment is planned by 2024, with the Minnesund - Steinsrud section jointly with the E6 road development. A new 17 km double track route from Langset (just north of Minnesund) to Kleverud (south of Espa) opened on 1 December 2015. Construction work on the 13km Venjar – Eidsvoll – Langset section is continuing while work will start on the 1.8km Kleverud – Sørli section in 2021. Planning is also underway on the 14km Sørli – Åkersvika section of the Oslo – Lillehammer line.
- Oslo - Bergen: In December 2015 the government announced plans to double the main line and reconstruct the section between Arna and Voss, starting with the Arna - Stangehlle section, mostly in tunnel to overcome problems caused by avalanches and mud slides. The old Ulriken tunnel between Arna and Fløen (Bergen) is closed for upgrading. When this is completed in 2024, double track will be available between Arna and Bergen.
- A new double track line between Gulskogen and Hokksund eliminating the current route through Steinberg
- The Ringerike Line and E16. A new 40 km double track line between Sandvika and Hønefoss, part of which will be a joint project with the new E16 road. This will reduce the journey time between Oslo and Hønefoss/Bergen by an hour. Construction is expected to start in 2021/2022.
- The Norwegian parliament approved funding in December 2015 for planning the doubling of Narvik - Kiruna.
Extensive re-alignments and new lines have been built to improve journey times. The line from Oslo to Sarpsborg via Moss has been rebuilt over much of its length. Work on the Bergen line has included construction of a long tunnel below the summit at Finse.
Special notes
NSB carriages do not work outside Norway and Sweden because they are larger than UIC standard loading gauge.
The following lines are listed as temporarily closed to traffic; infrastructure is maintained only enough to allow inspection by a measuring vehicle.
- (Grong -) Skogmo - Namsos
- Notodden - Tinnoset
- Eina - Dokka
The following lines are listed as closed to traffic; they are not part of the National Norwegian Network and are not maintained. However track is in situ.
- Sira - Flekkefjord; the loading gauge is smaller than standard
- (Kongsberg -) Rollag - Rødberg
- Neslandsvatn - Sannidal
- Dokka - Bjørgo
- Ganddal - Figgjo - Ålgård; track cut at Figgjo (9 km)
