Norwegian railway transport with a network of 4,114 km of track, including 64 km of high-speed highways , is widely demanded by the country's population as a reliable means of communication between disparate regions of Norway . At the same time, the railway infrastructure as of 2017 does not correspond to the level of technical equipment of one of the leading economies in Europe. Rail transport is most developed in the western region, gravitating to a 500-kilometer single-track railway over a significant length of the Oslo - Bergen highway. In accordance with the National Transport Plan for 2014–2023, 1.5 times more funds were allocated for the modernization of railways than in the previous 10-year period. The state attaches great importance to the development of long-distance transportation by InterCity trains . Railways are expected to play a key role in improving Norway's public transport system [1] [2] .
In Norway, in the fjord region, adjacent to the Oslo – Bergen highway in the vicinity of Myrdal station, there is the most popular railway tourist attraction in the world - the Flåm Railway [3] .
Content
General information
The owner of the railway infrastructure is the Norwegian National Railway Administration Jernbaneverket. The state-owned company Norges Statsbaner (NSB) acts as the operator of all passenger transportation on domestic routes, with the exception of high-speed transportation in connection with Oslo Airport . Investments in the construction of new infrastructure and maintenance are allocated from the state budget; state subsidization of passenger transportation is carried out. NSB operates long-distance trains, including night, regional routes and four clusters of suburban transportation in the metropolitan areas of Oslo , Trondheim , Bergen and Stavanger . The development of Norwegian rail transport was constrained by extreme climatic and geographical conditions [1] [2] .
History
The history of railway transport in Norway began in 1854 , when the railway between Oslo and the Aidswall commune was opened, intended mainly for transporting wood from Mjös to the capital, although passenger traffic was also supposed. Between the 1860s and 1880s , many regional railways were built in Norway, including isolated railways in central and western Norway. A narrow gauge ( 1067 mm ) was mainly used, but some lines were also constructed using the standard gauge of 1435 mm . In 1877, railways connected Central Norway with Oslo .
In the 1910s, a road connecting East and West Norway was built. The first electrified railways were built in the 1920s , and at that time the narrow gauge was replaced by the standard one.
During the Second World War , a massive construction was carried out by German forces. In 1966, Norway's only high-speed line was opened - the T-bane in Oslo . In the 1970s and 1980s, many railway lines were closed. In 1998, a new high-speed line was opened (up to 210 km / h) between Oslo , Oslo Airport and Aidswall .
Network
As of 2017 , the main railway network of Norway consists of 4,114 km of track, of which 242 km are a double track and 64 km high-speed railway (with a maximum speed of 210 km / h) [1] [2] . In addition, there are 225 km of urban railways, of which 218 km are double-track sections. There are also minor industrial lines and railways of the past. The European gauge is used throughout the network, only the Trondheim Tram has a meter gauge ( 1000 mm ).
- Railway Kirkenes - Björnevatn - one of the most northern railways in the world; was closed in 1997 , reopened in 2009 .
Rail links with related countries
- Sweden - Sweden Rail ; same track and tension.
- Denmark is the same track across Sweden .
- Finland - Railway transport in Finland ; track gap, 1435 mm - 1524 mm . There is no direct communication through Sweden.
Perspectives
Follo Highway Project
The goal of the largest Follo Highway project in the national transport area is to unload the existing overloaded Østfold line between Oslo and Shi (about 60 km). The project includes the construction of the first double track and the longest railway tunnel in Norway with a length of 20 km. The modernization of Oslo Central station and the construction of a new railway station in Shi, the reconstruction of tracks on the Østfold line, the construction of 64 km of new railway lines are ahead. On the Follo line there will be 4 main routes along its entire length, which will allow to separate the movement of high-speed and local trains, increase the throughput of the highway and the accuracy of the execution of the train schedule. Putting the tunnel into operation will provide an opportunity to halve the time between Oslo and Shi. Commissioning of the highway is scheduled for the end of 2021 [1] [2] .
Other projects
At the end of 2024, it is planned to commission highways with two main routes in the vicinity of the cities of Tonsberg, Fredrikstad and Hamar, which will make it possible to organize regular train runs with half-hour intervals. At the end of 2026, this two-track highway will advance to the city of Sarpsborg. In 2030, the formation of the InterCity long-distance train circulation network will be completed.
The modernization of the old railways in the central regions of Eastern Norway, in the Bergen and Trøndelag region is ahead. One of the main directions of modernization will be to increase the capacity of the Ofoten line from the port of Narvik to the Riksgransen ski resort.
On the Norwegian railways, there is a need to replace obsolete alarm, centralization and interlock systems , taking into account European interoperability requirements [1] [2] . By 2030, it is planned to completely switch to the European train control system [4] .
See also
- Traction rolling stock of Norwegian railways
- Norges statsbaner
- Norwegian Railway Museum
- Norwegian Railway Alarm
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 Modernization of Norwegian Railways, World Railways. Magazine. 2017. No. 5 (May 1, 2017). Date of appeal May 27, 2017.
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 Modernization of Norwegian Railways, World Railways. Magazine. 2017. No. 5 (May 1, 2017). Date of appeal May 27, 2017.
- ↑ Between Glaciers, Clouds, Gorges and Mountain Walls , Hooter (October 21, 2016). Date of appeal October 31, 2016.
- ↑ Østfold ETCS pilot line goes live . Railway Gazette (September 15, 2015). Date of treatment March 10, 2018.