Romeriksporten
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| Romeriksporten | |
| Info | |
|---|---|
| Line | Gardermobanen |
| Location | Østmarka, Norway |
| System | Norwegian Railways |
| Start | Oslo Central Station |
| End | Lillestrøm Station |
| Operation | |
| Opened | October 22, 1999 |
| Owner | Jernbaneverket |
| Operator(s) | Norges Statsbaner Flytoget |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 14,580 m |
| Track length | 29,160 m |
| No. of tracks | 2 |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
| Electrified | 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC |
| Operating speed | 210 km/h |
Romeriksporten is the longest railway tunnel in Norway with a length of 14,580 meters. The tunnel was opened August 22, 1999, one year delayed. It is part of Gardermobanen and runs between Oslo Central Station and Lillestrøm Station.
[edit] History
During the 1980s the main airport serving Eastern Norway, Oslo Airport, Fornebu was reaching its maximum capacity. Because it was located on a peninsula a second runway could not be built and a new location was needed. On October 8, 1992 the Norwegian legislature, Stortinget, decided that a new airport, Oslo Airport, Gardermoen was to be constructed in Ullensaker. At the same time it was decided that the main form of trainsportation to the new airport was to be a new high-speed railway, the Airport Express Train that was to operate the 54 km between Oslo Central Station and the airport in 19 minutes at 210 km/h. To do this a new railway line, Gardermobanen, needed to be constructed between Oslo and the airport. The shortest route between Oslo and Lillestrøm went under Østmarka, a recreation area east of the city and so a tunnel had to be built under Østmarka.
Time pressure to reach the opening of the new airport on October 8, 1998 resultet in that the tunnel construction was done at maximum speed without adequate measures to keep out water, resulting is leaks. Houses at Hellerud over the tunnel got damages and the water level in many lakes in Østmarka were reduced. To compensate for this the plugging substance Rhoca Gil was used in the construction. After a while it turned out that Rhoca Gil contained the toxic chemical acrylamide, which gave health problems among the tunnel workers in addition to that the construction prosess had to be delayed to allow plugging with concrete instead. In addition an extensive, permanent pumping system was installed to recreate and keep the water levels in Østmarka. While the rest of the railway line was opened in time for the new airport, the tunnel was not opened until a year later.
