Arendalsbanen

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Arendalsbanen
Arendal Station
Info
Type	Railway
Terminals	Nelaug Arendal
No. of stations	8
Operation
Opened	1908
Owner	Jernbaneverket
Operator(s)	Norges Statsbaner
Character	Commuter trains
Rolling stock	BM69
Technical
Line length	37 km
No. of tracks	1
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
Electrification	15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC
Highest elevation	141.1 m asl
Line map Legend Sørlandsbanen from west 281.41 km Nelaug Station (1910/1935) 141.1 m amsl Sørlandsbanen to Drammen 283.16 km Vimmekilen 285.54 km Flaten Station (1910) 140.4 m amsl 286.66 km Flatefoss 287.22 km Kilane 288.85 km Haugsjå (1910) 290.71 km Bøylefossbru (1911) 105 m amsl 290.75 km Bøylefoss Bridge (accross Nidelva) (73 m) 290.83 km Bøylefoss (71 m) 293.28 km Bøylestad Station (1910) 75.0 m amsl 294.72 km Langeid 295.85 km Eivindstad farm 297.39 km Eivindstad 299.51 km Froland Station (1908) 48.0 m amsl 300,07 km Nidelva (108 m) 301.06 km Horvenes 301.16 km Hurvenes (42 m) 301.79 km Hurv 302.50 km Blakstad Station (1989) 15.0 m amsl 302.86 km Blakstad Bridge Station 303.51 km Blakstad Old Station (1908) 46 m amsl 305.40 km Messel 307.44 km Rise Station (1907) 44.8 m amsl Grimstadbanen Rv408 309.77 km Rossedalen (1911) 312.52 km Bråstad Station (1908) 38.9 m amsl Rv42 Sørsvannsveien 314.69 km Stoa Rv42 E18 315.26 km Solbergvatn Rv42 Frolandsveien 316.23 km Torbjørnsbu (1911) 316.42 km Barbu (871 m) track to railway workshop Rv410 Blødekjær Tunnel 317.63 km Arendal Station (1908) 7.6 m amsl Rv410 Barbudalen Buttspor for motorvogn Freight track in Barbudalen Rv410 Kystveien Arendal cargo house Jernbanekaien, (Barbubukt east) Arendal Tollbodkai (Arendal port)

Arendalsbanen is a branch line of Sørlandsbanen in Southern Norway. The line runs between the station of Nelaug and the town of Arendal in Aust-Agder in Norway. The line was opened in 1908 and electrified in 1995 and is the only branch line still in operation in Norway. The line is operated by NSB using BM69 electric multiple units, and is used to transport people to Oslo, with train change at Nelaug. Shortage of rolling stock caused the line to be closed between October 20, 2000 and June 24, 2001.

[edit] History

The line now called Arendalsbanen was planned and built by NSB as a local railway that was going to connect Arendal with an important part of the cities surroundings up the river Nidelva. The line was first opened to Froland in 1908. In 1910 the line was extended to Åmli and by 1913 the line had reached Treungen. The railway that went from Treungen to Arendal was officially called Treungenbanen. Further expansions to Fyresdal were discussed. Treungenbanen had a branch line from Rise Station to Grimstad. This line was built as a private railway, but was later taken over by NSB and operated as Grimstadbanen. Lumber and ore transport was one of the main activities for these railways, of course in addition to passenger transport. Both Treungenbanen and Grimstadbanen were built in narrow gauge (1067 mm).

Sørlandsbanen reached Nelaug in 1935, and Treungenbanen became split in to branch lines. As a temporary solution, Sørlandsbanen terminated in Arendal, and because of this Arendal - Nelaug was upgraded to standard gauge. On November 9, 1935 the first train went from Oslo West with among others King Haakon VII, Crown Prince Olav and Prime Minister Johan Nygaardsvold. At Nelaug there was locomotive change and a large ceremony in Arendal. For a three year period Arendal was the largest transportation hub in Southern Norway, with travelers from the west changing from steam ship to railway if they wanted quick travel east to the capital. Neither before nor later has Arendal Station has such traffic. Also Grimstadbanen was converted to standard gauge soon afterwards.

In 1986 Arendalsbanen got a serious competitor when the coach service between Kristiansand and Oslo started with multiple daily departures.

[edit] References

• Thor Bjerke and Ove Tovås (1989): Togbytte på Nelaug Norsk jernbaneklubb, Oslo ISBN 82-90286-10-4

[edit] External links

• Jernbaneverket's list of stations on Arendalsbanen (Norwegian)
• Jernbaneverket's list of stations on Arendalsbanen (in English, but lacks station descriptions)