Dovrebanen

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Dovrebanen
Dovrebanen at Kvam Station
Info
Type	Railway
Terminals	Oslo S Trondheim S
No. of stations	25
Operation
Opened	1921
Owner	Jernbaneverket
Operator(s)	Norges Statsbaner CargoNet
Rolling stock	BM73, El 18
Technical
Line length	553 km
No. of tracks	Single
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
Electrification	15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC
Line map Legend Meråkerbanen Trondheim S Skansen Bridge Skansen Station Nidareid tunnel Marienborg Station Stavne-Leangenbanen Stavne Hoem tunnel Selsbakk Station Selsbakk tunnel Lerbroelva bridge Heimdal Station Hegstad Closed 1987 Kvammen Closed 1987 Melhus Melhus Station Kvål Station Ler Station Lundesokna bridge Lundamo Station Gulfoss Closed 1993 Gulfossen bridge Hovin Station Støren Rørosbanen Basmoen Snøan Soknedal Garli Thamshavnbanen Berkåk Station Ulsberg Orkla bridge Orkla tunnel Granholtet Closed 1951 Indsetveien Closed 1966 Gisna Closed 1966 Byna bridge Fagerhaug Myrplass Closed 1966 Rønningen Closed 1951 Garå Closed 1966 Oppdal Station Hevle Closed 1966 Driva Holan Kolstad tunnel Drivstua Driva Øilien tunnel Klemma tunnel Kleivane tunnel Stølan tunnel Hestekrubben tunnel Grimsdal tunnel Nystubekk tunnel Høgsnyta tunnel Gammelhullet tunnel Kongsvoll Station Svoni Point of highest elevation 1024.4 m Hjerkinn Station Gjeitberget tunnel Vålåsjø Fokstua Grønbogen tunnel Raumabanen Dombås tunnel Dombås Station Dovre Station Tallerås bridge Brennhaug Sel Otta Station Sjoa Kvam Station Vinstra Station Harpefoss Hundtorp Ringebu Station Kvitfjell Fåvang Losna Tretten Øyer Hafjell Hunderfossen Station Hunder Fåberg Hovemoen Lillehammer Station Bergseng Brøttum Ring Moelv Station Ringsaker Rudshøgda Veldre Brumunddal Station Jessnes Nordvika Hamar Station Rørosbanen Akersvika Ottestad Stange Station Sørli Timber freight terminal Steinsrud Tangen Station Skaberud Espa Strandlykkja Skrårud Closed 1980 Morskogen Korslund Closed 1980 Ørbekk Closed 1980 Minnesund bridge Minnesund Bunes Closed 1980 Dokknes Closed 1967 Eidsvoll Station Hovedbanen Gardermobanen

Dovrebanen is the nickname for the main line of the Norwegian railway system between Oslo and Trondheim. Dovrebanen itself is only the stretch between Dombås and Støren, but it is more commonly used as a nickname for the entire line between Oslo and Trondheim. The line from Oslo to Eidsvoll is Norway's only high-speed line, Gardermobanen. The line between Eidsvoll and Dombås is from old times the Eidsvoll-Dombås line. The line from Støren to Trondheim is called Størenbanen. The entire line from Oslo to Trondheim is 553 km. It is a more heavily traveled line than the older Rørosbanen and is electrified. Before electrification, Dovrebanen was served by some of Norway's largest steam locomotives, the 2-8-4 NSB Class 49 "Dovregubben" ("Dovre Giant").

Compared to Rørosbanen, Dovrebanen takes a more westerly course running through the town of Lillehammer and over the mountainous stretches of Dovre, before merging with Rørosbanen again at Støren. There is one branch line, Raumabanen which leaves Dovrebanen at Dombås.

[edit] Service

Norges Statsbaner is the sole operator of passenger services on Dovrebanen. In each direction they operate four express trains between Oslo and Trondheim, of which two daily departures with the tilting BM73 units, offering travel times down to 6:37, with departures in the morning and afternoon. There is also a locomotive-hauled afternoon train and a night train with sleeper cars. In addition there is a morning service from Dombås to Oslo. At Dombås there is correspondence with Møre and Romsdal via Raumabanen.

The southern part of the line has hourly departures with InterCity Express trains from Lillehammer to Oslo. In the northern end, Dovrebanen is served by the Trøndelag Commuter Rail.

[edit] Accidents

The line was completed and officially opened on September 17, 1921. The inauguration ended on a tragic note when the train returning from the celebrations collided just after leaving Trondheim in the Nidareid train disaster the next day. The worst Norwegian railway disaster in peacetime also happened on Dovrebanen February 22, 1975 when two trains collided one kilometre north of Tretten station, killing 27 people and wounding 25. There were approximately 800 people on the two trains.

[edit] External links

• Jernbaneverket's list of stations on the Dovre line

(note: most trains do not stop at the smaller stations)