Timeline of railway electrification in Norway

The Norwegian railway network consists of 2,552 kilometers (1,586 mi) of electrified railway lines, constituting 62% of the Norwegian National Rail Administration's 4,114 kilometers (2,556 mi) of line.[1] The first three mainline systems to be electrified were private ore-hauling lines. The Thamshavn Line opened in 1909, and remained in revenue use until 1973, after which it was converted to a heritage railway.[2] It is the world's oldest remaining alternating-current railway and the only narrow gauge railway in the country to have been electrified.[3] It was followed by Norsk Transport's Rjukan and Tinnos Lines two years later,[4] and Sydvaranger's Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line in 1922.[5] The Norwegian State Railways' (NSB) first electrification was parts of the Drammen Line in 1922 and the ore-hauling Ofoten Line in 1923, which connects to the Ore Line in Sweden. The use of El 1 locomotives on the Drammen Line proved a large cost-saver over steam locomotives, and NSB started electrifying other lines around Oslo; from 1927 to 1930, the remainder of the Drammen Line, and the continuation along the Randsfjord and Sørland Lines to Kongsvinger were converted, along with the first section of the Trunk Line. In 1935, the Hardanger Line became the first section of new NSB track to be electrified. From 1936 to 1940, NSB electrified the Østfold Line as well as more of the Sørland Line and the Bratsberg Line, connecting all electric lines west of Oslo.[3]

During the 1940s, NSB electrified the Sørland Line, although the final section from Egersund to Stavanger was not converted until 1956.[3] In 1957, the Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Line became the only line to remove the electrification and replace the electric locomotives with diesel power.[5] The 1950s saw the electrification of several of regional and commuter lines around Oslo, including the Kongsvinger Line, the Trunk Line and the Dovre Line from Lillestrøm to Hamar, the Vestfold Line and the Eastern Østfold Line. This was largely due to NSB's program to remove all steam locomotives, either by electrification or by dieselization. In the late 1950s and 1960s, several to-be electrified lines were operated with diesel locomotives as an interim solution. The 1960s saw the remaining two stem lines in Southern Norway, the Bergen and Dovre Lines, electrified along with the Gjøvik Line. The Bergen Line was completed in 1964 and the Dovre Line completed in 1970. This finished all the planned electrifications, and the authorities deemed the remaining lines unprofitable to electrify because of low traffic. During the 1990s, a new program was attempted, this time to electrify the entire network, but only the Arendal Line was converted before the program was canceled. However, new lines around Oslo, including the Lieråsen and Oslo Tunnels on the Drammen Line, and the Gardermoen and Asker Lines were electrified at the time they opened. Further plans have been launched, in particular the section of the Nordland Line from Trondheim to Steinkjer, which is part of the Trøndelag Commuter Rail, and the Meråker Line, which connects to the electrified Middle Line in Sweden.[6]

In 2008, electric traction accounted for 90% of the passenger kilometers, 93% of the tonne kilometers and 74% of the energy consumption of all trains running in Norway, with the rest being accounted for by diesel traction.[7] Technology for electric railways was demonstrated in Germany in 1879;[8] the first revenue line took electric traction into use in 1881.[9] The first electric industrial railway in Norway opened in 1892 at Skotfos Bruk near Skien. Two years later, parts of the Oslo Tramway were electrified.[10] The first alternating current (AC) line became operational in 1892, while the first line to use a single-phase, single overhead wire power supply opened in Germany in 1903.[11] In 1912, all German railway agreed to use the 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC standard, which was later adopted first by Sweden and then by NSB.[11] Several of the private lines that preceded NBS's electrification chose different standards. Sydvaranger chose to install the only mainline direct current (DC) and third rail system.[3]

Contents

Timeline

The following list contains a chronology of when the various sections of mainline railway lines were electrified. The list excludes industrial and short branch lines, as well as systems installed at ports and yards. The list contains the date when the electrification was taken into regular use on each section.[12] It also notes if a section was opened as an electric railway, and if the line was prepared as an electric line, but where this was not taken into use immediately. The list contains the line and section to be electrified,[12] and its length. The length indicates the length of the mainline section at the time of electrification. Due to changes of routes and shortening of lines, the current length of sections may be shorter. The sixth column shows the electrification system, including voltage and frequency in case of AC and no frequency in case of DC.

† Opened as electric
†† Planned as electric
* Private
Date Line Section Length
(km)		 Length
(mi)		 System Ref(s)
01908-07-10 10 July 1908† Thamshavn* Thamshavn–Svorkmo 19.3 12.0 15 kV 6.6 Hz AC [2][13]
01908-10 October 1908† Thamshavn* Svorkmo–Løkken 6.0 3.7 15 kV 6.6 Hz AC [2][13]
01911-07-11 11 July 1911††[note 1] Tinnos* Notodden–Tinnoset 30.0 18.6 10 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [4][14]
01911-11-30 30 November 1911††[note 2] Rjukan* Rjukan–Mæl 16.0 9.9 10 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [4][14]
01920-12-23 23 December 1920 Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn* Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn 7.5 4.7 750 V DC [5][15]
01922-11-26 26 November 1922 Drammen Oslo V – Brakerøya 50.8 31.6 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [16]
01923-07-11 11 July 1923 Ofoten Narvik–Riksgränsen 41.9 26.0 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [17]
01927-09-01 1 September 1927 Trunk Oslo Ø – Lillestrøm 21.0 13.0 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [18]
01928-10-15 15 October 1928 Loenga–Alnabru Loenga–Alnabru 7.3 4.5 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [19]
01929-04-10 10 April 1929 Sørland Drammen–Kongsberg 48.6 30.2 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [20]
01930-05-06 6 May 1930 Drammen Brakerøya–Drammen 2.4 1.5 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [21]
01935-04-01 1 April 1935† Hardanger Voss–Granvin 27.5 17.1 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [3][22]
01936-01-29 29 January 1936 Sørland Kongsberg–Hjuksebø 36.9 22.9 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [23]
01936-05-07 7 May 1936 Bratsberg Notodden–Borgestad 60.6 37.7 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [24]
01936-12-09 9 December 1936 Østfold Oslo Ø – Ljan 7.2 4.5 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [25]
01937-01-18 18 January 1937 Østfold Ljan–Kolbotn 5.6 3.5 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [25]
01939-09-01 1 September 1939 Østfold Kornsjø–Riksgrensen 1.0 0.6 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [26]
01939-09-10 10 September 1939 Østfold Halden–Kornsjø 32.5 20.2 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [27]
01939-09-24 24 September 1939 Østfold Kolbotn–Ås 18.9 11.7 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [28]
01940-01-09 9 January 1940 Østfold Ås–Dilling 34.1 21.2 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [29]
01940-05-01 1 May 1940 Østfold Dilling–Fredrikstad 28.9 18.0 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [30]
01940-07-15 15 July 1940 Østfold Fredrikstad–Sarpsborg 15.2 9.4 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [31]
01940-11-11 11 November 1940 Østfold Sarpsborg–Halden 27.2 16.9 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [31]
01942-10-15 15 October 1942 Sørland Nordagutu–Lunde 31.6 19.6 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [32]
01943-04-18 18 April 1943 Sørland Lunde–Neslandsvatn 44.2 27.5 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [33]
01944-02-18 18 February 1944 Sørland Marnardal–Sira 62.4 38.8 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [34]
01944-03-20 20 March 1944 Vestfold Skien–Eikonrød 3.3 2.1 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [35]
01944-11-24 24 November 1944††[note 3] Flåm Myrdal–Flåm 20.4 12.7 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [3][36]
01946-05-16 16 May 1946††[note 4] Sørland Kristiansand–Marnardal 36.7 22.8 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [3][32]
01948-08-26 26 August 1948 Sørland Neslandsvatn–Nelaug 60.7 37.7 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [23]
01949-06-01 1 June 1949 Sørland Nelaug–Kristiansand 83.9 52.1 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [23]
01949-07-19 19 July 1949 Brevik Borgestad–Brevik 9.4 5.8 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [37]
01950-02-01 1 February 1950 Sørland Sira–Egersund 56.9 35.4 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [32]
01951-06-15 15 June 1951 Kongsvinger Lillestrøm–Riksgrensen 114.6 71.2 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [38]
01953-06-15 15 June 1953 Trunk Lillestrøm–Eidsvoll 46.9 29.1 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [39]
01953-06-15 15 June 1953 Dovre Eidsvoll–Hamar 58.6 36.4 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [40]
01954-07-02 2 July 1954 Bergen Bergen–Voss 106.7 66.3 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [41]
01956-06-03 3 June 1956 Sørland Egersund–Stavanger 76.3 47.4 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [23]
01956-10-05 5 October 1956 Vestfold Eidanger–Larvik 34.0 21.1 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [42]
01957-05-20 20 May 1957 Vestfold Larvik–Tønsberg 43.0 26.7 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [32]
01957-12-05 5 December 1957 Vestfold Tønsberg–Drammen 57.9 36.0 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [43]
01957-12-11 11 December 1957 Horten Skoppum–Horten 7.0 4.3 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [44]
01958-12-05 5 December 1958 Eastern Østfold Ski–Sarpsborg 80.5 50.0 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [45]
01959-10-04 4 October 1959 Randsfjord Hokksund–Hønefoss 54.0 33.6 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [46]
01961-02-01 1 February 1961 Roa–Hønefoss Roa–Hønefoss 32.0 19.9 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [47]
01961-02-01 1 February 1961 Grefsen–Alnabru Grefsen–Alnabru 5.2 3.2 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [19]
01961-02-01 1 February 1961 Gjøvik Loenga–Kværner 2.1 1.3 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [19]
01961-02-01 1 February 1961 Gjøvik Oslo Ø – Jaren 71.9 44.7 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [48]
01962-12-01 1 December 1962 Bergen Hønefoss–Ål 138.6 86.1 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [49]
01963-02-17 17 February 1963 Gjøvik Jaren–Eina 29.0 18.0 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [50]
01963-08-21 21 August 1963 Gjøvik Eina–Gjøvik 22.9 14.2 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [50]
01963-12-15 15 December 1963 Bergen Ål–Ustaoset 36.5 22.7 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [51]
01964-08-01 1 August 1964 Bergen Tunestveit–Bergen 12.0 7.5 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [50]
01964-12-07 7 December 1964 Bergen Ustaoset–Voss 120.7 75.0 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [50]
01966-11-01 1 November 1966 Dovre Hamar–Fåberg 65.4 40.6 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [52]
01967-11-05 5 November 1967 Dovre Fåberg–Otta 106.6 66.2 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [53]
01968-09-29 29 September 1968 Dovre Otta–Hjerkinn 84.5 52.5 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [54]
01970-11-01 1 November 1970 Dovre Hjerkinn – Trondheim S 171.1 106.3 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [32]
01973-06-03 3 June 1973† Drammen Asker–Brakerøya 15.5 9.6 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [55]
01980-06-01 1 June 1980† Drammen Oslo S – Skøyen 3.6 2.2 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [55]
01995-06-15 15 June 1995 Arendal Nelaug–Arendal 36.2 22.5 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [56]
01998-10-08 8 October 1998† Gardermoen Lillestrøm–Eidsvoll 48.3 30.0 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [40]
01999-08-22 22 August 1999† Gardermoen Etterstad–Lillestrøm 15.7 9.8 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [40]
02005-08-01 1 August 2005† Asker Sandvika–Asker 9.7 6.0 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC [57]

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ The Tinnos Line was taken into non-electrified use on 9 August 1909[14]
  2. ^ TheRjukan Line was taken into non-electrified use on 9 August 1909[14]
  3. ^ The Flåm Line was taken into non-electrified use on 15 October 1941[36]
  4. ^ The section from Kristiansand to Sira was taken into non-electrified use on 1 March 1944[32]

References

  1. ^ Norwegian National Rail Administration, 2009a: 4
  2. ^ a b c Aspenberg, 2001: 19–23
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Aspenberg, 2001: 28
  4. ^ a b c Aspenberg, 2001: 23–25
  5. ^ a b c Aspenberg, 2001: 18–19
  6. ^ Aspenberg, 2001: 28–29
  7. ^ Norwegian National Rail Administration, 2009b: 12
  8. ^ Aspenberg, 2001: 9
  9. ^ Aspenberg, 2001: 10
  10. ^ Aspenberg, 2001: 15
  11. ^ a b Aspenberg, 2001: 11
  12. ^ a b Norwegian National Rail Administration, 2009a: 34
  13. ^ a b Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 298
  14. ^ a b c d Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 160
  15. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 304
  16. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 197
  17. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 138
  18. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 54
  19. ^ a b c Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 60
  20. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 202, 232
  21. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 189–197
  22. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 184
  23. ^ a b c d Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 232
  24. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 220–222
  25. ^ a b Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 40
  26. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 48
  27. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 47–48
  28. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 40–42
  29. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 42–44
  30. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 44
  31. ^ a b Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 44–46
  32. ^ a b c d e f Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 86–90
  33. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 238–240
  34. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 250–253
  35. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 220
  36. ^ a b Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 186
  37. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 227
  38. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 62
  39. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 54–58
  40. ^ a b c Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 74
  41. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 179
  42. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 218
  43. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 212–214
  44. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 225
  45. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 37
  46. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 202
  47. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 156
  48. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 144
  49. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 162–166
  50. ^ a b c d Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 148
  51. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 166
  52. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 80–82
  53. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 82–84
  54. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 84–86
  55. ^ a b Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 189
  56. ^ Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 266
  57. ^ Norwegian National Rail Administration, 2009a: 45

Bibliography