Briskeby Line

Briskeby Line
Tram at Riddervolds plass
Overview
Type	Tramway
System	Oslo Tramway
Locale	Oslo, Norway
Termini	Jernbanetorget Majorstuen
Services
Operation
Opening	1894
Owner	Kollektivtransportproduksjon
Operator(s)	Oslo Sporvognsdrift
Rolling stock	SL79
Technical
No. of tracks	Double
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification	750 V DC
Operating speed	50 kilometres per hour (31 mph)
Route map Briskeby Line Legend Depot Oslo Tramway Museum Majorstuen 1894 Frogner Line Valkyriegata Schultz' gateto Majorstuen Schultz' gateto city center Rosenborgto city center Rosenborgto Majorstuen to Stortorvet Uranienborgveien Briskeby1894 Riddervolds plass Inkognitogata Skøyen Line Parkveien Slottsparken Ullevål Hageby Line via Frederiks gate (planned) Nationaltheatret Rosenkrantz' gate from Rådhusplassen to Fagerborg (closed) balloon loop Wessels plass Wessels plass Vika Line from Aker Brygge Ullevål Hageby Line Kongens gate Kongens gate Stortorvet Kirkegata Grünerløkka–Torshov Line and Sinsen Line (Storgata) Dronningens gate Dronningens gate from Vippetangen to Stortorvet (closed) Jernbanetorget Jernbanetorget1894 Ekeberg Line via Dronning Eufemias gate (planned) Nygata (closed) Gamleby Line

The Briskeby Line (Norwegian: Briskebylinjen) is a section of the Oslo Tramway which runs between Jernbanetorget, through the neighborhoods of Briskeby and Uranienborg, before arriving at Majorstuen. The section is served by line 19 (Majorstuen-Briskeby-Nationaltheateret-Jernbanetorget-Ljabru).

In passenger numbers, the Briskeby Line is the smallest line of the entire tram network, with 1,500 daily embarkations along the Briskeby stretch according to a 2004 report.^[1]

History

The line was opened by Kristiania Elektriske Sporvei (Blåtrikken or the "Blue Tram"). This was the first electric tram line in Scandinavia.^[2] The first speeding ticket ever issued in Norway was given to a tram driver on this line the same year, who had exceeded the speed limit of 18 km/h.^[3]

In 1910, when the different tram lines received numbers, the Briskeby line was assigned number 1.^[2]

The Briskeby Line was among the lines Oslo Sporveier proposed eliminating and replacing with a bus service in 2002 to save money. The prospect of losing the tram sparked a petition to keep the tram.^[4] An extra funding of NOK 25 million from the city saved the line.^[5]

Conditions and future proposals

The tracks of the Briskeby line were in 2006 reported to be in critically bad condition, due to inadequate maintenance and funding. This called the continued existence of the line into question.^[6]

One option under serious consideration is moving the last section of the line a few blocks west, from the current Inkognitogaten to Skovveien.^[1][7] Cited advantages of such a move is the possibility of connecting the Briskeby Line to the Vika Line, increased speed, and a shorter walking distance for more passengers. The current track in Inkognitogaten also features the tightest curve (16,7 m radius) of the whole tram network, which prevent the use of the larger SL95 trams and limit the future purchase of new tram vehicles.^[8]

Moving the line into Skovveien has drawn opposition from some residents and businesses. Opponents of the move cite increased noise, and the removal of parking space if the road is to accommodate tram tracks.^[9][10]

References

Map from ca. 1900