On track GLIMPSES OF THE NORWEGIAN NATION RAIL ADMINISTRATION’S ACTIVITIES IN 2014 New trains on new tracks 50,000 metres of new tracks provide a “parking space” for 100 new trains in the Oslo area, but more trains and more frequent departures for the public required considerably larger efforts from Jernbaneverket. ”The popularity of trains as a means of transport is on the increase and we Contents want our customers to be happy.” EDITORIAL CONTENTS Editorial 3 Train traffic 4 10 1.2 million working hours invested to bring more trains 4 Weight record on the Ofoten Line 6 All ready for passing on Bjørnfjell 7 No snow at the border, guaranteed! 7 How everything will become even better 8 Maintenance and renewals 10 The transformation 11 Better equipped for A station for all 12 Arendal Line has become ultra­modern 13 New workhorses “know everything” 13 the future Bridge renovations on the Sørland Line 13 18 Groundbreaking 14 estructuring and im­ we want our customers to be happy. provement processes For this reason we implemented Peak production 14 were key for Jernbane­ several initiatives in 2014 to make the Blast at the beginning of the journey 16 verket in 2014. With a travel experience and in partic ular 1,000 metres of tracks per day 18 new organisation in place time spent in stations even better Rfrom 1 April last year, the organisa­ for train users. Wireless networks, Full speed from Værnes to Hell 19 tion has become better equipped no­smoking stations and telephone Everything set for the longest railway tunnel in to meet stricter requirements and solutions for blind and visually the Nordic region 20 expectations through efficient ­ef impaired passengers are some of the forts. The work to further develop initiatives. Additionally, several bicycle Projects around the country 21 the organisation is still not over. We parks were built to make it more at­ All set for drilling of the new Ulriken tunnel 21 will continue the work through the tractive for people to use their legs on streamlining scheme ”A simpler and the way to and from the stations. more efficient railway”, in order to The goal of 90 percent punctual­ The future 22 31 become even better at planning and ity in passenger traffic was reached Train traffic in cities must be tripled 22 implementing more tasks. in 2014 and the number of hours of National Transport Plan, action programme In 2014 Jernbaneverket initiated delays went down by around 10 per­ and continued large and important cent compared to the previous year. and the national budget 23 public transport projects. Among Planning has also been a cent­ 2050: More freight on rails into and out of the country 24 other things the construction ral topic in 2014. Together with Forestry saved by the Numedal Line 25 work for The Follo Line project has the Norwegian Public Roads commenced in Oslo and Ski and the Administration, Jernbaneverket Director General More competition for freight terminals 25 InterCity project entered into four was appointed to evaluate a shared New technology – fewer signal faults 27 large consultancy contracts in late route for the Ringerike Line, with autumn. reduced planning time, and pro­ More for the money 28 Extensive maintenance work posed a shared development for E16 was carried out in 2014, including Skaret– Hønefoss. Jernbaneverket More efficient than required 28 replacement of 88,000 sleepers and was also assigned with major studies 42 kilometres of rails. Substantial such as Oslo­Navet and the next Safety and the environment 30 initiatives were started on the Dovre National Transport Plan. We have also 122 level crossing initiatives 30 Issued by: Jernbaneverket (Norwegian National Rail Administration), Line, Bergen Line and Nordland Line developed a perspective assessment Oslo, June 2015 to make the railway more resilient ”The railway towards 2050”, which Lukas visits the Norwegian railway museum 31 Print run: 3,500 against climate challenges. Moun­ addresses the topics of metropolitan Increased safety on the Eastern Line 32 Layout and design: REDINK tains and side areas was secured, traffic and goods traffic, two areas Front page photo: Øystein Grue Far fewer animals hit by trains 33 embankments were reinforced and where the railway can contribute to Other photos: extended and culverts and trenches solving key transport challenges for Bergen–Arna: Taking the pulse of the river 33 Anne Mette Storvik, Anne Rognes, Brian Cliff Olguin, Britt Johanne Wang, were extended in many places. the future. You can read more about Ready for wet and wild weather 34 Elisabeth Folkestad, Freddy S. Fagerheim, Gro Elden, Gunn Heidi Nakrem, The popularity of trains as a means the perspective assessment on page Hilde Lillejord, Ingvild Eikeland, Kjell Bakken, Mette Larsen, Njål Svingheim, of transport is on the increase and 22­24 of this annual report. Stabekk and Høvik create their own heat 35 Ove Madsen, Thor Erik Skarpen, Werner H. Moen, Øystein Grue. Printing/production: RK Grafisk The year in brief 36 Jernbaneverket then and now 38 2 | ON TRACK ON TRACK| 3 Major route restructuring from 14 December 2014 Additional and more frequent train departures Train traffic Everyday improvements for work commuters 1.2 million working hours invested to bring more trains 50,000 metres of new tracks, 100 new switch points and 34,000 metres of new overhead lines. Intense work made it possible to add an additional one hundred trains per day through Oslo from 14 December last year. Rail services were also greatly improved in Trøndelag and Southern Norway. t was in 2008 that NSB launched manage this, we had to relocate one Always a train. Trains now New turning and parking become even better when Høvik train from Skien goes to Eidsvoll regional train departures between the ”2012 Timetable”. The core of million cubic metres of mass and 1.2 depart Asker, Sandvika, Lysaker, areas for trains, such as station is operational. As soon as the whereas the train from Lillehammer Kristiansand and Stavanger, one the plan was to have departures million working hours were put in on Skøyen, Nationaltheatret, Oslo S at Lillestrøm (above) and turning facility in the same location has Drammen as the final station. more departure than previously. Eidsvoll, were important every ten minutes at hubs and behalf of Jernbaneverket. and Lillestrøm every ten minutes. factors in the major is ready with a new, approved signal This initiative will result in departures The Arendal Line must also not be every fiteen minutes for local The result was a gradual route rearrangement of routes. system, more trains will be able to go every ten minutes for trains stop­ forgotten. The frequency has been trainsI between Asker and Lillestrøm, restructuring, fully implemented from through the Oslo tunnel and turn at ping at hubs in the Asker–Lillestrøm increased so that all trains, with the but also improved rail services for 14 December 2014. ”In total 144 more Høvik. section. exception of the overnight train, still other key areas in Eastern Norway. trains will pass Flytoget will also gain an additional Together with the Kongsberg– meet at Nelaug. The reason was that a new double Full trains. Parts of the new off westbound departure and Lysaker Eidsvoll line, the initiatives will "Increased frequency provides track had just been built in the West ­peak timetable were implemented through the Oslo will be served by four airport express result in three NSB trains between work commuters with an improved Corridor as well as the Gardermoen as early as December 2014. Since tunnel each day trains every hour. Drammen and Gardermoen each daily routine and strengthens res­ Line. But where would the trains turn then NSB's passenger numbers have In total 144 more trains will pass hour. Additionally, there are three idential and working regions along compared to now.” and park? And was there enough rocketed up. From 2011 to 2013, NSB through the Oslo tunnel each day airport express departures from the Sørland Line," says Ketil Solvik­ space for the new NSB trains, which experienced a 15 percent increase compared to now. During the hours Drammen and three from Oslo S. Olsen, Minister of Public Transport. are much longer than the old trains? in the number of journeys in Eastern with the most dense train traffic we It became clear that the major re­ Norway. The growth has simply Passengers can now simply memorise will be able to manage 23 trains per Southern Norway. A departure Trøndelag. People in Trøndelag arrangement of routes would neces­ continued and NSB passed 50 million the time for ”their” station and forget hour in each direction, compared to frequency of two hours has also been have also been given a better rail sitate an investment totalling billions journeys in Eastern Norway before about the timetable. the current 20," says Unit Manager implemented for the trains between service. All of the trains now normally when it came to infrastructure: This the end of the year. More departures, The local train between Asker and Timetabling Jan Harald Dammen Oslo and Stavanger. Until the time­ run to Melhus and 12 of the depar­ included around thirty infrastructure more evenly distributed frequency Lillestrøm via the Drammen Line from Jernbane verket. table change five trains were running tures run all the way to Lundamo. initiatives, ideally with new tracks and increased seat capacity have res­ and Groruddalen runs every fifteen between Kristiansand and Oslo on Many citizens south of Trondheim where the trains can park and turn, ulted in substantial numbers. 2,800 minutes. Nine trains to Gardermoen. Train working days. After the timetable now benefit from a much better rail but also a great deal of complicated additional seats during peak periods commuting between Skien and change eight trains are running.