Trunk Line

This article is about the railway line. For network-design strategies, see trunking.

Trunk Line
Depiction of the first trial run of the rails, in 1853
Overview
Native name	Hovedbanen
Owner	Norwegian National Rail Administration
Termini	Oslo S Eidsvoll
Stations	19
Service
Type	Railway
Operator(s)	Norwegian State Railways CargoNet
Rolling stock	Class 69 and Class 72
History
Opened	1854
Technical
Line length	68 km
Track length	112 km
Number of tracks	1–2
Character	Local and freight trains
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
Operating speed	Max. 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph)
Route map Template:Infobox RDT

The Trunk Line (Norwegian: Hovedbanen) is a railway line in Norway which runs between Oslo and Eidsvoll. The line is owned by the Norwegian National Rail Administration.

History

Built by Robert Stephenson, the Trunk Line was opened on 1 September 1854 by the Norwegian Trunk Railway (Norwegian: Norsk Hoved-Jernbane), making it the oldest public railway line in Norway. It connected to steamboats on Lake Mjøsa, allowing steam powered transport to places like Lillehammer, 180 kilometers (110 mi) from Oslo. The name comes from the fact that during the planning, it was the only railway project in Norway considered economically viable, since steamboats were considered cheaper if they could be used. The railway was successful and more railways started to be considered.

The section between Kristiania East and Lillestrøm was rebuilt to double track in 1902, and the line was electrified in two portions, in 1927 and 1953. The Trunk Line was the main line between Oslo and Eidsvoll until 8 October 1998, when the more direct, double-tracked high-speed Gardermoen Line opened, taking most of the passenger traffic.

Today the old line between Oslo and Lillestrøm is used for freight traffic and for commuter trains serving the suburban stations in outer Oslo, Lørenskog and Skedsmo. In addition overcrowded trains are not allowed through the Romerike Tunnel, and are occasionally diverted to the old line.

Passenger service on the old line past Jessheim is only provided to Dal.

Stations

• 
  Eidsvoll Station
• 
  Jessheim Station
• 
  Lillestrøm Station
• 
  Lørenskog Station
• 
  Grorud Station
• 
  Nyland Station
• 
  Bryn Station
• 
  Oslo Central Station

External links

Media related to Hovedbanen at Wikimedia Commons

• Norwegian National Rail Administration's list of stations between Oslo and Lillestrøm Template:No icon Note: these trains usually start at Asker on the Drammen Line.
• Norwegian National Rail Administration's list of stations between Lillestrøm and Dal Template:No icon Note these trains usually start at Skøyen, and run on the Gardermo Line between Oslo and Lillestrøm.