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==History== |
==History== |
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Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and, as early as |
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and, as early as 1870, proposals were raised for a railway to connect it to the capital. There were several possible routes for the line and it was not until 1894 that the final decision was made by the [[Storting]], the Norwegian [[legislature]]. Only the first stretch of the line, from Voss to Taugevatn, was initially authorised, with the rest being authorised in 1898. |
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The construction of the line was exceptionally challenging. It had to be laid high above sea level, in a region without roads and with a climate that saw many feet of snow in the winter and temperatures far below freezing. Tunnels and cuttings had to be excavated through solid [[gneiss]], with one tunnel alone - that at Gravhals - taking six years to build, mostly by hand. |
The construction of the line was exceptionally challenging. It had to be laid high above sea level, in a region without roads and with a climate that saw many feet of snow in the winter and temperatures far below freezing. Tunnels and cuttings had to be excavated through solid [[gneiss]], with one tunnel alone - that at Gravhals - taking six years to build, mostly by hand. |
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The line from Voss to Myrdal was opened in the summer of |
The line from Voss to Myrdal was opened in the summer of 1906, with the full line opening for passenger traffic on [[27 November]] [[1909]]. King [[Haakon VII]] stated upon the opening of the Bergenbanen that this was the Norwegian engineering masterpiece of his generation. Readers of ''Norwegian Technology Weekly'' (''[[Teknisk Ukeblad]]'') voted the Bergensbanen the fifth greatest Norwegian engineering masterpiece of the 20th century. |
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[[World War II]] was a demanding time for the railway line, as the track was in heavy use for both civilian and military transportation, and much of the equipment and maintenance was lacking. On [[February 28]] [[1944]] a descending eastbound freight train loaded with oil and petrol lost its breaking power and became a runaway train, finally ploughing into a westbound passenger train at Breifoss, just east of [[Geilo]]. The crash and subsequent fire killed 25 civilians and an unknown number of German soldiers. Poor lubrication oil combined with the cold weather is believed to have caused the accident. |
[[World War II]] was a demanding time for the railway line, as the track was in heavy use for both civilian and military transportation, and much of the equipment and maintenance was lacking. On [[February 28]] [[1944]] a descending eastbound freight train loaded with oil and petrol lost its breaking power and became a runaway train, finally ploughing into a westbound passenger train at Breifoss, just east of [[Geilo]]. The crash and subsequent fire killed 25 civilians and an unknown number of German soldiers. Poor lubrication oil combined with the cold weather is believed to have caused the accident. |
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The line was originally steam operated, although some diesel traction was put in some years after the war. In particular some [[diesel multiple unit]]s were added as express trains, but these were incapable of operating the line during the harsh winter months. In |
The line was originally steam operated, although some diesel traction was put in some years after the war. In particular some [[diesel multiple unit]]s were added as express trains, but these were incapable of operating the line during the harsh winter months. In 1964 the line was converted to electric traction, at {{15 kV AC}}. The improved speed allowed NSB to implement year-round express trains. |
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==Line description== |
==Line description== |
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[[Image:Bergensbanen map.png|thumb |
[[Image:Bergensbanen map.png|thumb|Map of the Bergensbanen and principal stations]] |
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The overland route between Bergen and eastern Norway crosses the harsh and inhospitable Hardangervidda plateau, which stands between the western [[fjord]]s and the interior. |
The overland route between Bergen and eastern Norway crosses the harsh and inhospitable Hardangervidda plateau, which stands between the western [[fjord]]s and the interior. |
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The line runs for a total length of 493 km with 182 tunnels, totalling approximately 73 km. The longest single tunnel on the line is that at Finse, about 10,6 km long. The line crosses 300 bridges spanning numerous rivers and streams. The highest station on the line (and the highest mainline station in Europe) is at Finse, 1222.2 meters above sea level. The line's highest point was Taugevatn near Finse, at 1300 meters, until Finsetunellen opened in 1993; it is now inside this tunnel, at 1237 meters. It takes a total of 6-7 hours to travel the full length of the line. The line has a maximum gradient of 1:46.5 on the Voss-Myrdal stretch. It is kept open all year round, although not without some difficulty due to the heavy snowfall experienced on the Hardangervidda; in |
The line runs for a total length of 493 km with 182 tunnels, totalling approximately 73 km. The longest single tunnel on the line is that at Finse, about 10,6 km long. The line crosses 300 bridges spanning numerous rivers and streams. The highest station on the line (and the highest mainline station in Europe) is at Finse, 1222.2 meters above sea level. The line's highest point was Taugevatn near Finse, at 1300 meters, until Finsetunellen opened in 1993; it is now inside this tunnel, at 1237 meters. It takes a total of 6-7 hours to travel the full length of the line. The line has a maximum gradient of 1:46.5 on the Voss-Myrdal stretch. It is kept open all year round, although not without some difficulty due to the heavy snowfall experienced on the Hardangervidda; in 1967, railway workers had to clear 67 feet (20.4m) of snow from the line. |
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| ⚫ | |||
The railway is today a popular tourist attraction, as well as a busy intercity route. It provides an essential link to the Hardangervidda and is especially popular with hikers and cyclists. The old railway workers' road, the [[Rallarvegen]] ([[navvy]] road), runs alongside the line and can be cycled in a day; the [[NSB|Norwegian State Railway]] provides rental bicycles from depots at Finse and other points along the line. At Myrdal, a spectacular 20 km-long branch line, [[Flåmsbana]], leads down to Flåm. |
The railway is today a popular tourist attraction, as well as a busy intercity route. It provides an essential link to the Hardangervidda and is especially popular with hikers and cyclists. The old railway workers' road, the [[Rallarvegen]] ([[navvy]] road), runs alongside the line and can be cycled in a day; the [[NSB|Norwegian State Railway]] provides rental bicycles from depots at Finse and other points along the line. At Myrdal, a spectacular 20 km-long branch line, [[Flåmsbana]], leads down to Flåm. |
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==Proposed closures of the line== |
==Proposed closures of the line== |
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In |
In 2002 the Norwegian National Rail Administration ([[Jernbaneverket]]) warned that lack of funding might lead to a closure of all long-distance passenger trains in Norway, including the Bergensbanen. [[Torild Skogsholm]], the minister for transportation assured that it was not the government's policy to close railway lines.<ref>[http://www.nrk.no/distrikt/sor_trondelag/nyheter/1684825.html Skjebnevalg for norsk jernbane] Choice of fate for Norwegian Railways, NRK Sør-Trøndelag, February 28, 2002 (in Norwegian)</ref> |
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In |
In 2004, the [[Progress Party (Norway)|Progress Party]]'s spokesperson for transportation affairs, [[Kenneth Svendsen]] suggested closing down the railway line and replacing it with a [[highway]] between [[Bergen]] and [[Oslo]]. The rationale was that funding a better road instead of the railway would aid commerce and that the long distance bus companies were already offering cheaper tickets than the railway. Local politicians in the [[Norwegian Labour Party|Labour Party]] and [[Conservative Party of Norway|Conservative Party]] both rejected the proposal pointing out the better environmental performance of the railway and that the railway transports large volumes of freight. <ref>[http://www.bt.no/innenriks/article53238.ece Frp: - Steng Bergensbanen] (The Progress Party: Close the Bergen Railway) Bergens Tidende, January 16, 2004, in Norwegian</ref> |
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In |
In 2006 Jernbaneverket cautioned that the railway line was in need of upgrades to improve speed. In particular, they urged more attention to building a direct line across [[Ringerike]] between [[Hønefoss]] and Oslo to cut about one and a half hours from the journey time, and that without it, the future of long-distance passenger service on the line may be brought into question.<ref>[http://www.ringblad.no/nyheter/article2341507.ece Nødvendig for Bergensbanen] Necessary for the Bergen Railway, Ringerikes Blad, October 10, 2006 (in Norwegian)</ref> |
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==Centenary activities in 2009== |
==Centenary activities in 2009== |
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Revision as of 16:12, 18 May 2008
| Bergensbanen | |
|---|---|
 The Bergensbanen on the Hardangervidda near Finse. The track shown here is an abandoned section of the line, which now runs through a tunnel | |
| Overview | |
| Owner | Jernbaneverket |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 17 |
| Service | |
| Type | Railway |
| System | Norwegian railway |
| Operator(s) | Norges Statsbaner CargoNet |
| Rolling stock | BM 73, El 18 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1909 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 372 km |
| Character | Express trains Freight trains |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Highest elevation | 1237 m |
Bergensbanen is the railway between Bergen and Oslo in Norway. It is the highest mainline railway line in Europe and one of the most spectacular, crossing the Hardangervidda plateau at over 1200 meters (4000 feet) above sea level.
History
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and, as early as 1870, proposals were raised for a railway to connect it to the capital. There were several possible routes for the line and it was not until 1894 that the final decision was made by the Storting, the Norwegian legislature. Only the first stretch of the line, from Voss to Taugevatn, was initially authorised, with the rest being authorised in 1898.
The construction of the line was exceptionally challenging. It had to be laid high above sea level, in a region without roads and with a climate that saw many feet of snow in the winter and temperatures far below freezing. Tunnels and cuttings had to be excavated through solid gneiss, with one tunnel alone - that at Gravhals - taking six years to build, mostly by hand.
The line from Voss to Myrdal was opened in the summer of 1906, with the full line opening for passenger traffic on 27 November 1909. King Haakon VII stated upon the opening of the Bergenbanen that this was the Norwegian engineering masterpiece of his generation. Readers of Norwegian Technology Weekly (Teknisk Ukeblad) voted the Bergensbanen the fifth greatest Norwegian engineering masterpiece of the 20th century.
World War II was a demanding time for the railway line, as the track was in heavy use for both civilian and military transportation, and much of the equipment and maintenance was lacking. On February 28 1944 a descending eastbound freight train loaded with oil and petrol lost its breaking power and became a runaway train, finally ploughing into a westbound passenger train at Breifoss, just east of Geilo. The crash and subsequent fire killed 25 civilians and an unknown number of German soldiers. Poor lubrication oil combined with the cold weather is believed to have caused the accident.
The line was originally steam operated, although some diesel traction was put in some years after the war. In particular some diesel multiple units were added as express trains, but these were incapable of operating the line during the harsh winter months. In 1964 the line was converted to electric traction, at 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC. The improved speed allowed NSB to implement year-round express trains.
Line description
The overland route between Bergen and eastern Norway crosses the harsh and inhospitable Hardangervidda plateau, which stands between the western fjords and the interior.
The line runs for a total length of 493 km with 182 tunnels, totalling approximately 73 km. The longest single tunnel on the line is that at Finse, about 10,6 km long. The line crosses 300 bridges spanning numerous rivers and streams. The highest station on the line (and the highest mainline station in Europe) is at Finse, 1222.2 meters above sea level. The line's highest point was Taugevatn near Finse, at 1300 meters, until Finsetunellen opened in 1993; it is now inside this tunnel, at 1237 meters. It takes a total of 6-7 hours to travel the full length of the line. The line has a maximum gradient of 1:46.5 on the Voss-Myrdal stretch. It is kept open all year round, although not without some difficulty due to the heavy snowfall experienced on the Hardangervidda; in 1967, railway workers had to clear 67 feet (20.4m) of snow from the line.
The railway is today a popular tourist attraction, as well as a busy intercity route. It provides an essential link to the Hardangervidda and is especially popular with hikers and cyclists. The old railway workers' road, the Rallarvegen (navvy road), runs alongside the line and can be cycled in a day; the Norwegian State Railway provides rental bicycles from depots at Finse and other points along the line. At Myrdal, a spectacular 20 km-long branch line, Flåmsbana, leads down to Flåm.
Proposed closures of the line
In 2002 the Norwegian National Rail Administration (Jernbaneverket) warned that lack of funding might lead to a closure of all long-distance passenger trains in Norway, including the Bergensbanen. Torild Skogsholm, the minister for transportation assured that it was not the government's policy to close railway lines.[1]
In 2004, the Progress Party's spokesperson for transportation affairs, Kenneth Svendsen suggested closing down the railway line and replacing it with a highway between Bergen and Oslo. The rationale was that funding a better road instead of the railway would aid commerce and that the long distance bus companies were already offering cheaper tickets than the railway. Local politicians in the Labour Party and Conservative Party both rejected the proposal pointing out the better environmental performance of the railway and that the railway transports large volumes of freight. [2]
In 2006 Jernbaneverket cautioned that the railway line was in need of upgrades to improve speed. In particular, they urged more attention to building a direct line across Ringerike between Hønefoss and Oslo to cut about one and a half hours from the journey time, and that without it, the future of long-distance passenger service on the line may be brought into question.[3]
Centenary activities in 2009
Bergensbanen will have been serving passengers for 100 years in 2009. In connection with the Norwegian Year of Cultural Heritage 2009, memory institutions will be working with railway enthusiasts and the Norwegian Railway Museum to provide opportunities for towns and villages along the line to investigate how the railway affected their communities.
Bergensbanen stations
| Station name | Height above sea level (m) | Distance from Oslo (km) | Distance from Bergen (km) |
| Oslo | 2 | 0 | 493 |
| Asker | 104 | 24 | 469 |
| Drammen | 2 | 41 | 452 |
| Hokksund | 8 | 58 | 435 |
| Vikersund | 67 | 84 | 409 |
| Hønefoss | 96 | 112 | 381 |
| Flå | 155 | 174 | 319 |
| Nesbyen | 168 | 208 | 285 |
| Gol | 207 | 225 | 268 |
| Ål | 436 | 250 | 243 |
| Geilo | 794 | 275 | 218 |
| Ustaoset | 990 | 286 | 207 |
| Haugastøl | 988 | 297 | 196 |
| Finse | 1222 | 324 | 169 |
| Hallingskeid | 1110 | 345 | 148 |
| Myrdal | 867 | 358 | 135 |
| Upsete | 850 | 364 | 129 |
| Mjølfjell | 627 | 376 | 117 |
| Voss | 57 | 407 | 86 |
| Dale | 43 | 447 | 46 |
| Arna | 8 | 483 | 10 |
| Bergen | 2 | 493 | 0 |
Further reading
- Bergensbanen, Bjørn Holøs, Gyldendal/NSB (ISBN 82-05-19349-5)
References
- ^ Skjebnevalg for norsk jernbane Choice of fate for Norwegian Railways, NRK Sør-Trøndelag, February 28, 2002 (in Norwegian)
- ^ Frp: - Steng Bergensbanen (The Progress Party: Close the Bergen Railway) Bergens Tidende, January 16, 2004, in Norwegian
- ^ Nødvendig for Bergensbanen Necessary for the Bergen Railway, Ringerikes Blad, October 10, 2006 (in Norwegian)