Norway - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable dated from 11 December 2022, unless otherwise shown. Timetables on different routes have different end dates, but similar services are likely to operate for the rest of the timetable year. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information.

Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. Template:Map Refs ERA-R-NO-SE-FI-DK

Obscure services

Oslo Sentral – Lillestrøm (via Romeriksporten Tunnel)

(ERA-E 5A2; ERA-R 1B4) NO23/1

There are two routes between Oslo Sentral and Lillestrøm:

• the old main line (Hovedbanen): used by services calling intermediately (route L1 only)
• the Gardermobanen via the Romeriksporten Tunnel: expected to be used by all services running non-stop between Oslo Sentral and Lillestrøm or beyond (routes RE10, RE11, R12, R13, R14; Oslo - Trondheim; Oslo - Stockholm)

Tunnelled single track connections to avoid conflicting moves exist at both ends of the tunnel: two at the eastern (Lillestrøm) end allow running to and from the Hovedbanen, while at the western end there is an additional single connection to the Hovedbanen. These connections and the services using them are detailed below.

Romeriksporten Tunnel: eastern connections - Lillestrøm

[R14, R13 (WB)] (ERA-E 5A2, not shown; ERA-R 1B4, not shown) NO23/2

These connections are used by trains between Oslo Sentral and Lillestrøm tracks 6-9 via the Romeriksporten Tunnel, to avoid conflicting moves with Gardermobanen line trains using Lillestrøm tracks 1-4:

• eastbound: Oslo - Stockholm intercity services, Oslo - Kongsvinger (route R14) services
• westbound: Oslo - Stockholm intercity services, Oslo - Kongsvinger (route R14) services, Dal - Oslo (route R13) services

Note that eastbound Oslo - Dal (R13) services use Lillestrøm track 4 and crossovers at the east end of Lillestrøm station.

Click on the thumbnail for a diagram:

Romeriksporten Tunnel: western connection - Oslo Sentral

(ERA-E 5A2, not shown; ERA-R 1B4, not shown) NO23/3

Non-stop trains from Lillestrøm or beyond and Oslo Sentral run via the Romeriksporten Tunnel, but have different routes to exit the western end of the tunnel as different parts of Oslo Sentral station are served, depending on whether they terminate there or continue through the City tunnel towards Drammen.

Non-stop services from Lillestrøm or beyond terminating in the south side tracks (typically tracks 14-15) at Oslo Sentral run via the main Romeriksporten Tunnel exit to join the Gjøvikbanen (the southern pair of tracks).

Non-stop trains from Lillestrøm or beyond and running beyond Oslo Sentral through the City Tunnel towards Drammen use the Romeriksporten Tunnel but take the single track cut-off tunnel branching from the main tunnel some 400m short of its western exit to join the Hovedbanen (old main line; the northern pair of tracks) to access the through platforms on the north side of Oslo Sentral (typically track 2). However, this link is only available westbound: eastbound through services use track 13, the most southerly of the through platforms at Oslo Sentral, and then the southern route via the Gjøvikbanen and the main Romeriksporten Tunnel.

Click on the thumbnail for a diagram:

Oslo Sentral - Ski

(ERA-E 5A2, not shown; ERA-R 1B4) NO23/4

Following the opening of the Follo Tunnel on 11 December 2022, there are two routes between Oslo Sentral and Ski:

• the old main line (Østfoldbanen): used by services calling intermediately (route L2 only)
• the Follo Tunnel, opened in December 2022: expected to be used by all services running non-stop between Oslo and Ski or beyond (routes R21, R22, RE20)

There are grade-separated junctions at both ends of the Follo Tunnel to avoid conflicting movements.

Special note: the Follo Tunnel was closed on 20 December 2022, due to technical problems. As of late January 2023, there was no expected re-opening date. A restricted service is running via the Østfoldbanen.

Lysaker – Sandvika

(ERA-E 5A2; ERA-R 1B4) NO23/5

Trains running non-stop between Lysaker and Sandvika can be expected to use the Baerum Tunnel but trains calling intermediately must run via the old main line.

Sandvika – Asker

(ERA-E 5A2; ERA-R 1B4-1A4) NO23/6

Trains running non-stop between Sandvika and Asker can be expected to use the 9.5 km long direct line, mostly in tunnel, whereas trains calling intermediately must run via the old main line.

Dal – Eidsvoll

[R12, R13] (ERA-E 5A2; ERA-R 1B5) NO23/7

Trains between Oslo and Eidsvoll run via Oslo Lufthavn Gardermoen (Gardermobanen) except the following, which runs via Dal, on the Hovedbanen (old main line).

1679

Drammen - 01:31 Dal - Eidsvoll

Roa – Hønefoss

[F4] (ERA-E 5A2; ERA-R 1A5-1B5) NO23/8

This alternative route for Oslo - Bergen line trains is used when the main line via Drammen is closed for engineering work - see ["traffic info"]. It was used by weekend relief trains until June 2006 but now has no regular service.

The line is also used by the Nordmarka Rundt excursion, which departs from Oslo Sentral at around 17:00 and makes an anticlockwise trip round Oslo via Roa – Hønefoss and Drammen, terminating at Oslo S around 22:30. See the Historiske Togreiser website and Facebook page for available dates. Dates for 2023 had not been published as of early January 2023.

Alnabru – Grefsen

(ERA-E 5A2; ERA-R 20A2-20B2) NO23/9

This line links Alnabru yard, on the Oslo - Lillestrøm old main line, with the Gjøvikbane, which runs due north from Oslo.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size diagram.

In Summer and Autumn 2019 it was used, as in 2018, by the Nordmarka rundt dining excursions from Oslo, which were diverted to started from Grorud due to engineering work in connection with the Follo Line at Oslo Sentral. The train reverted to Oslo Sentral, but seems possibly to have started from Grorud in 2021. Dates and details for 2023 had not been published as of early January 2023.

Trams

See Norway - Tram services over obscure routes

Other sparse services

The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally) – fewer than three trains each way, on at least three days a week - or do not run every day:

R70 Trønderbanen (SJ Norge)	(Trondheim –) Marienborg – Lerkendal	Runs SSuX, not late June - early August (check dates)
R55 (Vy)	Porsgrunn – Nordagutu – Notodden	Runs SSuX
R22 (Vy)	Mysen – Rakkestad	Runs SSuX
F8 (Vy)	Narvik – Riksgränsen – Kiruna (Sweden)	Check Swedish timetables, table 30

Deletions since previous edition

72 Meråkerbanen (SJ Norge)

Hell – Storlien (Sweden) – Duved

service increased to 3 trains each way daily

See also

The Norsk Jernbane-Museum occasionally runs excursion trains over unusual routes.