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 Hovedbane, while at the western end there is an additional single connection to the Hovedbane. 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 Gjøvikbane (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 Hovedbane (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 Gjøvikbane 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 [Blixtunnelen] 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: used by all services running non-stop between Oslo and Ski or beyond (routes R21, R22, RE20)

There are various route complications at each end of the Follo Tunnel. As at late May 2023:-

At Oslo Sentral

• the L2 was the only through service from Ski to stations west of Oslo Central. Northbound from Ski it left the Østfoldbanen some way south of Oslo Sentral via the also new connecting Kongshavntunnelen line 082 as per the [OpenRailwayMap description to join the Follo [Blixtunnelen] Tunnel and the diveunder to platform 3, southbound from Oslo Sentral platform 13 at ground level to the east side old Østfoldbanen tunnel route.
• The second diveunder to/from platforms 9/10 at Oslo Sentral was closed for engineering work so
• Arrivals or departures at Oslo from Ski via the Follo [Blixtunnelen] Tunnel were using either the most westernmost and separate line 084 to/from the high numbered bay platforms, or [believed temporarily] the diveunder used by the L2 service to access low numbered platforms.
  

At Ski

• the L2 in both directions to/from the Østfoldbane used a realigned double track route over the Follo [Blixtunnelen] Tunnel to/from platforms 5 and 6
• access to/from the Follo [Blixtunnelen] Tunnel is NOT grade separated but
• there are grade separated connections to/from the Østfoldbanen allowing easier access to/from lower numbered platforms but these are believed to not have any scheduled services but available for periods of disruption. Note northbound is unusual as it is initially in tunnel underneath both the L2 then the Follo [Blixtunnelen] routes before climbing in the open to join the L2 and the Rakkestad services are unlikely during disruption to use the grade separation connections as they must also use platforms 5 and 6 at Ski.

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 (the Gardermobane) except the following, which runs via Dal, on the Hovedbane (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.

Owing to engineering work around Drammen, it is used by all trains between Oslo and the Bergen main line from 24 June to 6 August 2023 inclusive, running non-stop between Oslo and Hønefoss. Note that Hønefoss is a v-shaped station, so that travel further west is required for full coverage.

The line was also used by the Nordmarka Rundt excursion from Oslo Sentral but this is not running in 2023 as things stand.

Åneby

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

South of Roa on the passenger line to Gjøvik, the loop at Åneby station south of the station has its western track partly in tunnel, the eastern track a little distance east in a cutting. Most trains in both directions use the western track as it is much straighter, so the only guaranteed way of travelling the non-tunnel route is by a train calling at P1 at Åneby. According to the Entur App at May 2023, departures from Oslo S at 12:44, 13:44, 15:22, 17:44, 18:24, 19:44 & 20:24, or southbound from Harestua at 06:11 & 07:12 SSuX are booked to call at P1. Note these are Mon-Fri timings as the weekend service could not be checked as it was bustituted at that time.

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.