Norway - Tram services over obscure routes

Introduction

Some tram systems advertise their depot workings and enable one to ascertain the regular use by passenger-carrying services of junctions or sections of line that do not otherwise see public service. This occasional series lists such services that have come to notice. While the data for each system is current at the date stated, it is not the intention to endeavour to keep every entry up to date at every service change - the listing serves as a guide for travellers as to the sort of services they can look out for, enabling them to check current published timetable material at their time of travel.

To assist in tracing services, the route and/or timetable number for each journey is shown in parentheses, e.g. (1). Days of operation are in English notation (respectively: Su, M, T, W, Th, F, S) - plus "O" for only, "X" for excepted. Su (Sundays) usually includes public holidays in mainland Europe - but check locally.

Listings for other systems throughout the world - in the same format as shown below (please include date of timetable validity) - will always be welcomed.

Oslo: Oslo Sporvognsdrift AS

[trikken = trams]
Advertised journeys in timetable dated 14 August 2017. There have been city centre road works for some time causing diversions but with a very unusual aspect of constructing temporary lines that go out of use again when the original route reopens! The existing route from Jerbanetorget [Sentral Station] to Holbergs plass is closed from 14 August 2017 until 2020 and routes 11 and 17 are split in two running either side of the blockage but with a temporary route under construction. The consequence of this are listed below.

Holbergs plass

The eastern ends of routes 11 and 17 currently terminate here using a curve built especially but it will probably only be in use until spring 2018 when a temporary route being built from Stortorvet along Kristian IV’s Gate and past the rear of the Historical Museum to rejoin line of route before Holbergs plass opens.

Jerbanetorget street loop

Again only until the temporary route being built from Stortorvet as above opens, the section of route 11 from Kjelsås terminates here and runs out of service via an anti-clockwise and partially non-passenger street loop. This was successfully travelled by asking a tram driver in early September 2017.

Jerbanetorget - Bussterminalen Grønland - Ekebergparken

There are plans on https://nyhetsrom.bymiljoetaten.no/2017/02/14/kongsveien/ that this section will close in January 2018, assumed in conjunction with the opening of the extension from Bjørvika to Ekebergparken - [Ljabru].

Normal operating patterns

Storo - Grefsen stasjon

Note that route 13 is only advertised in this direction as the route terminates at a Depot and the only turning circle runs through it. As the Depot exit is past the Grefsen stasjon stop, trams towards Storo return to service running empty through the depot to their first pick up at Storo.

Majorstuen

• The turning loop here is normally only used by route 11, routes 12 and 19 change route on arrival/departure but with the temporary arrangements at Holbergs plass above this may not be the current situation as a route 11 tram was seen interworking onto route 19.

Disen turning circle

• Route 12 previously used this loop in public service for part of SSuX but all have now been extended to/from Kjelsas

Oslo: Oslo T-banedrift AS

[T-banen = metro]
Advertised journeys in timetable dated 2 April 2017. None

On a previous timetable dated 26 April 2009

Ensjø - Carl Berners plass (Tøyen east curve)

• From Ryen to Vestli (depot workings for route 5): 04:49 SSuX, 05:04 SSuX, 05:19 SSuX
• From Ryen to Storo (depot workings for route 5): 05:33 SSuX, 05:48 SSuX, 06:19 SO, 06:49 SuO, 10:34 SuO

There are no return journeys advertised by this route