Elisenberg Station
Encyclopedia
Elisenberg Station is an unfinished railway station within the Oslo Tunnel on the Drammen Line in Oslo
, Norway
. The ghost station
was partially built during the construction of the tunnel between 1971 and 1980, but has never been taken into use. It is located between Nationaltheatret Station
and Skøyen Station
, at Elisenberg
in Frogner
. A 220 metres (721.8 ft) long center platform and part of the access way has been built, but never completed. While the station initially was not taken into use because of lack of funds to complete it, it is now unlikely that it will ever be completed, as the need for a station has disappeared and an opening would involve large extra investments.
with the same name. All that has been built at Elisenberg Station is the centre platform, which is 220 metres (721.8 ft) long and 11 metres (36.1 ft) wide, and a passageway across the south track. The tracks lay 30 metres (98.4 ft) below the surface.
The plans called for a two-track station which would be connected to the surface via elevator
s. At ground level, there would have been a vestibule
with traveler facilities and ticket sales. The main entrance was to be from Balchensgate, with a secondary entrance from the street junction Elisenbergveien–Frognerveien, hopefully attracting guests from the nearby one-michelin-star restaurant Feinschmecker.
of Oslo West Station
(Oslo V). Another committee, led by Oddvar Halvorsen, was established in 1960 to look at the matter again. It stated that the tunnel should be longer and intersect with the Drammen Line at a point between Skarpsno and Skøyen, and with a second station built at Frogner. The proposal was presented to the Parliament of Norway on 4 November 1961, along with several other matters related to rail transport investments. Construction of the Oslo Tunnel and Elisenberg Station was passed unanimously.
A planning office was established in 1962, initially led by Erik Himle. The final plans for the route were passed by parliament in 1968, and construction started in 1971. The rationale for the building of the station was that Frogner was to be developed as a dense, commercial district. However, to cut costs with the Oslo Tunnel, it was decided that parts of Nationaltheatret would not be built yet, and that Elisenberg Station would not open until after the tunnel was completed. By 1978, the platform area had been built, but the access way had not. The investments cost 30 million Norwegian krone
(NOK), 75 mill. of 1998 standard. The Oslo Tunnel opened, without Elisenberg Station, on 1 June 1980.
During the mid-1980s, the plans for Elisenberg were again considered, after an initiative by Prime Minister
Kåre Willoch
who had been stuck in traffic congestion
at Frogner. At the time, the cost estimate to open the station was NOK 105 million. The rail administration planned instead to build an additional, western entrance to Nationaltheatret Station, located near the roundabout between Parkveien and Henrik Ibsens gate (then Drammensveien), which would only cost 40 million NOK.
This entrace was expected to replace the need for Elisenberg Station, and was located in the middle of the Oslo Tunnel, between Nationaltheatret and Skøyen. Oslo Byes Vel and the Conservative, Red
and Centre
parties opposed the construction of the entrance, arguing that it would ruin the south-western corner of the Palace Park
. The Conservative Party proposed building it further south, across Henrik Ibsens gate, either in Hansteens gate or in Parkveien near Oslo Commerce School
, while the others wanted to open Elisenberg Station for traffic.
However, by then it had become clear that Frogner west of Solli plass
would remain dominantly a residential area. The estimates showed that the station would capture few new riders and instead simply give a shorter walk for a small minority of those who used Nationaltheatret Station and Skøyen Station. With the upgraded Nationaltheatret Station, which opened in 1999, the capacity of the Oslo Tunnel increased from 16 to 24 trains per hour in each direction, because the station from then had four, rather than two, tracks. A similar upgrade would need to be done for Elisenberg Station, should it be taken into use, or the capacity of the tunnel would again be reduced. It is therefore highly unlikely that the station will ever be opened. In 1998, the readers of the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten
proposed making Elisenberg an emergency exit.
In 2008, one hundred million NOK were given from the state budget of Norway
to make improvements to the Oslo Tunnel following a cable fire at Skøyen Station
. The replacement of the overhead wires would be started close to Elisenberg Station.
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The ghost station
Ghost station
Ghost stations is the usual English translation for the German word Geisterbahnhöfe. This term was used to describe certain stations on Berlin's U-Bahn and S-Bahn metro networks that were closed during the period of Berlin's division during the Cold War...
was partially built during the construction of the tunnel between 1971 and 1980, but has never been taken into use. It is located between Nationaltheatret Station
Nationaltheatret station
Nationaltheatret Station is an underground railway station on the Drammen Line serving Vika and the central business district of Oslo, Norway. It is the second-busiest railway station in Norway, behind Oslo Central Station , from which Nationaltheatret is away...
and Skøyen Station
Skøyen Station
Skøyen is a railway station located in Oslo, Norway and is part of Drammen Line. The station serves commuter trains, some regional trains and the Flytoget airport express train service. Skøyen station is owned and operated by the Norwegian National Rail Administration.Though some continue on, the...
, at Elisenberg
Elisenberg
Elisenberg is a neighborhood in the Frogner borough in Oslo, Norway.It is defined as an area between the streets Elisenbergveien, Frognerveien, Bygdøy allé and Kristinelundveien. The borough grew up around the paddock manor Schafteløkken, divided from Frogner farm and bought by Andreas Schaft in...
in Frogner
Frogner
Frogner is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. In addition to traditional Frogner, the borough incorporates Bygdøy, Uranienborg and Majorstuen....
. A 220 metres (721.8 ft) long center platform and part of the access way has been built, but never completed. While the station initially was not taken into use because of lack of funds to complete it, it is now unlikely that it will ever be completed, as the need for a station has disappeared and an opening would involve large extra investments.
Facilities
Elisenberg is located approximately half-way between Nationaltheatret Station and Skøyen Station in the Oslo Tunnel of the Drammen Line. It is located under Balchens gate, near the tram stopTram stop
A tram stop is a place designated for a tram to stop so passengers can board or alight it. Tram stops share most characteristics of bus stops, but because trams operate on rails, they often include railway platforms, especially if stepless entries are provided for accessibility...
with the same name. All that has been built at Elisenberg Station is the centre platform, which is 220 metres (721.8 ft) long and 11 metres (36.1 ft) wide, and a passageway across the south track. The tracks lay 30 metres (98.4 ft) below the surface.
The plans called for a two-track station which would be connected to the surface via elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
s. At ground level, there would have been a vestibule
Vestibule (architecture)
A vestibule is a lobby, entrance hall, or passage between the entrance and the interior of a building.The same term can apply to structures in modern or ancient roman architecture. In modern architecture vestibule typically refers to a small room or hall between an entrance and the interior of...
with traveler facilities and ticket sales. The main entrance was to be from Balchensgate, with a secondary entrance from the street junction Elisenbergveien–Frognerveien, hopefully attracting guests from the nearby one-michelin-star restaurant Feinschmecker.
History
Planning of the Oslo Tunnel was officially initiated in 1938, as a way to connect the Drammen Line to Oslo East Station (Oslo Ø, now Oslo Central Station, Oslo S). The Station Committee of 1938, led by Axel Grenholm, recommended a route that would branch off from the existing line close to the then terminal stationTerminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
of Oslo West Station
Oslo Vestbanestasjon
Oslo West Station or Oslo V, is a former railway station located in Vika in Oslo, Norway. It was the terminus of the Drammen Line between 1872 and 1980, until the Oslo Tunnel opened. The station remained in use until 1989, when all traffic was moved to the new Oslo Central Station...
(Oslo V). Another committee, led by Oddvar Halvorsen, was established in 1960 to look at the matter again. It stated that the tunnel should be longer and intersect with the Drammen Line at a point between Skarpsno and Skøyen, and with a second station built at Frogner. The proposal was presented to the Parliament of Norway on 4 November 1961, along with several other matters related to rail transport investments. Construction of the Oslo Tunnel and Elisenberg Station was passed unanimously.
A planning office was established in 1962, initially led by Erik Himle. The final plans for the route were passed by parliament in 1968, and construction started in 1971. The rationale for the building of the station was that Frogner was to be developed as a dense, commercial district. However, to cut costs with the Oslo Tunnel, it was decided that parts of Nationaltheatret would not be built yet, and that Elisenberg Station would not open until after the tunnel was completed. By 1978, the platform area had been built, but the access way had not. The investments cost 30 million Norwegian krone
Norwegian krone
The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"...
(NOK), 75 mill. of 1998 standard. The Oslo Tunnel opened, without Elisenberg Station, on 1 June 1980.
During the mid-1980s, the plans for Elisenberg were again considered, after an initiative by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
Kåre Willoch
Kåre Willoch
Kåre Isaachsen Willoch is a Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party. He served as Minister of Trade and Shipping in 1963 and 1965–1970, and as Prime Minister of Norway from 1981 to 1986...
who had been stuck in traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
at Frogner. At the time, the cost estimate to open the station was NOK 105 million. The rail administration planned instead to build an additional, western entrance to Nationaltheatret Station, located near the roundabout between Parkveien and Henrik Ibsens gate (then Drammensveien), which would only cost 40 million NOK.
This entrace was expected to replace the need for Elisenberg Station, and was located in the middle of the Oslo Tunnel, between Nationaltheatret and Skøyen. Oslo Byes Vel and the Conservative, Red
Red (Norway)
The Red Party is a Norwegian far-left political party and the leading party to the left of the Socialist Left and the Labour Party in Norway. Since 2007 the party has sought a seat in Parliament; the only counties in which they have a realistic chance of earning a seat are Oslo and Hordaland...
and Centre
Centre Party (Norway)
The Centre Party is a centrist and agrarian political party in Norway, founded in 1920. The Centre Party's policy is not based on any of the major ideologies of the 19th and 20th century, but has a focus on maintaining decentralised economic development and political decision-making.From its...
parties opposed the construction of the entrance, arguing that it would ruin the south-western corner of the Palace Park
Palace Park
The Palace Park is a public park in the center of Oslo, Norway, surrounding the Royal Palace. It is . It was built during the 1840s and was designed by Hans Ditlev Franciscus Linstow, who was the main architect of the palace...
. The Conservative Party proposed building it further south, across Henrik Ibsens gate, either in Hansteens gate or in Parkveien near Oslo Commerce School
Oslo Commerce School
Oslo Commerce School is a public high school in Oslo, Norway, specialized to teach financial and business management....
, while the others wanted to open Elisenberg Station for traffic.
However, by then it had become clear that Frogner west of Solli plass
Solli plass
Solli plass, also called Lapsetorvet, is a square in Oslo, Norway, located southwest of Slottsparken and the Royal Palace.The square is elliptical in shape. In the southwest lies the National Library of Norway. Further east are several commercial buildings, and the headquarters of the Federation of...
would remain dominantly a residential area. The estimates showed that the station would capture few new riders and instead simply give a shorter walk for a small minority of those who used Nationaltheatret Station and Skøyen Station. With the upgraded Nationaltheatret Station, which opened in 1999, the capacity of the Oslo Tunnel increased from 16 to 24 trains per hour in each direction, because the station from then had four, rather than two, tracks. A similar upgrade would need to be done for Elisenberg Station, should it be taken into use, or the capacity of the tunnel would again be reduced. It is therefore highly unlikely that the station will ever be opened. In 1998, the readers of the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten
Aftenposten
Aftenposten is Norway's largest newspaper. It retook this position in 2010, taking it from the tabloid Verdens Gang which had been the largest newspaper for several decades. It is based in Oslo. The morning edition, which is distributed across all of Norway, had a circulation of 250,179 in 2007...
proposed making Elisenberg an emergency exit.
In 2008, one hundred million NOK were given from the state budget of Norway
State budget of Norway
The State budget of Norway is a budget passed by the Norwegian legislature, Storting, each year. It accumulates all income and expenses for the Government of Norway. The document defines the taxes to be collected, and what expenses will be accomplished....
to make improvements to the Oslo Tunnel following a cable fire at Skøyen Station
Skøyen Station
Skøyen is a railway station located in Oslo, Norway and is part of Drammen Line. The station serves commuter trains, some regional trains and the Flytoget airport express train service. Skøyen station is owned and operated by the Norwegian National Rail Administration.Though some continue on, the...
. The replacement of the overhead wires would be started close to Elisenberg Station.