Jernbaneverket
Encyclopedia
The Norwegian National Rail Administration is a government agency
responsible for owning and maintaining the Norwegian railway network
, including the track
, stations
, classification yard
s, traffic management and timetables
. Safety oversight is the duty of the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate
, while numerous operating companies run train
s on the lines; the largest being the state owned passenger company Norges Statsbaner (NSB) and the freight company CargoNet
.
The administration operates all railways in Norway, except tram
ways and rapid transit
. All track is standard gauge
, with a total of 4114 kilometres (2,556.3 mi), of which 2552 kilometres (1,585.7 mi) is electrified
, and 227 kilometres (141.1 mi) is double track
. The Norwegian Railway Museum is a subsidiary of the rail administration.
On 1 December 1996 NSB was split up; formally NSB and the inspectorate were demerged form the National Rail Administration, and NSB made a limited company
. All three became subordinate the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications
. The administration received its own chief executive, Steinar Killi
, and board from 1 July 1999.
The National Rail Administration was created on 1 December 1996 when Norges Statsbaner was split into two agencies, the Norwegian National Rail Administration and the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate, and one limited company, NSB BA. Until 1 July 1999 NSB and the administration continued to have the same board and the same director, Osmund Ueland
.
By 1899 NSB had a copper communication wires spanning the entire network. In 1985 NSB and Televerket
agreed to build a national network of optical fiber
that would span the entire railway network. This remained part of Jernbaneverket until 2001, when it was transferred to the subsidiary BaneTele
. The same year it bought the bankrupt telecom company Enitel, and the whole subsidiary transferred to the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry
in 2002.
In 2005 the maintenance division was demerged, and established as the limited company Baneservice
, owned directly by the ministry. This was part of a program initiated by the conservative-liberal government to privatize the maintenance of the tracks, by forcing the administration to perform tenders
; similar policies were being enforced on the Public Roads Administration
and Coastal Administration
. The process of privatizing the work of 1,100 employees was discontinued after the 2005 election
, following the victory of the socialist coalition government.
, with a total of 4114 kilometres (2,556.3 mi), of which 2552 kilometres (1,585.7 mi) is electrified
at , and 227 kilometres (141.1 mi) is double track
. Gardermobanen, at 64 kilometres (39.8 mi), is the only high-speed line
. The network consists of 706 tunnel
s, 2,523 bridge
s and 3,761 level crossing
s. The railways transported 56,827,000 passengers for 2,956 million passenger kilometer
s and 24,783,000 tonnes of cargo for 3,414 million tonne kilometer
s in 2007; the same year there were eight train-related accidents, with two fatalities—both suicide
s.
, while regional offices are located in Bergen
, Hamar
and Trondheim
, while train control areas are also located in Drammen
, Kristiansand
, Stavanger
and Narvik
. The administration also runs the Norwegian Railway College in Oslo and the Norwegian Railway Museum in Hamar. The agency has about 2,900 employees.
In 2007 the administration had a revenue of NOK
5,661 million, of which 1,934 M went to operation, 1,369 M to maintenance, 67 M to Gardermobanen and 2,291 M to investments. Of the investments 82% went to new lines, notably Askerbanen (25%), Stavanger–Sandnes (17%), Lysaker Station
(17%) and Ganddal Yard (8%). The administration receives most of its income from the ministry, but railway companies must pay to use Gardermobanen.
. All stations opened after 1996 are owned by the administration; this has caused a complex ownership structure where sections of the stations may have different owners. The operation of all stations remain at the administration, while the NSB subsidiary Rom Eiendom
is responsible for managing the railway unrelated sections of the stations, for instance the shopping center in Oslo Central Station.
, CargoNet
, Flytoget
, Green Cargo, Hector Rail
, Malmtrafik
, Norges Statsbaner, NSB Gjøvikbanen, Ofotbanen, Peterson Rail, SJ
, Tågåkeriet and Valdresbanen.
Etat
Etat is a Norwegian state-, county- or municipal agency. An Etat is a subdivision of the administration, which has been given responsibility for a special area. An agency does not have a board of directors, but it does have a director, appointed by the subordinate organization. Normally decisions...
responsible for owning and maintaining the Norwegian railway network
Rail transport in Norway
The Norwegian railway system comprises 4,087 km of track of which 2,622 km is electrified and 242 km double track. There are 696 tunnels and 2760 bridges....
, including the track
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
, stations
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
, classification yard
Classification yard
A classification yard or marshalling yard is a railroad yard found at some freight train stations, used to separate railroad cars on to one of several tracks. First the cars are taken to a track, sometimes called a lead or a drill...
s, traffic management and timetables
Public transport timetable
A public transport timetable is a representation of public transport information to assist a passenger with planning a trip using public transport. A timetable details when vehicle will arrive and depart specified locations and may be organised for by route or for a particular stop...
. Safety oversight is the duty of the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate
Norwegian Railway Inspectorate
The Norwegian Railway Inspectorate is a Norwegian government agency responsible for control and supervision of rail transport in Norway, including railways, tramways, rapid transits, heritage railways and side tracks....
, while numerous operating companies run train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s on the lines; the largest being the state owned passenger company Norges Statsbaner (NSB) and the freight company CargoNet
CargoNet
CargoNet AS is the primary operator of freight trains on the Norwegian railway system. It was formed as NSB Gods after NSB fissioned into a passenger and a freight company. NSB Gods changed its name to CargoNet at the beginning of 2002. It is owned by NSB and the Swedish freight company Green Cargo...
.
The administration operates all railways in Norway, except tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
ways and rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
. All track is standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
, with a total of 4114 kilometres (2,556.3 mi), of which 2552 kilometres (1,585.7 mi) is electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
, and 227 kilometres (141.1 mi) is double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
. The Norwegian Railway Museum is a subsidiary of the rail administration.
On 1 December 1996 NSB was split up; formally NSB and the inspectorate were demerged form the National Rail Administration, and NSB made a limited company
Selskap med begrenset ansvar
Selskap med begrenset ansvar shortened to BA is a Norwegian term for a corporation comparable to a limited liability company. Meaning literally Company with limited liability, it is a type of corporate structure used in Norway for limited companies based on a co-operative structure.-Legal...
. All three became subordinate the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications
Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Transportation and Communications is a Norwegian ministry established in 1946, and is responsible for transportation and communication infrastructure in Norway. It is led by Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa...
. The administration received its own chief executive, Steinar Killi
Steinar Killi
Steinar Killi is a Norwegian civil servant who has had various leading positions within transportation in government agencies and is presently director of the Norwegian National Rail Administration....
, and board from 1 July 1999.
History
State ownership of railways was at first through partial ownership of the many lines built during the 1860s and 70s; by 1883 the authorities decided to create the Norwegian State Railways (NSB) that would own and operate most lines. By the 1960s passenger transport on private railways was abolished, and only a few private lines remained; the last, Kirkenes–Bjørnevatnbanen, was closed in 1997. Since then the agency has operated all railway lines in the country, except tramways and the Oslo T-bane, that are operated by their respective counties.The National Rail Administration was created on 1 December 1996 when Norges Statsbaner was split into two agencies, the Norwegian National Rail Administration and the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate, and one limited company, NSB BA. Until 1 July 1999 NSB and the administration continued to have the same board and the same director, Osmund Ueland
Osmund Ueland
Osmund Ueland is a Norwegian civil servant and former CEO of Norges Statsbaner .An engineer by education, he worked for Aker from 1975 to 1990. From 1990 to 1994 he headed the Lillehammer Olympic Organising Committee . In 1994 he was hired as CEO for NSB Gardermobanen; the next year he was...
.
By 1899 NSB had a copper communication wires spanning the entire network. In 1985 NSB and Televerket
Telenor
Telenor Group is the incumbent telecommunications company in Norway, with headquarters located at Fornebu, close to Oslo. Today, Telenor Group is mostly an international wireless carrier with operations in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Asia, working predominantly under the Telenor brand...
agreed to build a national network of optical fiber
Optical fiber
An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of a pure glass not much wider than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of...
that would span the entire railway network. This remained part of Jernbaneverket until 2001, when it was transferred to the subsidiary BaneTele
BaneTele
BaneTele is a Norwegian part state owned telecommunications company previously part of the Norwegian State Railways. The company provides stem fiberoptic cable network in Norway along the railway and power grid. The company has its headquarters in Oslo....
. The same year it bought the bankrupt telecom company Enitel, and the whole subsidiary transferred to the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry
Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry is a Norwegian ministry responsible for business, trade and industry. It is led by Trond Giske . The department must report to the legislature, Storting.-History:The Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Shipping, Industry, Craft and Fisheries was created...
in 2002.
In 2005 the maintenance division was demerged, and established as the limited company Baneservice
BaneService
BaneService is a Norwegian government owned railway construction and maintenance company. It is by far the largest subcontractor for Jernbaneverket and is owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications.-History:...
, owned directly by the ministry. This was part of a program initiated by the conservative-liberal government to privatize the maintenance of the tracks, by forcing the administration to perform tenders
Request for tender
A request for tender, commonly abbreviated to RFT, is a formal, structured invitation to suppliers for the supply of products or services. In the public sector, such a process may be required and determined in detail by law to ensure that such competition for the use of public money is open, fair...
; similar policies were being enforced on the Public Roads Administration
Norwegian Public Roads Administration
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is a Norwegian government agency responsible for the state and county public roads in the country. This includes planning, construction and operation of the state and county road networks, driver training and licensing, vehicle inspection and subsidies to...
and Coastal Administration
Norwegian Coastal Administration
Norwegian Coastal Administration is a Norwegian government agency responsible for the water transport infrastructure along the 92,000 km Coast of Norway. It is responsible for coastal navigation infrastructure, pilotage and harbour and port infrastructure, including lighthouses...
. The process of privatizing the work of 1,100 employees was discontinued after the 2005 election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005
Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 12 September 2005. More than 3.4 million Norwegians were eligible for vote for the Storting, the parliament of Norway. The new Storting has 169 members, an increase of four over the 2001 election....
, following the victory of the socialist coalition government.
Operations
All track is standard gaugeStandard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
, with a total of 4114 kilometres (2,556.3 mi), of which 2552 kilometres (1,585.7 mi) is electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
at , and 227 kilometres (141.1 mi) is double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
. Gardermobanen, at 64 kilometres (39.8 mi), is the only high-speed line
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
. The network consists of 706 tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
s, 2,523 bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s and 3,761 level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
s. The railways transported 56,827,000 passengers for 2,956 million passenger kilometer
Units of transportation measurement
The units of transportation measurement describes the units of measure to measure the quantity and traffic of transportation used in transportation statistics, planning, and their related fields.-Length of Journey:...
s and 24,783,000 tonnes of cargo for 3,414 million tonne kilometer
Units of transportation measurement
The units of transportation measurement describes the units of measure to measure the quantity and traffic of transportation used in transportation statistics, planning, and their related fields.-Length of Journey:...
s in 2007; the same year there were eight train-related accidents, with two fatalities—both suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
s.
Organization
The administration is divided into a directorate and divisions for infrastructure management, infrastructure construction and traffic management; BaneEnergi is subordinate the traffic management and is responsible for supplying electricity to the railway companies. Main offices are located in OsloOslo
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...
, while regional offices are located in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
and Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, while train control areas are also located in Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
, Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
, Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
and Narvik
Narvik
is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
. The administration also runs the Norwegian Railway College in Oslo and the Norwegian Railway Museum in Hamar. The agency has about 2,900 employees.
In 2007 the administration had a revenue of NOK
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"...
5,661 million, of which 1,934 M went to operation, 1,369 M to maintenance, 67 M to Gardermobanen and 2,291 M to investments. Of the investments 82% went to new lines, notably Askerbanen (25%), Stavanger–Sandnes (17%), Lysaker Station
Lysaker Station
Lysaker Station is Norway's third-largest railway station, located at Lysaker on the Drammen Line. It serves express, regional, local and Airport Express trains. The station opened in 1872, and is located west of Oslo S at elevation...
(17%) and Ganddal Yard (8%). The administration receives most of its income from the ministry, but railway companies must pay to use Gardermobanen.
Stations
At the time of the demerger all stations were transferred to NSB, but the administration retained ownership of the platformsRailway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
. All stations opened after 1996 are owned by the administration; this has caused a complex ownership structure where sections of the stations may have different owners. The operation of all stations remain at the administration, while the NSB subsidiary Rom Eiendom
ROM Eiendom
Rom Eiendom is a subsidiary of the Norwegian State Railways responsible for managing the commercial sections of the companies real estate. With headquarters in Oslo, the company manages . The vast majority of this is in or in connection with railway stations...
is responsible for managing the railway unrelated sections of the stations, for instance the shopping center in Oslo Central Station.
Railway companies
The companies that have agreements to access the national railway are Borregård RailBorregaard
Borregaard is a Norwegian company, established in 1889 in the southeastern town of Sarpsborg in Østfold county. Its main products were traditionally pulp and paper. The company later started producing chemicals based on timber as a raw material...
, CargoNet
CargoNet
CargoNet AS is the primary operator of freight trains on the Norwegian railway system. It was formed as NSB Gods after NSB fissioned into a passenger and a freight company. NSB Gods changed its name to CargoNet at the beginning of 2002. It is owned by NSB and the Swedish freight company Green Cargo...
, Flytoget
Flytoget
is a Norwegian high-speed airport rail link connecting Oslo Airport, Gardermoen to Oslo Central Station in nineteen minutes. Run by Flytoget AS , it operates on the high-speed Gardermoen Line using sixteen GMB Class 71 electric trains. Normal service frequency is once every ten minutes, with half...
, Green Cargo, Hector Rail
Hector Rail
Hector Rail is a Swedish-based independent train haulage provider operating in the European rail transport market, operating 29 locomotives. The company provides locomotives and drivers to freight customers who need to have whole unit trains hauled between two places with a regular time table.The...
, Malmtrafik
Malmtrafik
Malmtrafik i Kiruna AB or MTAB is a Swedish railway company which operates the iron ore freight trains on the Ore Line and the Ofoten Line. MTAB is a wholly owned subsidiary of the mining company Luossavaara–Kiirunavaara . In Norway, operations are handled by the subsidiary Malmtrafikk AS...
, Norges Statsbaner, NSB Gjøvikbanen, Ofotbanen, Peterson Rail, SJ
SJ AB
SJ is a government-owned passenger train operator in Sweden. SJ was created in 2000, out of the public transport division of Statens Järnvägar, when the former government agency was divided into six separate government-owned limited companies.-Overview:SJ's operations fall broadly into subsidised...
, Tågåkeriet and Valdresbanen.
Rolling stock
The National Rail Administration maintains a small fleet of maintenance trains and track inspection railcars themselves. All of Jernbaneverkets trains are yellow and diesel operated. When Baneservice was demerged, they took over most of the maintenance units. Jernbaneverket stock:- 1 Di 3aNSB Di 3NSB Di 3 is a class of 35 diesel-electric locomotives built by Nydqvist och Holm for the Norwegian State Railways . The class was built between 1954 and 1969, and delivered in two series, Di 3a and Di 3b. They are based on the Electro-Motive Division F7 and are equipped with EMD 567 engines...
(snowplow) - 3 Di R3 (snowplow and shunter)
- 2 MZDSB class MZDSB class MZ was a series of 61 diesel-electric locomotives operated by Danske Statsbaner. They were built by NOHAB between 1967 and 1978 on licence from General Motors EMD with subcontractors Thrige-Titan and Frichs ....
- 2 Skd 225 (shunter)
- 17 LM2 (catenary inspection)
- 4 LM4 (catenary rebuilding)
- 5 LM5 (catenary maintenance)
- 5 LM6 (catenary maintenance)
- 1 Roger 300 (track inspection)
- 1 Roger 1000 (track inspection)
- 1 YF1Y1 (railcar)The Y1 is a diesel-hydraulic standard gauge railcar . It is in use in Croatia, Norway, Serbia, Kosovo and Sweden.The production of the railcars was begun in 1980 by Kalmar Verkstad and Fiat Ferroviaria for Sweden.- Italy :...
(rescue)