Timetoget
Encyclopedia
Railway company
A railway company or railroad company is an entity that operates a railroad track and/or trains. Such a company can either be private or public...
that tried to start operating passenger trains on the Bratsberg Line in 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 concept was launched in 1998, and in 1999 an agreement was made with the incumbent, Norges Statsbaner (NSB), to start operation in 2000. The founders were Gjermund Jamtveit and Halvor Grene, while NSB owned a third of the company. The company bought three used Y1
Y1 (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 :...
railcars from Sweden.
NSB soon bought all the shares of the company, and also made an agreement that operations on the Arendal Line
Arendal Line
The Arendal Line is a long railway line between Arendal and Simonstad in Norway. At Nelaug, north of Arendal, the line intersects with the Sørland Line. The southern section is electrified and provides a feeder passenger service. The line originally ran north from Arendal to Treungen and the...
would be taken over by Timetoget. However, the new company tried to take a short-cut in giving engineers only a six-week training program, instead of the usual 18 months. This made NSB want to discontinue operations. They bought out the rest of the shareholders, and liquidated the company. Timetoget never ran anything but trials on the Bratsberg Line.
Establishment
The company was owned by NSB (34%), two individuals from Notodden, Gjermund Jamtveit and Halvor Grene (51%), Telemark County MunicipalityTelemark County Municipality
Telemark County Municipality is the regional governing administration of Telemark, Norway. The main responsibilities of the county municipality includes the running of 29 upper secondary schools. It administrates the county roadways, public transport, dental care, culture and cultural heritage.The...
and some municipalities (15%). The trains would operate with a one-hour headway, twenty-four hours a day. It was the first private company allowed to operate passenger trains since the amalgamation of operations into the Norwegian State Railways
Norwegian State Railways (1883–1996)
The Norwegian State Railways was a state-owned railway company that operated most of the railway network in Norway. The government agency was created in 1883 to oversee the construction and operation of all state-owned railways in Norway...
. The concept was based on Timekspressen
TIMEkspressen
TIMEkspressen is a coach bus brand used by Nettbuss on 13 routes in Norway. The coaches are usually operated at one hour headway, but some routes have higher frequency in rush hour and lower frequency in the weekends....
, an hourly coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
service between Notodden and Oslo, that was operated by the Jamtveit and Grene-owned Øst-Telemark Automobilselskap
Øst-Telemark Automobilselskap
A/S Øst-Telemark Automobilselskap is a defunct bus company based in Notodden, Norway. It was taken over by Nettbuss in 1998.In 1997, it launched the TIMEkspressen hourly coach service from Notodden to Oslo. Nettbuss later made this a national brand for its hourly intercity coach services...
. The company bought three used Y1
Y1 (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 :...
diesel
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s from 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...
of Sweden, despite that the Bratsberg Line is electrified. The trains cost NOK 6 million each, and have a capacity of 70 passengers.
Initial plans called for operations to commence on 1 January 2000, but this soon proved difficult. In November, NSB paid out the other major shareholders, and were left with a 89% ownership of the company. The company needed dispensation from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority
The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority is Norwegian government agency under the Ministry of Labour. It is responsible for supervising the Working Environment Act, the Annual Holidays Act, the National Holidays Act as well as certain sections of the Smoking Act.The organization consists of a...
to allow temporary employments of engineers. When the company had announced the positions, only one engineer had applied for the twelve jobs. Instead an agreement was made with NSB to rent personnel, thus delaying the start until 3 September. But because the engineers needed to be recertified, the start was delayed again, to 5 November. In the end, Timetoget was forced to recruit and train new drivers. It received criticism for not having as extensive training as NSB, but the company stated that this would not affect safety. The labor union recommended its members not to apply for jobs with Timetoget, since they did not provide a pension agreement, collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
or guarantees to return to NSB, should the concept fail.
In August, twelve engineers were hired on contract with 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:...
, at the time a subsidiary of the Norwegian National Rail Administration. The engineers were subsequently re-certified for the Y1 class, as well as being given a service course. While other engineers in the country are required to take an 18-month course, Timetoget felt it could meet sufficient safety standards with a six-week course. Arne Wam
Arne Wam
Arne Wam is a Norwegian journalist and civil servant, who has had several leading positions in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation and the Norwegian State Railways .-Early and personal life:...
, chief executive officer of NSB, stated that he could not permit that a subsidiary ignore safety in such a way, and announced he would stop operations.
In August 2000, Timetoget offered Telemark County Municipality to take over the transport of school children between Drangedal
Drangedal Station
Drangedal Station is a railway station located in Prestestranda in Drangedal, Norway on Sørlandsbanen. The station is served by express trains to Kristiansand and Oslo.-External links:*...
and Nordagutu
Nordagutu Station
Nordagutu is a railway station located in Sauherad in Telemark, Norway located on Bratsbergbanen and Sørlandsbanen. The station is served by express trains to Kristiansand and local trains to Notodden and Grenland...
. In September, the company also started negotiations with NSB to take over services on the Arendal Line
Arendal Line
The Arendal Line is a long railway line between Arendal and Simonstad in Norway. At Nelaug, north of Arendal, the line intersects with the Sørland Line. The southern section is electrified and provides a feeder passenger service. The line originally ran north from Arendal to Treungen and the...
, but it was stated that this was not excepted by NSB.
Disestablishment
The first trial with the Y1 railcars was performed on 1 August 2000. The one unit was not able to complete the route due to technical problems, but the other train was able to. Terje Bulling, the CEO of Timetoget, stated that he was aiming for 140,000 passengers in 2001, but was worried because NSB, due to lack of engineers, was driving passengers with by taxi between NotoddenNotodden Station
Notodden Station also known as Notodden Public Transport Terminal is a railway station serving Notodden, Norway. It is the terminal station of Bratsbergbanen and was opened in 2004...
and Nordagutu. On 5 October, Vidar Østreng, vice president in NSB and chairman of Timetoget, announced that NSB, due to lack of engineers, would have to reduce the production of train services. He indicated that the least profitable routes, including the Bratsberg Line, would be closed. At the same time, NSB said one possibility could be that they sold their 89% stake in the company, thereby bypassing NSB's rules for engineer training. Five days later, the engineers in NSB stated that they would not operate trains between Larvik
Larvik Station
Larvik Station is a railway station on Vestfoldbanen in Larvik, Norway. The station is served with InterCity Express trains operated by Norges Statsbaner. The station opened as part of Vestfoldbanen in 1881.-External links:*...
and Skien, and Kongsberg
Kongsberg Station
Kongsberg Station is a railway station located in downtown Kongsberg in Buskerud, Norway, on the Sørland Line. The station is served by express trains to Kristiansand and is the terminus of the local trains from Oslo and Eidsvoll.-History:...
and Bø
Bø Station
Bø Station is a railway station located in Bø in Telemark, Norway on Sørlandsbanen. The station is served by express trains to Kristiansand as well as serving as a mayor transportation hub in Western Telemark.-History:...
, if Timetoget was allowed to operate. These sections of the Vestfold Line and Sørland Line, respectively, are shared with the Bratsberg Line. The engineers considered lack of sufficient training such a safety risk that it would not be secure to operate on the lines. At the same time, NSB announced that they would stop operating trains on the Bratsberg Line from 20 October.
Timetoget started negotiations with the Swedish company BK Tåg
BK Tåg
BK Tåg AB, trading as BK Tåg, is a former Swedish railway company. It operated passenger trains on public service obligation with various counties and the ministry. Owned by Karlsongruppen, it filed for bankruptcy in March 2005....
to try to establish a cooperation that would allow Swedish engineers to be used. At the same time, the minority shareholders, who owned 11% of the company, demanded that they could take over NSB's shares without compensation, and that all debt to NSB be deleted. Arne Wam responded by stating that NSB wanted to liquidate the company. NSB therefore offered to purchase all shares in the company at par value, despite the company not having any net assets.
By 2 November, all owners, except the two environmental organizations the Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature
Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature
The Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature , also known as Friends of the Earth Norway and commonly abbreviated NNV is the largest Norwegian environmental organization with 28,000 members. The organization is based on a volunteer work among the members, constituting work both at local and...
and Natur og Ungdom, had sold their shares to NSB. The two environmental organizations owned 7 of 40,000 shares of the company. At the general meeting the same day, the company was liquidated, even though the two organizations opposed. Prior to the meeting, the other minority owners had held a tactics meeting to discuss what to do. Several municipalities were concerned that they would lose even more money if they did not sell. The other minority owners agreed to cover the costs of the two environmental organizations, and let them make the principal stand to oppose the liquidation.
Aftermath
By 14 November, the concept had been approved by the Norwegian Railway InspectorateNorwegian 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....
. Following the announcement, Wam stated that NSB would continue to operate the service, and use the Timetoget concept. An internal document the newspaper Varden
Varden
Varden is a local newspaper published in Skien, Norway. It was first established with a test issue on 17 December 1874, with Johan Christian Tandberg Castberg as its first editor-in-chief. It has a circulation of 27,341, of whom 25,859 are subscribers...
received access to showed that NSB needed to calm down the heated discussions with the labor unions, and that their negativity to Timetoget was a tactical move to satisfy the labor unions. Minister of Transport
Minister of Transport and Communications (Norway)
The Minister of Transport and Communications is a Councillor of State and Chief of the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications. Since 20 October 2009, the position has been held by Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa of the Centre Party...
, Terje Moe Gustavsen
Terje Moe Gustavsen
Terje Moe Gustavsen is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He was state secretary to the Prime Minister in 1997, and Minister of Transport and Communications 2000-2001 in the first cabinet Stoltenberg. Among others he became known for sacking the board of directors in the Norwegian State...
from the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
, stated in a meeting with two parliamentarians from Telemark, that he would allow a new private company, without NSB ownership, to operate the line.
In January 2001, Connex Norway
Veolia Transport Norway
Veolia Transport Norway is the Norwegian subsidiary of Veolia Transport, part of Veolia Corporation and operates through its subsidiaries buses, ferries and trams in the counties of Akershus, Finnmark, Nordland, Rogaland and Sør-Trøndelag, primarily through the purchase of former monopolists. The...
(now Veolia) offered to purchase Timetoget from NSB, and start operations. However, by February, Connex had changed their mind, and no longer wanted to purchase the company. Terje Bulling admitted that Timetoget had a very good agreement for operating the Arendal Line, and that a fourth Y1 railcar had been bought from Sweden for this route. However, when NSB had tried to sell Timetoget, this agreement was not part of the estate. By April, NSB estimated that they had lost NOK 10 million on their engagement in Timetoget. However, they had three Y1 trains, and would be able to start using them on the Bratsberg Line and the Arendal Line.