This includes nearly NKr 11.6bn for new infrastructure, NKr 1.6bn to plan new investments, NKr 8.7bn for operation and maintenance across the network and more than NKr 4bn for passenger services.

The budget will fund construction of the Kleverud - Sorli section of a project to construct a double-track line from Oslo to Åkersvika, south of Hamar, along with planning for the Sørli - Åkersvika section. The project includes a new station in Tangen, a tunnel between Kleverud and Espa, and a 1070m bridge over Tangenvika, which will be Norway’s longest railway bridge. Construction of the Sørli - Åkersvika section is due to begin in 2021, with the project scheduled for completion in 2026.

Work will also start on the electrification of the Trønder line between Trondheim and Stjørdal, as well as the Meråker line between Hell and the Swedish border, and the Stavne - Leangen line in Trondheim.

The budget also includes funding to complete several other projects, including:

  • a new double track section between Oslo and Ski on the Follo line (due to be completed in 2022)
  • the Nykirke - Barkåker (2024) and Drammen - Kobbervikdalen (2025) sections of the Vestfold line
  • Venjar - Eidsvoll - Langset on the Gardermo and Dovre line (2023)
  • Sandbukta - Moss - Såstad on the Østfold line (2024), and
  • Arna - Fløen on the Vosse line (2022), including the completion of the new Ulriken tunnel in 2020.

Smaller projects prioritised by the government include:

  • construction of passing loops on the Gjøvik line
  • platform extensions on the Vosse line and stretches of the Stabekk - Ski and Spikkestad - Lillestrøm lines, and
  • construction of stabling facilities at Kongsberg, Ski, Gjøvik and Jaren.

To accelerate construction, the government has allocated funding to develop plans for the E16 Høgkastet - Hønefoss Ringerike line joint project. The government is also prioritising planning for new inter-city projects on the Vestfold, Dovre and Øfold lines, along with planning for a new tunnel between Oslo S and Lysaker, the E16 Arna - Stanghelle Vosse line joint project, and measures to achieve a half-hour frequency on the Trønder line.

New passenger fleets

The 2020 state budget includes NKr 110m to purchase an additional nine Stadler Flirt EMUs to increase capacity in eastern Norway. A further NKr 50m is allocated to refurbish five coaches between mid-2020 and the start of 2021 with reclining seats, similar to those in business class on an aircraft, to improve overnight services.

The government says it is also intent on making passenger services more attractive, and has budgeted:

  • NKr 7.5m to the Vestfold line to establish a morning commuter offer from Vestfold to Grenland
  • NKr 12.2m for more weekend departures to improve the offer in populous areas in southern parts of Oslo and Ski, including expanding the service to include half-hourly departures on weekends
  • NKr 6.6m to expand peak services in Oslo, and between Østfold and Oslo; services from Rushtida will be expanded from December with eight extra departures on ski days to Ski, Moss, Halden and Dal. From December 2020, there will be 23 services operating in multiple instead of single sets
  • NKr 15.6m to create a single ticketing system in Oslo, Viken and Trøndelag, which will allow passengers to use one ticket from one provider for their entire journey
  • NKr 7.5m to install mobile phone signal repeaters on trains in Austlandet to provide improve reception on commuter services, especially on the Østfold line, and
  • NKr 50m to establish bicycle hotels or other forms of bicycle parking to encourage more passengers to use bicycles to and from railway stations and transport hubs.

Freight

The government has proposed spending NKr 448m on special measures to improve rail freight conditions, including improving level crossings on the Kongsvinger line, upgrading the Alnabru freight terminal in Oslo, and the construction of passing loops at Bolstadøyri on the Vosse line and Ler on the Dovre line.

It is also planning to construct new passing loops at Bodung and Galterud on the Kongsvinger line, Bøn and Jessheim on the Hoved kine, Kirkenær on the Solør line, Løten on the Røros line and at Sandermosen on the Gjøvik line.

Earlier this year, the government introduced a three-year scheme to support freight operators struggling to compete with road transport, and has allocated NKr 88m to the programme in 2020. It has also allocated NKr 1.4bn towards the nationwide rollout of ERTMS, which is due to be completed by 2034.

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