Ringeriksbanen (Ringeriks rail) is part of the InterCity initiative and together with E16 Høgkastet-Hønefoss, it is the largest joint venture for road and rail in Norway. Ringeriksbanen will shorten the journey time by train between Hønefoss and Oslo by almost an hour. At the same time, the journey time with the Bergen railway is also cut by an hour.
The Government has decided that the Ringeriks rail and new E 16 highway from Høgkastkastet south of Sundvollentil Hønefoss will be planned as a joint project. The planning process will be implemented as a governmental plan, which significantly reduces planning time.
According to the National Transport Plan (NTP) 2018-2029, construction for Ringeriksbanen and E16 starts in 2021 or 2022. The new line will be put in operation in 2026.
According to the rail project, 40 kilometers of dual track between Sandvika and Hønefoss will be built and trains should run at 250 km/h. About 23 km of railway tunnel from Sandvika (at Jong) to Sundvollen and an approximately 3 kilometers tunnel northwest of Sundvollen will also be built. A new railway station will be established at Sundvollen.
The cost of the entire project is calculated at NOK 26 billion (EUR 2.7 billion).
“Better infrastructure will make the entire country easier and safer to travel, will provide increased mobility and increased competitiveness. None of us know the future, but we must make sure we are ready for it. Therefore, we propose spending NOK 1,064 billion (EUR 110 billion) over the next 12 years on modernizing the infrastructure and developing safer, more efficient and greener transport solutions” Minister of Transport, Ketil Solvik-Olsen, said.
Out of the NOK 1,064 billion (EUR 110 billion) transport investments NOK 319 billion (EUR 33 billion) are dedicated for rail projects within 2018-2029 period.
Shorter travel times and the possibility of more train routes around the major cities are important initiatives. For passengers on the InterCity routes between Oslo and Skien, Halden and Lillehammer, the offer will be better as new double-track stretches are completed. As above-said, the construction of Ringeriksbanen opens a new train service to Hønefoss. In Trøndelag, the electrification of Trønder and Meråkerbanen will facilitate a more environmentally friendly local offer with a greater capacity. In Western Norway, double-track construction on the Arna-Stanghelle line will provide a faster and safer train service for the local train on Vossebanen. Many of the measures provide reduced travel times for the railways between Oslo and the other major cities. At the same time, there will be enough investments for upgrading the Nordlandsbanen and Ofotbanen, which will be among the first sections equipped with the modern signaling system- ERTMS.
“In order to make it possible for more goods to be transported, a sharp effort is required. In this transport plan we have therefore put together a separate package of measures. Rail electrification, new rail links, construction and upgrading of terminals and more crossing tracks is important for strengthening the competitive edge of rail freight transport” Minister Solvik-Olsen added.
Better plan for Western Norway
According to the National Transport Plan, the Government has a strong commitment to rail, and facilitates an even better train service with major travel cuts, the possibility of more departures and a safer train service. Both locals on Voss rail and travelers on Bergen- Oslo line will get a better offer.
The National Transport Plan envisages a better possibility of train frequency increase from two to four trains per hour on the Bergen-Arna route in 2022. The improved train service can be introduced at the completion of continuous double-tracks between Bergen and Arna stations.
There will be safer and more efficient winding up of traffic, with better punctuality and regularity, when the new ERTMS system is put into operation on Bergen Railway. The measure is scheduled for completion in 2022/2023.
New Flirt trains will replace the old rolling stock on the Bergen-Voss-Myrdal local train route. It will provide both increased comfort and improved reliability.
Travel time will get better for local and long-distance trains with an estimated frequency of 10-15 minutes and the possibility for more departures for local trains on Voss rail when the double track between Arna and Stanghelle is completed just after the end of the planning period, in 2029. The project is planned partly developed with E16 highway.
The Transport Ministry will find solutions that will cut costs and enable faster implementation of the project.
The Norwegian Government also announced a set of measures aimed at reforming the transport sector. Among these measures, a new infrastructure fund has been established in order to promote predictable and long term financing of infrastructure projects. The fund has accumulated NOK 100 billion (EUR 10.3 billion).
The National Transport Plan 2018-2029 is a plan for how the next twelve years will work towards the overall and long-term goal of transport policy, which is a transport system that is safe and contributes to conversion to a low-emission society. This goal sets out the direction for the development of the transport system by 2050 and provides the framework for the efforts in this future Transport Plan.
To meet the challenges and opportunities that arise from rapid technological development in the transport sector, the National Transport Plan underlines the need for strengthened efforts in research, innovation and demonstration activities. At the same time, international cooperation is needed, both with regard to R&D and standardisation/regulation. The latter is vital in order to facilitate a safe and fast deployment of new solutions. For Norway, cooperation with the European Union (even though the Nordic State is not part of the EU) is important for staying ahead in this field.
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