Bane NOR celebrated the launch of the newest ERTMS on Gjøvik Line North, between Roa and Gjøvik, an Oslo commuter line, passing through Oslo’s Nordmarka woodlands and terminates at Gjøvik, on Lake Mjøsa.
“A historic milestone has been achieved on the Gjøvik Line. The introduction of ERTMS is the largest digitization program being implemented in Norway. With ERTMS on this section, we have a solid foundation for further rollout to the rest of the country. This provides both us at Bane NOR and the other affected parties with valuable operational experience and confidence for the further rollout that will take place in the coming years,” Sverre Kjenne, Executive Vice President Digitalisation and Technology at Bane NOR, said.
The Gjøvik Line North, spanning 67 km from Roa to Gjøvik, now operates without traditional trackside signals. Instead, real-time data from the onboard ETCS Level 2 system enhances passenger experience and reliability through electronic monitoring, reducing infrastructure costs while at the same time increasing line capacity and availability.
ERTMS will contribute to a safe railway with reduced maintenance requirements and also facilitate increased capacity on the track. On the Gjøvik Line, the effect for train passengers will come quickly as starting December 15, when the new timetable will enter effect, there will be hourly departures between Oslo and Gjøvik.
To support ERTMS in full operation on the Gjøvik Line North, Siemens Mobility has deployed an extensive infrastructure network, including 103 axle counters, nine level crossings, and 399 balises. Additionally, stations have been modernized with new equipment and centralized operations, replacing old relay systems with a single Central Computer Facility (CCF) for improved reliability and reduced maintenance demands.
“The digitalisation of the signaling system on the Gjøvik Line is an important step for Bane NOR in modernising the railway network. Now that we are operational on the Gjøvik Line, we are laying the foundation for more capacity and better punctuality, which all train travelers will benefit from. Siemens Mobility is proud to be a partner to Bane NOR in this project and looks forward to this technology being rolled out on the rest of the railway network,” Birger Steffensen, CEO of Siemens Mobility Norway, said.
With the new digital signalling technology, Norway is moving to a data and communication-based signaling system deployed on both trackside and on-board. This results in less equipment in and along the track and reduces the risk of errors, while delivering an integrated and smooth train traffic.
“We at Hitachi Rail are proud to be part of Bane NOR’s digitalisation strategy with the delivery of the Traffic Management System (TMS). We are very pleased that passengers will receive better predictability and capacity in the train service. We look forward to further developing the ERTMS solution together with Bane NOR in the years to come,” Jean Saupin, CEO of Hitachi Rail GTS Norway said.
“At Alstom, we are proud to have contributed to the first major milestone for the installation of ERTMS in Norway, with Alstom ETCS onboard technology in the trains on the Gjøvik Line. Now our team looks forward to being continued good cooperation with Bane NOR and all rolling stock owners, on further digitalization of Norwegian railways,” Carl Åge Bjørgan, CEO of Alstom Norway, said.
The deployment of the ERTMS on the Gjøvik Line is a milestone for the renewal of Norway’s railway signalling system programme, country’s largest digitalisation project. The programme includes all railway lines in the country totalling more than 4,200 km of tracks and more than 350 stations.
The current National Signalling Plan, which provides an overview of the sequence and year for the rollout of ERTMS, is to be revised. A new plan will be submitted for consultation at the end of the year and will be available in an updated version during the first quarter of 2025.
Over a 2-decade period, Bane NOR would invest more than EUR 2 billion in digitalisation and automated signalling system.
Also in 2018, Siemens Mobility was commissioned to install interlocking systems, outdoor facilities, and the ETCS L2 across the entire network. The commissioning of all lines will be completed by 2034.
In 2018, Bane Nor awarded Alstom a contract to equip the entire Norwegian rolling stock with ERTMS on-board train control solution and to maintain the system for up to 25 years. The contract includes on-board solution on 467 trains of 55 different types, which are owned by 14 different owners.
As early as 2015, the 80 km Eastern Østfold Line (Østfoldbanen) was put into use as a trial section with an early version of ERTMS. Since then, Bane Nor and involved parties gained experience from the initial signalling version to the current one. The version that has now been commissioned on the Gjøvik Line lays the foundation for further development and deployment of ERTMS on Norway’s other railway lines. As this signalling system is further developed, the sections that have already received ERTMS will be upgraded continuously.
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