Ofotbanen (company)

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the railway line, see
Ofot Line
.

Ofotbanen Drift AS
Rail Management
Websitewww.ofotbanen.no
(out of service)

Ofotbanen Drift AS, trading as Ofotbanen, was a Norwegian passenger and freight railway company. The company operated a fleet of six locomotives, three multiple units, 22 passenger and 48 freight cars. The sole service was the passenger train Unionsexpressen between Oslo and Stockholm; it had previously offered freight haulage on contract.

The company was founded in 2001, and took over Norges Statsbaner's (NSB) passenger operation of the Ofoten Line in 2003. The following year it entered the freight market, in particular with timber trains for Norske Skog. It further expanded into other services, such as charter trips. In 2006, the company almost went bankrupt, and was taken over by Rail Management. In 2007, the automotive distributor Autolink started purchasing the autorack operations from Ofotbanen, and at the same time bought 40% of the company. 2008 saw a dramatic decline in operations, as both the Norske Skog, Autolink and passenger train services were terminated. In April the company started service with the Unionexpressen between Oslo and Stockholm. The company went bankrupt in October, but was immediately re-established as Ofotbanen Drift. In May 2010, the new company filed for bankruptcy.

Operation

El 13 hauling a passenger train

The company was based in Narvik, a city that is only connected to the rest of the Norwegian railway network through Sweden. The company was led by CEO Terje Østensen and Chairman Thor Ask Terkelsen.[1]

Unionsexpressen

Main article: Unionsexpressen

The Union Express is a passenger train service between the Norwegian and Swedish capitals of Oslo and Stockholm. The service was a cooperation between Ofotbanen and the Swedish company Scandinavian Railway. In competition with SJ, it operates one daily round trip, in 5 hours 45 minutes, between Oslo and Stockholm, using renovated stock from the 1960s. While more expensive than SJ, the service aims at being more luxurious. One of the four cars is a traditional dining car, and the company markets the product as a first-class only service. Each train has a capacity of 84 riders, and provides perks such as Wi-Fi and 2+1 seating. The service has not operated since 7 October 2008, due to the bankruptcy in Ofotbanen, and SJ no longer being willing to rent out locomotives to the company.[2]

Rolling stock

The company had five Di 3 diesel locomotives,[3] and a single El 13 electric locomotive.[4] Ofotbanen had 22 B3 passenger carriages, used for charter trains.[5] These were supplemented by three two-car Class 68 electric multiple units.[6] The 48 freight cars the company used were owned by Nord-Norsk Spedisjon. Of these, 19 were timber cars.[7] All stock was painted dark green. All motorized stock was used stock that NSB has chosen to take out of service.

Class Type Quantity Built Power Speed Notes
Di 3 Di 3[3] Diesel locomotive 5 1957–69 1,305 kW (1,750 hp) 105 km/h (65 mph)
El 13[4][8] Electric locomotive 1 1958 2,648 kW (3,551 hp) 100 km/h (62 mph)
Class 68[9] Electric multiple unit 3 1958–60 640 kW (860 hp) 100 km/h (62 mph)
Z71[10] Diesel shunter 5 1961–68 333 kW (447 hp) 70 km/h (43 mph) Sold to Cargolink in 2008

History

Establishment

Ofotbanen AS was founded on 20 March 2001.

Class 93 trains were out of service. NSB paid the whole purchase price for the six-month rental.[13][14]

In 2003, NSB announced that they wanted to discontinue their operations in Narvik, hoping they could leave operation of passenger trains on the Ofot Line to Ofotbanen.

Norwegian Railway Inspectorate to Ofotbanen on 11 June.[18]

Expansion

The El 13 and Di 3 are the haulage locomotives used by Ofotbanen.

In 2003, the company managed to cover it costs, and the company stated that it hoped to have a revenue of NOK 30 million the following year, through an ambitious expansion plan. A private offering for NOK 8 million was issued to allow this expansion.[19] Among the purchasers was the Municipality of Narvik and Narvik Port Authority. In March, Chair Rune Arnøy was forced to withdraw after accusations of conflict of interest, since he was both chair of Ofotbanen and harbormaster at the Port of Narvik. CargoNet, a freight competitor of Ofotbanen, had felt that they were being unfairly treated by the port after the municipality had bought shares in Ofotbanen and appointed Arnøy as chair.[20] The legality of the port's purchase of the shares was considered by the Norwegian Coastal Administration; though deemed legal, the port authority was required to sell the shares within three years.[21] In April, Ofotbanen received a permit to operate in Sweden, and started offering charter trains between Narvik and Kiruna in Sweden, primarily for cruise ship passengers.[22] It also announced that it was going to bid for the public service obligations for subsidized passenger railway transport that the government was planning to conduct in 2006.[23] In June, Ofotbanen received permission to operate freight trains throughout the entire railway network in Norway. This was the first time such permission was granted to a different company than NSB or its subsidiaries.[24]

In September, Ofotbanen was one of six companies prequalified to bid for the first public service obligation tender on the

Norwegian National Rail Administration in Narvik since 1999, accused the municipality of illegally subsidizing Ofotbanen through providing the company with subsidized rent for their workshops. Ofotbanen had just won the public tender for the contract, and the company threatened to take the municipality to court for violation of competition laws. The matter was soon resolved, without the courts being involved.[28] In December, the government granted permission for Ofotbanen to operate charter trains throughout the entire railway network.[29]

By November 2004, the largest owners of Ofotbanen were Cargo Nor (26.1%), the Municipality of Narvik (12.5%), Narvik Port (12.5%) and Moe Media (8.5%). In addition, employees had bought shares for more than NOK 1 million. During a general meeting on 13 December 2004, a capital placement was initiated for NOK 5.2 million. An anonymous, British consortium named GB Group bought a 36% stake for NOK 2.5 million. In 2004, the company had a revenue of NOK 20 million.[30][31] The following general assembly in December 2005, GB Group made a private placement of NOK 11.7 million in Ofotbanen, increasing the consortium's ownership to 52%.[32]

Ofotbanen has three Class 68 electric multiple units

Freight transport started in 2004, when an agreement with

Gudrun storm, and the contract gave a revenue of NOK 20 million.[37]

Troubles

In April 2006, Ofotbanen declared that they were in severe financial difficulties. Accounts payable were giving liquidity problems, and Ofotbanen announced that they needed more capital, estimated at NOK 8 million.[38] GB Group said they were not willing to invest more money in the railway company. Ofotbanen had then been losing money continually since the start-up in 2001; in 2004, it had a deficit of NOK 4 million of a NOK 20 million revenue.[39] At the extraordinary general meeting on 4 September 2006, the company was sold for NOK 1 million to Rail Management, a holding company for the London-based shipping owner Mons Bolin.[40][41][42] In November, the Norwegian Rail Inspectorate threatened to withdraw the company's safety license, since they had failed to show proper maintenance of the rolling stock.[43]

On 31 January 2007, Autolink—Norway's largest distributor of automobiles—bought 40% of Ofotbanen, and transferred their train haulage contract to them. This made Autolink Ofotbanen's largest customer.[44] In March, Autolink ordered an additional 70 new autoracks for NOK 175 million.[45] In June 2007, a new report from the Rail Inspectorate showed that Ofotbanen had severe safety problems—the company was using engineers without necessary licenses, and was not performing safety analysis. Director of the inspectorate, Erik Ø. Johnsen, stated that the inspectorate did not believe that Ofotbanen was taking safety seriously. CEO of Ofotbanen, Terje Østensen, felt that the issues taken up by the inspectorate were mere formalities, and that it was difficult to make necessary documentation, stating that in his opinion, none of the procedures criticized actually influenced safety.[46]

From the beginning of 2008, Ofotbanen lost two important contracts. All the timber contracts with Norske Skog were transferred to CargoNet and

Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications for the 40 km (25 mi) section on the Norwegian side of the border. Therefore, SJ started operating trains all the way to Narvik, and Ofotbanen lost the contract of operating the trains on the Norwegian side of the border. Ofotbanen had been receiving NOK 4.5 million in subsidies from NSB for the operation from 15 June.[48]

Unionsexpressen

Main article: Unionsexpressen
The Union Express at Lillestrøm

With the termination of NSB and SJ cooperation Linx on the Oslo–Stockholm route in January 2005, Ofotbanen announced they would be willing to take over operation of the route from the summer.[49] However, SJ and NSB held monopolies on non-subsidized passenger trains services in their respective countries, and it would not be possible for a private company to operate the route.[50] In May 2007, the company announced its plans for the Oslo–Stockholm train, after necessary permissions had been granted from Norwegian and Swedish authorities. By then, SJ had already reopened its route on the line.[51] In March 2008, plans had been launched to start operations in April, but Ofotbanen had not met the requirements to get a safety licence from the inspectorate.[52] The company rented rolling stock from SJ, including an Rc locomotives, and newly renovated cars from the 1960s. The service was a cooperation between Ofotbanen and the Swedish company Scandinavian Railway.[53][54]

The necessary certificates were granted on 10 April, and the first trial run was made the following day. Ordinary service started on 25 April, though without the dining car. The initial price was NOK 422, and travel time was 5 hours 45 minutes. The trains have four cars, of which three are regular open seating, and one is a dining car.[55] From 15 June, full service was introduced. The company stated that the service was meant to be more luxurious than with SJ, including wider seating (three instead of four abreast) and a wooden interior. The company markets the service as all first-class seating. The trains also had Wi-Fi. After the full service was introduced, the price increased to NOK 593.[56][57] By July, Ofotbanen had still not found a locomotive for the second train, and was still operating only a single round service. Passenger numbers were at 35 per departure, not close to the capacity of 84, or the necessary annual 100,000 needed to make a profit.[58]

Bankruptcy

In July 2008, Autolink canceled their contract with Ofotbanen.[59] Two weeks later, Autolink announced that they would establish their own railway company, which they had been working with since March. They stated that the deal with Ofotbanen was discontinued because Rail Management would not allow additional private placements of capital, nor sell their shares to Autolink.[60] From 29 July, all automotive trains stopped running, and no cars were transported for ten days. The same day, all board members in Ofotbanen representing Autolink withdrew from their positions.[61]

Cargolink has taken over five Z71 shunters from Ofotbanen

The matter ended in court, concerning if Autolink should be allowed to take control over four train radios that were located in locomotives owned by Autolink, but operated by Ofotbanen. In a shareholder agreement between Autolink and Rail Management, the ownership of the train radios had been transferred to Autolink, but the agreement has clauses that specified that Autolink could not start a competing railway company. Stating that Autolink had been disloyal with regard to the contract,

shunters from Ofotbanen for NOK 12 million, of which NOK 9.5 million was paid by Autolink deleting debt.[63] On 18 September, Autolink won the appeal in Hålogaland Court of Appeal, where Ofotbanen was convicted of stealing four radios.[64]

Ofotbanen lost their license from the

Norwegian Railway Inspectorate on 7 October 2008 at 12:00. This was because Ofotbanen had not documented necessary accounting for 2007, nor provided evidence of necessary liquidity.[65] On 24 October, the company filed for bankruptcy.[66][67]

Autolink had already founded their company Cargolink on 27 March,[62][68] and received an operating and safety licence from the inspectorate on 18 September.[69] They took control over the five shunters they owned, in addition to leasing ten Di 6 diesel locomotives.[70] Operations started on 2 November, when all autorack trains were taken over by the new company.[71][72]

Rebirth

Immediately after the bankruptcy, Rail Management established a new company, Ofotbanen Drift AS, to take over the estate in bankruptcy. They also stated that the cause of the bankruptcy was that Autolink had not let them make a private placement of NOK 10 million.[73] The new company received an operation and safety licence from the inspectorate in January 2009, and plans to start operation again in February.[74][75] On 9 April 2010, the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate withdrew Ofotbanen's operating certificate because it was not economically sound to operate.[76] The company filed for bankruptcy in May, after the Norwegian Tax Administration could not claim NOK 700,000 in due taxes.[77]

References

  1. ^ Ofotbanen. "Styret" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 8 October 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  2. ^ Unionsexpressen. "Ny och viktig information". Retrieved 24 January 2009. [dead link]
  3. ^ a b Ofotbanen. "Di3 NOHAB" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  4. ^ a b Norwegian Railway Club. "El 13" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  5. ^ Ofotbanen. "Passasjervogner" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 4 August 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  6. ^ Ofotbanen. "BM 68 23-89" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 5 August 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  7. ^ Ofotbanen. "Lis godsvogner" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 6 August 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  8. ^ Ofotbanen. "Typetegning El 13" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 11 December 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  9. ^ Jernbane.net. "NSB Motorvogn Type 68" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  10. ^ Järnväg.net. "Z65/Z70/DAL" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  11. ^ Brønnøysund Register Centre. "OFOTBANEN AS" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  12. ^ Skundberg, Berit B. (31 January 2002). "Snytt for kjøp av diesellokomotiv til godsfrakt". Østlendingen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009. [dead link]
  13. ^ "Seks av 11 Agenda-tog ute av drift". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 11 January 2002. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  14. ^ Holm, Per Annar (24 January 2002). "NSB solgte tog billig, må nå leie dem dyrt". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  15. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (20 March 2003). "Får ikke overta etter NSB" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original
    on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  16. ^ Boarding.no (29 May 2003). "Ofotbanen AS overtar på Ofotbanen" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  17. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (28 May 2003). "Ofotbanen får drive Ofotbanen" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original
    on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  18. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (11 June 2003). "Ja til Ofotbanen"
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  19. ^ Dagens Næringsliv (18 February 2004). "Trenger penger til jernbane" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  20. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (17 March 2004). "Havnestrid i Narvik" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original
    on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  21. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (18 May 2004). "Brøt ikke loven"
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  22. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (2 April 2004). "Får kjøre til Kiruna" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original
    on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  23. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (19 March 2004). "Vil utfordre NSB"
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  24. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (30 June 2004). "Ofotbanen utvider godstrafikken"
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  25. ^ Norwegian News Agency (3 August 2004). "NSB må konkurrere om togtransport". Dagens Næringsliv (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  26. ^ Norwegian News Agency (7 February 2005). "Tre selskaper har lagt inn anbud på Gjøvikbanen". Norwegian News Agency.
  27. ^ Nilsen, Terje (31 May 2005). "I gang om et år". Oppland Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2006.
  28. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (1 September 2004). "Vurderer søksmål mot kommunen"
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  29. ^ Veigård, Erik (17 December 2004). "Ofotbanen tilbyr chartertog". Norwegian News Agency.
  30. ^ Evensen, Kjell (14 December 2004). "Briter inn i Ofotbanen". Dagens Næringsliv. p. 29.
  31. ^ a b Evensen, Kjell (17 December 2004). "Britiske investorer tar makt i Ofotbanen". Dagens Næringsliv. p. 24.
  32. ^ Angelsen, Kjell Magne (12 December 2005). "Britisk oppkjøp i Ofotbanen AS". Harstad Tidende.
  33. ^ Blikø, Trond (14 April 2006). "Massevirke på skinner". Trønder-Avisa (in Norwegian).
  34. ^ Telemarksavisa (10 August 2005). "Norske Skog satser i Halden og Skogn" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009. [dead link]
  35. ^ Boarding.no (27 November 2004). "Ofotbanen AS overtar på Ofotbanen" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  36. ^ Forbord, Arne (12 January 2005). "Sparer millioner på konkurranse på bane". Rana Blad (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  37. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  38. ^ Norwegian News Agency (24 April 2006). "Ofotbanen i krise". Norwegian News Agency.
  39. ^ Normannsen, Sølvi W. (26 April 2006). "Må ha åtte mill. for å komme på rett spor". Dagens Næringsliv. p. 17.
  40. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  41. ^ Lien, Kjersti (4 August 2006). "Nye eiere i Ofotbanen" (in Norwegian). Harstad Tidende. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  42. ^ Foss, Andreas Bakke & Strøm-Gundersen, Tone Tveøy (4 March 2008). "Rederne tar toget – Vil ha miljøvennlig transport For dårlig kapasitet i Norge". Aftenposten. p. Økonomi 4.
  43. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  44. ^ Moe, Kjetil (19 February 2007). "Autolink inn i Ofotbanen AS". Ofotens Tidende (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  45. ^ Westman, Monica (14 May 2007). "Stororder till järnvägsvagn för bilar". Ny Teknik (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  46. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  47. ^ Bråthen, Øystein (19 December 2007). "Mer tømmer på skinner". Aktuell (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  48. ^ Bråthen, Øystein (8 January 2008). "Oppsagt etter anbud". Aktuell (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  49. ^ Rapp, Ole Magnus (5 January 2005). "Vil overta ruten Oslo-Stockholm". Aftenposten. p. 14.
  50. ^ "Rødt lys for Stockholm-tog". Aftenposten Aften. Norwegian News Agency. 14 February 2005. p. 8.
  51. ^ Halvorsen, Bjørn Egil (1 May 2007). "Ta Ofotbanen Oslo-Stockholm". Aftenposten. Aftenposten Aften. p. 8.
  52. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (19 March 2008). "Togselskap får ikke godkjenning"
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  53. ^ Krog, Klaes (8 February 2008). "Ofotbanen satser: Nytt tog til Stockholm". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  54. ^ Moss Avis (14 March 2008). "Åpner togrute Oslo–Stockholm" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  55. ^ Boarding.no (26 April 2008). ""Unionsexpressen" har startet Oslo – Stockholm" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  56. ^ Larsen, Fredrik (6 May 2008). "Tog-krig mellom Norge og Sverige". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  57. ^ Reiseredaksjonen (17 July 2008). "Luksusen er på skinner". Din Side (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  58. ^ Hagesæther, Pål V. (21 July 2008). "Sliter med billettsalget". Aftenposten. p. 12.
  59. ^ Moe, Kjetil (1 July 2008). "Usikker fremtid for biltogkjøringen". Ofotens Tidende (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  60. ^ Hansen, Fritz (1 July 2008). "- OBAS går under". Fremover (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  61. ^ Drammens Tidende (22 July 2008). "Autolink i bitter togkrig" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  62. ^
    Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  63. ^ Berg, Hilde (26 July 2008). "Må gå gjennom avtalene". Ofotens Tidende (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  64. ^ Fremover (18 September 2008). "Seier til Autolink i lagmannsretten" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  65. Norwegian Railway Inspectorate (7 October 2008). "Tilsynet varsler tilbakekall av lisens for Ofotbanen" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009. [dead link
    ]
  66. ^ Brønnøysund Register Centre (28 October 2008). "Konkurs – åpning" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  67. ^ Godø, Knut (24 October 2008). "Ofotbanen konkurs". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  68. ^ Brønnøysund Register Centre. "Cargolink AS" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  69. Norwegian Railway Inspectorate. "CargoLink AS" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original
    on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  70. ^ "Byens første togselskap". Drammens Tidende (in Norwegian). 25 October 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  71. ^ "Klar til avgang". Drammens Tidende (in Norwegian). 12 December 2008. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
  72. ^ "Premiere for Cargolink". Drammens Tidende (in Norwegian). 17 December 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  73. ^ Fremover (24 October 2008). "Starter på nytt" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  74. Norwegian Railway Inspectorate (15 January 2009). "Lisens og sikkerhetssertifikat til Ofotbanen Drift AS" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009. [dead link
    ]
  75. ^ Hansen, Fritz (14 January 2009). "Har fått lisens". Fremover (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  76. ^ "Full stans for Ofotbanen Drift". Fremover (in Norwegian). 13 April 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  77. ^ Hansen, Fritz (13 April 2010). "Ofotbanen konkurs". Fremover (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ofotbanen AS.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ofotbanen_(company)&oldid=1141605685"