Oslo Commuter Rail

Oslo Commuter Rail (

The system's predecessors date back to the opening of the Trunk Line in 1854. By 1902, all the routes used by the present commuter rail had been taken into service. Electrification started in 1922, and Class 62 EMUs were introduced in 1931, followed by Class 65 units in 1936 and Class 67 in 1953. Electrification was completed in 1963. In 1980, the Drammen Line was connected to the rest of the system and all trains started operating to the new Oslo S. The high-speed Gardermoen Line opened in 1998. In 2013, new Stadler FLIRT units were taken into traffic, and the Asker Line was completed just before. In 2022, the Follo Line was opened.

Traditionally, Oslo Commuter Rail were defined as train lines called "Lokaltog" (local trains) in Norwegian. Bun in 2022, a different definition was implemented. Only the two lines L1 and L2 are now defined as Lokaltog, and these go once per 15 minutes in each direction. All other lines in the network are now called "Regionaltog" (regional trains) and they have 30 or 60 minutes between departures and often take an hour from Oslo to the end station.

The Oslo Commuter Rail runs entirely on mainline railways owned and maintained by the Norwegian National Rail Administration. The commuter rail uses ten lines, utilizing a line length of 553 kilometers (344 mi).

Oslo S is the central hub of the commuter rail. Located in the central business district of Oslo, all lines either terminate at, or run through the station. From Oslo S, there are four main corridors. All trains running through the West Corridor continue along either the North, South or East Corridor. Because there are more services in the latter three, some of these terminate at Oslo S.^[5] The line numbers for the commuter and the regional lines are such that those going along the Eastern and Western corridor (beyond Stabekk) have 1 and 10–14, those going along the Southern corridor have 2 and 20–22, and for the Northern corridor 3 and 30.

Along the West Corridor, the Drammen Line runs straight into the

Lines R12, R13 and R14 only call at Sandvika before Asker, and use the Asker Line between the two stations. Line R14 terminates at Asker.^[5] After Asker Station, Line L1 branches off along the Spikkestad Line and calls at six stations in Asker and Røyken before terminating at Spikkestad Station.^[5] Spikkestad is 44 minutes^[9] and 37 kilometers (23 mi) from Oslo S.^[10] Lines R12 and R13 continue through the Lieråsen Tunnel and make two more stops (R13) before reaching Drammen. Line R13 terminates at Drammen.^[5] Drammen is 39 minutes^[11] and 42 kilometers (26 mi) from Oslo S.^[8] Lines R12 continue, along the Sørland- and the Vestfold Lines, calling at seven stops in Eiker and Kongsberg before terminating at Kongsberg Station (R12).

Along the East Corridor, Line L1 follows the Trunk Line and makes twelve stops serving suburban areas in Oslo, Lørenskog and Skedsmo before reaching Lillestrøm Station, where the line terminates.^[5] For Line L1, Lillestrøm is located 29 minutes^[7] and 21 kilometres (13 mi) from Oslo S.^[12] Lines R12, R13 and R14 use the Gardermoen Line and the Romerike Tunnel to run directly to Lillestrøm.^[13] From there, lines R12 and R13 run along the Trunk Line (R13) and the Gardermoen Line, making four (R13) and no stops, respectively. After Kløfta Station, Line R13 continues along the Trunk Line, making three more stops until terminating at Dal Station.^[5] Dal is 34 minutes^[14] and 57 kilometers (35 mi) from Oslo S.^[15] Line R12 calls at Oslo Airport Station and Eidsvoll Verk Station before terminating at Eidsvoll Station.^[5] Eidsvoll is 51 minutes^[13] and 64 kilometers (40 mi) from Oslo S.^[2] Line R14 branches from Lillestrøm and operates along the Kongsvinger Line. It calls at thirteen stations and enters Hedmark after Årnes Station.^[5] Årnes is 53 minutes^[16] and 58 kilometers (36 mi) from Oslo S.^[17] After Årnes, trains call at another station, Skarnes before reaching Kongsvinger Station,^[5] which is 1 hour and 10 minutes,^[16] and 100 kilometers (62 mi) from Oslo S.^[17]

Along the South Corridor, there is since end of 2022 a tunnel,

North of Oslo, NSB Gjøvikbanen operates along the Gjøvik Line. Trains operate either to Hakadal Station or Jaren Station (R31) or Gjøvik Station (RE30). The lines call at 17 (R31) or 16 (RE30) stations north of Oslo S.^[22][23] Hakadal is 43 minutes^[22] and 32 kilometers (20 mi) from Oslo S,^[24] while Jaren is 1 hour and 25 minutes,^[22] and 72 kilometers (45 mi) from Oslo S.^[24]

Seven of the lines are operated by Vy, owned by the

Two of the lines, L1 and L2, are designated as providing inner services. These operate along the Drammen Line to Asker, along the Trunk Line to Lillestrøm and the Østfold Line to Ski, stopping at all stations. The six other line, which make up the outer services, only make occasional stops on these sections. The inner services operate with a normal headway of 30 minutes, with 15 minutes offered in one direction during rush hour. In late evening and parts of the weekend, this is further reduced to 60 minutes. Vy's outer routes operate with a normal headway of 60 minutes, with rush-hour services offered at 30-minute intervals and late evening service provided every 120 minutes. Services between Årnes and Kongsvinger is limited to five daily services, and from Mysen to Rakkestad with four daily services.^[25] The Gjøvik Line runs with a 40-minute headway, with three different stopping patterns. One calls at all stations until Hakadal, one calls at most stations until Jaren, while one is an express service that runs the line's full length to Gjøvik.^[22]

Within Oslo and Akershus, Vy has an agreement with the public transport authority

Class 69 is a series of 88 two and three-car electric multiple units built by Strømmens Værksted between 1970 and 1993. A motor car has a power output of 1,188 kilowatts (1,593 hp), allowing a speed of 130 kilometers per hour (81 mph). Each car is 24.85 meters (81.5 ft) long, with motor cars weighing 64.0 to 53.9 tonnes (63.0 to 53.0 long tons; 70.5 to 59.4 short tons) and end cars weighing down to 28.8 tonnes (28.3 long tons; 31.7 short tons). Typical seating capacity is 96 passengers in the motor cars and 112 passengers in the end cars.^[34] The class was delivered in four versions, named A through D. After the initial delivery of fifteen 69As in 1970 and 1971, twenty 69Bs were delivered in 1974 and 1975. These were designed to operate on longer sections and were equipped with only one door per car. This turned out to extend stopping time too much, and the C and D versions were delivered with two doors per car. From 1975 to 1977, NSB took delivery of fourteen 69Cs and from 1983 to 1993 thirty-nine 69Ds. The latter is distinguishable because of its different front. Vy operates both two- and three-car sets, and up to three units can be run in multiple, allowing Vy to operate any train length from two to nine cars.^[35] Eighty-two units remain in service, although some of those are used on the Bergen Commuter Rail and the Arendal Line.^[36]

Class 62 was a series of four multiple units built in 1931 and 1933 by Skabo Jernbanevognfabrikk and Norsk Elektrisk & Brown Boveri (NEBB). The units had a power output of 344 kilowatts (461 hp), giving a top speed of 70 kilometers per hour (43 mph). The motor cars were built in wood, were 20.60 meters (67.6 ft) long, weighed 43.2 tonnes (42.5 long tons; 47.6 short tons) and seated 73 passengers. They ran mostly on the Drammen Line and were in service around Oslo from 1931 to 1953.^[39]

Class 65 and Class 67 were two similar series of electric multiple units, all built by Skabo and NEBB. Class 65 was delivered in three versions, named A through C. Class A and B were rebuilt passenger wagons. Fourteen units of Class 65A were built from 1936 to 1939 and had a wooden body. Thirteen units of Class 65B were delivered in 1941 and 1942 and was built with a steel frame. They were 22 centimeters (8.7 in) longer than the A-series. Twenty-two Class 65C units were built from 1949 to 1952. From 1949 to 1950, 17 middle and end cars were delivered for the Class 65 units.^[40] Class 67 was a series of 18 units built from 1953 to 1955. They had a slightly more advanced technological system, but were otherwise often run mixed with Class 65 units.^[41] The Class 65 motor cars had a power output of 464 kilowatts (622 hp) and a top speed of 70 kilometers per hour (43 mph). They were 20.70 meters (67.9 ft) long, weighed 42.5 to 46.6 tonnes (41.8 to 45.9 long tons; 46.8 to 51.4 short tons) and had a seating capacity for 66 passengers. Class 65 remained in service until 1993 and Class 67 until 1995.^[42]

Many Class 69 units were taken out from traffic in 2013–2015, replaced by Class 75 units.

The first part of what is now the Oslo Commuter Rail was the Trunk Line, which opened on 1 September 1854 between Oslo East Station (Oslo Ø, located at the same place as the current Oslo S), and Eidsvoll. The line was at first private, although it was nationalized in 1926.^[43] On 3 October 1862, the Kongsvinger Line opened from Lillestrøm to Kongsvinger.^[44] The Østfold Line opened from Oslo Ø to Moss and onwards to Halden on 2 January 1879,^[45] followed by the Eastern Østfold Line from Ski via Mysen to Sarpsborg on 24 November 1882.^[46]

West of Oslo, the first part of the current commuter rail was the

In 1903 and 1904, the Trunk Line was upgraded to double track.^[43] The section from Drammen to Kongsberg was converted to standard gauge on 1 November 1909.^[48][47] Between 1917 and 1920, dual gauge was laid between Oslo V and Drammen, and from 13 November 1922, the Drammen Line was entirely operated with standard gauge.^[50] The first electrification of NSB's lines was put into service on 26 October 1922 on the Drammen Line between Oslo V and Brakerøya.^[51] The section from Oslo V to Sandvika was upgraded to double track on 26 November 1922.^[50] From 1922, NSB introduced El 1-hauled passenger trains on the Drammen Line, and later other lines.^[52]

The next electrification occurred on the Trunk Line from Oslo Ø to Lillestrøm on 1 September 1927, the Randsfjord Line from Drammen to Kongsberg on 10 April 1929 and the Drammen Line from Drammen to Brakerøya on 6 May 1930.^[51] El 5 locomotives were acquired for the Trunk Line.^[53] Electric multiple units were put into service in 1931, with the delivery of four Class 62 units on the route from Oslo V to Sandvika. These proved not to be sufficiently powerful for the large traffic and were later moved to less used services from Oslo V to Asker or Heggedal.^[54] The class remained on the commuter rail service until 1953.^[55]

From 1936, NSB took delivery of

In the 1960s, NSB found the need for a new generation of trains.[61] Class 69 was built in aluminum and were longer, allowing for more passengers per car. They had a maximum speed of 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph); this had a significant cost impact, as it allowed not only faster travel time, but allowed the services from Oslo Ø to Lillestrøm and Ski to run fast enough to dispense with one third of the previous number of units. Combined with the increased size, NSB could replace three three-car trains with two two-car trains.^[62] At the same time, some smaller stops were terminated to allow faster travel time.^[63] Eighty-eight units were delivered in four series between 1970 and 1993, with later series having a three-car configuration.^[34] On 3 June 1973, the 10.7-kilometer (6.6 mi) long Lieråsen Tunnel opened, shortening the Drammen Line by 11.7 kilometers (7.3 mi). The 13.7-kilometer (8.5 mi) long section from Asker to Spikkestad was kept as a branch line, and named the Spikkestad Line, while the section from Spikkestad to Brakerøya was removed.^[64]

The Oslo Tunnel opened on 30 May 1980, connecting the Drammen Line to Oslo Ø. Initially, only the Lillestrøm– Drammen/Spikkestad lines used the tunnel, in addition to some services from Eidsvoll and Årnes to Skøyen. At the same time, Oslo Ø was rebuilt to the 19-platform Oslo S, which was put into service on 26 November 1986.^[65] Oslo V was closed on 27 May 1989.^[66]

In 1993, NSB received a large delivery of middle cars for the majority of the Class 69 units, allowing NSB to operate them as three-car trains.

In 2011, the Asker Line from Lysaker to Sandvika, and a new Lysaker Station opened. This increased the capacity and regularity along the Drammen Line.[76] The opening of four tracks at Lysaker will allow NSB to run all local trains that previously have run to Skøyen all the way to Lysaker. The closed Høvik Station will be used to turn trains. The Oslo Tunnel remains the bottleneck west of Oslo, so no more trains can run westwards, although more will be able to continue past Skøyen.^[77]

In 2008, NSB ordered 50 Stadler FLIRT multiple units, to be designated Class 74 and 75, and later 16 more Class 75. 42 of these, class 75, have a commuter train configuration. NSB holds an option for an additional 84 units. The trains have a maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour (120 mph) and a faster acceleration than the older classes. The combination of the Asker Line and more rolling stock allows NSB to operate a more aggressive service after a major restructuring of the lines in 2012. In particular, there are between five and seven-minute headway on the sections between Asker and Lillestrøm, and a twenty-minute headway to Oslo Airport and Eidsvoll.^[78]

In December 2022, the Follo Line was opened. It is a 22.5-kilometer (14.0 mi) long line, is built nearly entirely in a single tunnel, and will connect Oslo Central Station directly with Ski and will allow speeds at 200 kilometers per hour (120 mph). It will allow higher speeds and capacity southwards for the lines to Moss and Rakkestad, as well as regional trains to Østfold and Sweden.^[79] The line was scheduled for completion in 2022.^[80]

At this time, December 2022, several of the local lines which went farther from Oslo and typically with departures once per hour, were redefined as regional trains and got a letter R instead of L in their name. The line previously called regional trains were renamed to regional express, from R to RE first in their names. These lines go well over 100 km from Oslo to Lillehammer, Skien and Halden.

Parliament has passed the Ringerike Line, which would run from Sandvika to Hønefoss Station on the Bergen Line. While mainly proposed as a shortening of the Bergen Line, the line would double up as a commuter train line, allowing Hønefoss and Ringerike significantly faster public transport to the capital area. The line would be 40 kilometers (25 mi) long and allow speeds of 200 kilometers per hour (120 mph). However, no financing has been secured for the project.^[81]

In 2021, the government planned to procure a train operator for around half of the commuter and regional rail around Oslo, and in 2023 an operator for the other half, instead of having NSB/Vy to operate the traffic by definition.^[82] In 2019–20 long-distance traffic and local traffic around west coast cities in Norway were procured in a similar way. This is delayed, and the national company Vy was selected for continued monopoly for a new period.