Holmenkoll Line.html



Holmenkoll Line
Train bound for Frognerseteren crossing the street at Vinderen
Overview
Type	Rapid transit
System	Oslo Metro
Termini	Majorstuen Frognerseteren
Stations	19
Operation
Opened	1898
Owner	Kollektivtransportproduksjon
Operator(s)	Oslo T-banedrift
Rolling stock	T1300 T2000
Technical
No. of tracks	Double
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	750 V DC (overhead)
Operating speed	70 km/h (43 mph)
Highest elevation	469.0 m (1,538.7 ft)
Route map Legend Tryvandshøiden planned 14,3 km Frognerseteren 1916 469.0 m 13,7 km Voksenkollen 1916 460.0 m 12,7 km Lillevann 1916 425.0 m 11,9 km Skogen 1916 378.0 m 10,8 km Vokenlia 1916 330.5 m 9,8 km Holmenkollen 1916 277.7 m 9,1 km Besserud 1898 242.2 m 8,4 km Midstuen 1898 223.3 m 7,9 km Skådalen 1898 206.9 m 7,5 km Vettakollen 1898 196.7 m 7,0 km Gulleråsen 1898 181.7 m 6,6 km Gråkammen 1898 170.1 m 5,9 km Slemdal 1898 144.6 m Engerjordet ?–1935 5,2 km Ris 1898 121.3 m 4,7 km Gaustad 1898 101.4 m 4,2 km Vinderen 1898 86.6 m 3,8 km Steinerud 1900 75.6 m 3,2 km Frøen 1898 59.7 m Kolsås- and Røa Line Ring- and Sognsvann Line 2.7 km Majorstuen 1898 47.7 m Common Tunnel Valkyrie plass 1928–1985 Homansbyen planned 0.7 km Nationaltheatret (1928) 5.4 m. transfer to Drammen Line 0.0 km Stortinget 1977 −9 m.

The Holmenkoll Line (Norwegian: Holmenkollbanen) is a light rail line on the Oslo Metro network which runs from Majorstuen and up to Frognerseteren in Oslo, Norway. It is the oldest line on the network, the line which runs highest up and the line with fewest passengers. Even though it is part of the subway network, the line does not run through any tunnels. The Holmenkoll Line is as of 2005 served by Line 1, which goes from Helsfyr in the east.

History

The line was opened on 31 May 1898 as a tram line between Majorstuen and Besserud. The line was extended to Frognerseteren on 16 May 1916, and the tunnel between Majorstuen and Nationaltheatret, now part of the shared downtown subway stretch, was opened 6 June 1928, which was the first subway line in Scandinavia.

On 22 October 1987, the line suffered a fatal accident when a train suffered a catastrophic failure in the braking system and rolled down the line, finally tipping over at Midtstuen. The accident killed one person and seriously injured four others. The accident led to scrutiny of the safety of the old teak cars which were used on the line. The old trains were pulled from service, but reintroduced after some refits of the cars until new trains were delivered in 1993.¹²

Until 1991, A/S Holmenkolbanen was the company responsible for the operations of the line, but the company was then merged with Oslo Sporveier. In a cost saving measure between 2002 and 2004, the line was taken off the downtown shared stretch and ran only between Majorstuen and Frognerseteren.

Upgrade

Since Oslo will be hosting the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 at Holmenkollen, the line is as of 2009 being upgraded. This includes a switch from overhead lines to a third rail system which can accommodate the newer trains, new crossings and a new bridge at Besserud. A new Holmenkollen station will also be built.

Due to this work, the line north of Besserud is closed until the upgrades are completed in 2011 and replaced with a bus. During the summer months, the entire line is closed, and replaced with a main bus service between Majorstuen and Frognerseteren, with a minibus branch from Midstuen serving Voksenlia, Skogen, and Lillevann.³

Operations

The Holmenkoll Line is powered by overhead lines, and trains switch the system from third rail at Frøen. There are numerous level crossings along the line as well. Platforms on Holmenkollbanen are shorter than any other on the subway network, and can only accommodate two-car trains.

Since the line does not run through densely populated parts of Oslo, the traffic on the line is usually lighter than on any other line. However, there is a large amount of seasonal tourist traffic. The line itself is a tourist attraction since it climbs to over 400 metres (1,300 ft) providing a view over Oslo, and the Holmenkollen ski jump and Tryvannstårnet are also attractions along the line.

The main rolling stock on the Holmenkoll Line is the T2000 train which was delivered in 1993, replacing the old teak cars. To supplement this, some trains are also operated with older T1300 type stock.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Holmenkollbanen