Randsfjorden Line

Randsfjorden Line

The opening of Randsfjordbanen in 1868
Overview
Native name Randsfjordbanen
Type Railway
System Rail transport in Norway
Termini Drammen Station
Randsfjord Station
Operation
Opened 1866 (to Vikersund)
1868 (to Randsfjorden)
Owner Norwegian National Rail Administration
Operator(s) Norwegian State Railways
Character Long-haul passenger traffic
Rolling stock BM 73
Technical
Line length 87 kilometres (54 mi)
Number of tracks 1
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification 15 kV  16 2⁄3 Hz AC
Operating speed Max. 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph)
Route map
Legend
 142.41 km Randsfjord Station(1868) 141.4 m asl
 Styggdal(1931)
 140.15 km Hen end point
branch line to Norema
 138.40 km Eggemoen(1944)
 136.98 km Marigård(1931)
Vågård(1930)
branch line to Østlandske Spennbetong
 Geiteryggen(1944)
branch line to Østlandske Spennbetong
 Skytebanen(1931)
branch line to Østlandske Spennbetong
branch line to Hensmoen
branch line to Hen grustak
Sperillbanen
branch line
130.92 km Hen Station(1868) 156,7 m asl
 Ådalselva(151 m)
 Ådalen(1931)
 Begna(1931)
Hofsfoss(1931)
 Norske Skog Follum
 Frydenlund(1931)
 SoknedalsveienRv35 (ca. 15 m)
Bergensbanen
 124.21 km Hønefoss Station(1868) 96.8 m asl
Roa-Hønefossbanen
 Nyveien underpass(1931)
 Tolpinrud(1953)
 (ca. 100 m)
 Pålsgård broovergang(1931)
 Bjerke Bridgeover Sogna and Rv35 (173.8 m)
 118.03 km Ask(1868) 68.6 m asl
 Muggerud(1932)
 Egge(1931)
 Veholt(1931)
 Maurerud(1932)
 112.31 km Tangen(1946)
 Støa(1931)
 Skjærdalen(56 m)
 110.68 km Tyristrand(1867) 78.9 m asl
109.66 km Hagabru(1931)
 Haugstangen(1931)
 Mitten(1931)
 105.19 km Nakkerud(1874) 74.2 m asl
 Henoa(ca. 20 m)
 Fjellstangen(1931)
 Lerskallen(1950)
 Ås(1931)
 101,37 km Drolsum(1903) 83.7 m asl
 Tørhaug(1931)
 Hervik(1931)
Krøderbanen (Heritage railway)
 95.91 km Vikersund Station(1866) 67.1 m asl
 Rv284
 91.45 km Geithus(1875) 66.2 m asl
 Rv35
 Kattfoss bruover Drammenselva (132.5 m)
 90.35 km Kattfoss(1956)
 88.60 km Linnerud(1953)
 Rv287
 85.37 km Åmot(1866) 22.7 m asl
 Døvikfoss bruover Drammenselva (103 m)
 81.89 km Hassel(1961)
 79.78 km Skotselv(1866) 17.1 m asl
 Bingselva(129 m)
 75.20 km Burud(1875) 4.6 m asl
 Hellefoss(1932)
 Hoenselva(112,5 m)
to Sørlandsbanen
 Vestre BrugateRv35 (ca. 20 m)
 70.22 km Hokksund Station(1866) 8.0 m asl
 Vestfosselva(25 m)
industrial line
 Loselva(20 m)
 67.00 km Steinberg Station(1906) 5.4 m asl
 (85 m)
 64,03 km Mjøndalen Station(1866) 5.2 m asl
 (26 m)
branch line to Rygkollen grustak
 DalerovergangenFv35
 59.89 km Daler(1966)
 57.13 km Pukerud(1915) 7.2 m asl
 55.27 km Gulskogen Station(1868) 8.0 m asl
 54.00 km Sundland skiftestasjon
Vestfoldbanen
Nybyen freight terminal
 Kreftings gateRv282 (ca. 40 m)
 52.86 km Drammen Station(1866) 2.2 m asl
 Drammenbanen

The Randsfjorden Line (Norwegian: Randsfjordbanen) is an 87-kilometer-long (54 mi) railway located in Buskerud in Norway connecting Drammen to Hønefoss and Hadeland in Oppland. The railway is primarily used for passenger trains, and the only scheduled trains on the stretch are Norwegian State Railways express trains on the Bergen Line between Oslo and Bergen. Freight trains to Bergen go to Hønefoss via the Gjøvik Line. The railway is owned by the Norwegian National Rail Administration.

The entire line is standard gauge, and the 71 kilometers (44 mi) from Drammen to Hønefoss is electrified at 15 kV  16 2⁄3 Hz AC. The remaining 16 kilometers (9.9 mi) from Hønefoss to Randsfjorden is not electrified and currently disused.[1] The line gets its name from the lake Randsfjorden.

History

On 11 June 1857, railway director Carl Abraham Pihl was demanded by a Royal Decree to instruct a terrain investigation of the area along the river Drammenselva from Drammen to Randsfjorden.[2] He presented the results of the investigation on 31 May 1858, which concluded that the terrain between Drammen and Randsfjorden was favorable for a rail line.

Pihl thereupon proposed a rail line from Randsfjorden with a branch line to Hen. He argued with forester Thorvald Meiddell, who wanted to construct a canal rather than a rail line. In a meeting on 12 September 1859 in the Drammen chairmanship, the rail line solution was decided upon.[3] On 6 March 1863, the final decision was made, with six against three votes. It was also decided to make a government loan of NOK 2,32 million. Parliament passed the construction of the rail line on 11 June 1863, with 65 against 44 votes.[4]

The construction of the Randsfjord Line was begun on 4 December 1863, and, on 1 September 1866, the line was finished to Vikersund.[4] Two years later, the entire line to Randsfjord Station was opened. A celebration took place at the station, where King Charles XV with his family took part.[4]

On 1 December 1867 Skjærdalen and Tyristrand were connected to the line and finally on 12 October 1868 Hønefoss Station opened and the line could stretch all the way to Randsfjorden. The line was the fifth railway line to be built in Norway. When the Bergen Line was built a new line between Roa on Gjøvikbanen and Hønefoss was opened in 1909, providing two different lines between Hønefoss and Oslo.

Images

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Randsfjordbanen.
  1. ↑ Jernbaneverket. "Nøkkeltall for norske baner" (in Norwegian).
  2. ↑ Berntsen, Lund & Lunner 1997, p. 25.
  3. ↑ Berntsen, Lund & Lunner 1997, p. 26.
  4. 1 2 3 Berntsen, Lund & Lunner 1997, p. 27.

Bibliography

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