Randsfjorden Line

The Randsfjorden Line (Norwegian: Randsfjordbanen) is an 87-kilometre-long (54 mi) railway located in Viken county in Norway connecting Drammen to Hønefoss and Hadeland in Innlandet county. 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.

Randsfjorden Line
The opening of Randsfjordbanen in 1868
Overview
Native nameRandsfjordbanen
OwnerNorwegian National Rail Administration
TerminiDrammen Station
Randsfjord Station
Service
TypeRailway
SystemRail transport in Norway
Operator(s)Norwegian State Railways
Rolling stockBM 73
History
Opened1866 (to Vikersund)
1868 (to Randsfjorden)
Technical
Line length87 kilometres (54 mi)
Number of tracks1
CharacterLong-haul passenger traffic
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
Electrification15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
Operating speedMax. 130 km/h (81 mph)
Route map

 
elev (M) or
length (m)
in metres
141.4 M
142.41
Randsfjord
1868
Styggdal
1931
140.15
Hen end point
138.40
Eggemoen
1944
136.98
Marigård
1931
Vågård
1930
Østlandske Spennbetong
Geiteryggen
1944
Østlandske Spennbetong
Skytebanen
1931
Østlandske Spennbetong
Hensmoen
Hen gravel pit
branch line
156.7 M
130.92
Hen
1868
151 m
Ådalselva
Ådalen
1931
Begna
1931
Hofsfoss
1931
Norske Skog Follum
Frydenlund
1931
c.15 m
Soknedalsveien Rv35
96.8 M
124.21
Hønefoss
1868
Nyveien underpass
1931
Tolpinrud
1953
c.100 m
Pålsgård broovergang
1931
173.8 m
Bjerke Bridge
over Sogna
and Rv35
68.6 M
118.03
Ask
1868
Muggerud
1932
Egge
1931
Veholt
1931
Maurerud
1932
112.31
Tangen
1946
Støa
1931
56 m
Skjærdalen
78.9 M
110.68
Tyristrand
1867
109.66
Hagabru
1931
Haugstangen
1931
Mitten
1931
74.2 M
105.19
Nakkerud
1874
c.20 m
Henoa
Fjellstangen
1931
Lerskallen
1950
Ås
1931
83.7 M
101.37
Drolsum
1903
Tørhaug
1931
Hervik
1931
67.1 M
95.91
Vikersund
1866
Rv284
66.2 M
91.45
Geithus
1875
Rv35
132.5 m
Kattfoss bru
over Drammenselva
90.35
Kattfoss
1956
88.60
Linnerud
1953
Rv287
22.7 M
85.37
Åmot
1866
103 m
Døvikfoss bru
over Drammenselva
81.89
Hassel
1961
17.1 M
79.78
Skotselv
1866
129 m
Bingselva
4.6 M
75.20
Burud
1875
Hellefoss
1932
112.5 m
Hoenselva
c.20 m
Vestre Brugate Rv35
8.0 M
70.22
Hokksund
1866
25 m
Vestfosselva
industrial line
20 m
Loselva
5.4 M
67.00
Steinberg
1906
85 m
5.2 M
64.03
Mjøndalen
1866
26 m
Rygkollen gravel pit
Dalerovergangen Fv35
59.89
Daler
1966
7.2 M
57.13
Pukerud
1915
8.0 M
55.27
Gulskogen
1868
54.00
Sundland shunting
Nybyen freight terminal
c.40 m
Kreftings gate Rv282
2.2 M
52.86
Drammen
1866
elev (M) or
length (m)
in metres
 

The entire line is standard gauge, and the 71 kilometres (44 mi) from Drammen to Hønefoss is electrified at 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC. The remaining 16 kilometres (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 2,32 million kr. 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

Bibliography

  • Berntsen, Ulf; Lund, Thure; Lunner, Dagfinn (1997). På sporet med Krøderkippen (in Norwegian). Norwegian Railway Club / Krøderen Line Foundation. ISBN 82-90286-20-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

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