T-baneringen
Encyclopedia
The Ring Line is the newest rapid transit
line of the Oslo Metro of Oslo
, Norway
. It connects to the Sognsvann Line in the west and the Grorud Line in the east; along with these two lines and the Common Tunnel, the Ring Line creates a loop serving the city center and Nordre Aker
borough. The line has three stations: Nydalen
, Storo
and Sinsen
, and is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long. Four-fifths of the line is in two tunnels, with the 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) section between Storo and Sinsen, including both stations, being the only at-grade part. The line connects to the Grorud Line north of Carl Berners plass
and with the Sognsvann Line north of Ullevål stadion
.
Planning of the line started in the late 1980s and the city council approved the line 1997. Construction started in 2000; Nydalen and Storo opened on 20 August 2003, and Sinsen opened on 20 August 2006. The line cost to build and was financed through Oslo Package 2
. The Ring Line is served by lines 4, 5 and 6 of the metro, operated by Oslo T-banedrift
on contract with the transport authority Ruter
. All lines operate each fifteen minutes. Nydalen and Storo are such located that trains in either direction use the same time along the loop, effectively giving a five-minute headway
to the city center. After the opening of the line, the areas around the stations have had increased urban redevelopment. The infrastructure is owned and maintained by the municipal company Kollektivtransportproduksjon.
and Lilleaker Line. Oslo Sporveier
, the contemporary operator of the metro, started planning the line during the late 1980s. The plans would take advantage of the Gjøvik Line's right-of-way between Storo and Sinsen, while the section from Storo to Tåsen would have to be built in a tunnel.
A projection for the line was presented in 1991 by Oslo Sporveier, where daily ridership was estimated to be 54,000 passengers. The plans included a possibility for the high-speed Gardermoen Line, that would be built to Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
, to have a stop at Storo. This was lated discarded when it was instead chosen to be built via Lillestrøm
. There were also ideas to run trains from the Hoved Line from Lillestrøm to Grefsen Station
via the Alnabru–Grefsen Line, located adjacent to Storo, that would allow the central parts of Groruddalen to connect with the Ring Line and Nordre Aker. When the operating company ordered new T2000 trains for the Holmenkoll Line, the design allowed future versions to have dual current systems, to handle both the 750 volt
s on the metro network (from a third rail and overhead wire), and the system of the main railways. This would allow the Ring Line to share the physical track with the Gjøvik Line on the section from Storo to Sinsen. The new T2ds were seen as a preparation for the Ring Line, and were optimized for higher speeds than the old stock, being capable of operating at 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph). At the same time, the Sognsvann Line was being upgraded to full metro standard, like the eastern part of the metro had, and would loose the overhead wires and get longer platforms.
In 1992, the tram division of Oslo Sporveier launched an alternative Ring Line that would have been built as a light rail
, using in part the existing tramway. In the west, it would follow the Sinsen Line
via Sinsen to Storo. A new line would have to be built from Storo to Tåsen
. The line would then use the existing Sognsvann Line to Majorstuen
, where it would connect to the tramway and follow the Frogner Line
into the city, via a new Vika Line
through Aker Brygge
. This alternative would cost NOK 61 million to build, compared to NOK 470 million estimated for the rapid transit solution. Named the Light Rail Ring , it would have 38 stops instead of 16 stops, and a travel time of 34 minutes instead of 22 minutes. Annual operating costs for the light rail solution would be NOK 57.5 million, compared to 43.9 million for the rapid transit solution.
Between 1994 and 1998, there was local political debate about how Rikshospitalet
, that was moving to Gaustad
, should be served by public transport. The state wanted to extend the Ullevål Hageby Line
of the tramway to the new hospital, while many local politicians wanted to use the rapid transit. Since the Ring Line would increase traffic on the Songsvann Line, moving the line was considered to better serve the hospital. In 1998, an agreement was reached whereby the light rail line would be built, and a new station for transfer from the metro would open at Forskningsparken
.
A detailed suggestion was presented by Oslo Sporveier in August 1996. It became clear that Berg
would not be served by the Ring Line. Many neighbors to the Sognsvann Line complained about the proposal, stating that they had hoped that the section from Majorstuen to Berg would have been rebuilt as a tunnel. They also argued that it was irrational that the line was running at-grade in densely populated areas, while it would run in a tunnel through the then mostly unpopulated Nydalen. To compensate, Oslo Sporveier stated that they would build noise screens along the line. Also, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration
protested to the plans, and stated that funding should be allocated to upgrading Ring 3
to six lanes before public transport investments were made in the area.
The city council voted in favor of building the Ring Line on 25 June 1997, against the votes of the Progress Party
. However, the decision did not include how the line would be financed, and the politicians stated that they were hoping that the state would use national road funds to finance the project. This was partially ensured in December, when a political agreement was reached for Oslo Package 2, a financing plan for investments in public transport in Oslo and Akershus between 2002 and 2011.
In December 1999, a disagreement arose between the Ministry of Transport and Communications
and the city; the city would not except the government's promise to finance part of the line. Both Minister of Transport and Communications
, Dag Jostein Fjærvoll
from the Christian Democratic Party and Oslo City Commissioner of Transport and the Environment, Merete Agerbak-Jensen
from the Conservative Party
, agreed upon the distribution of funding from the city and state, and both wanted construction to start as soon as possible. The city council did not accept the guarantees from the state until March 2000. Construction started in June, with the Agency for Road and Transport of the municipality responsible for construction. The city would pay NOK 224 million, while the state would pay NOK 673 million.
The first section opened from Ullevål stadion via Nydalen to Storo on 20 August 2003, costing NOK 590 million. With the opening, line 4 was extended from Ullevål stadion to Storo. Nydalen had grown up as an urban redevelopment area after the local industry had been abandoned in the 1980s, where 14,800 jobs had been located by 2004. On 20 August 2006, the final section opened, from Storo via Sinsen to Carl Berners plass, with the whole project costing NOK 1,348 million.
A report published by the city in 2007 declared the line a success and stated that all goals for the line had been exceeded. A survey conducted by the city in 2003 and 2007 showed that the Ring Line had a significant impact on the use of public transport in the area. Total public transport ridership increased from 28 to 45%; use for commuting
increased from 35 to 61%. At the Norwegian School of Management
(BI), 85% of the students used public transport. The Ring Line reduced the estimated number of daily car trips by 10,000, and generated 11,000 more daily public transport trips. In 2007, daily passenger numbers at the stations were 8420 for Nydalen, 3630 for Storo and 2300 at Sinsen. The line allowed travel time from the Nydalen and Storo to the city center to be halved, and travel time from Nydalen to the city center is faster by metro than by taxi.
The 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) Ring Line branches off from the Sognsvann Line after Ullevål stadion, just before Berg
. It immediately enters a tunnel that runs via Nydalen to Storo. The station at Storo is just outside the entrance to the tunnel. From Storo to Sinsen, the tracks are laid parallel to the Gjøvik Line of the mainland railway. Also the Sinsen Line
of the Oslo Tramway and the Ring 3
motorway follow the same corridor between the two stations. The section between Ullevål stadion and Storo is 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi), while the section from Storo to Carl Berners plass is 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi). Of these, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) are in tunnels.
Nydalen is a neighborhood that has undergone an urban redevelopment after it formerly was an industrial area. The immediate vicinity of the station has several large working places. In 2005, BI, with 8000 students and faculty, moved into a new campus across the street from Nydalen Station. Nydalen is the only underground station on the Ring Line. The escalators leading down to the platform features The Tunnel of Light, an artistic presentation of sound and color around the riders as they ascend from or to descend to the station. The artwork contains 1800 lights and 44 speakers. Nydalen also serves as a bus hub.
Storo opened as a tram station as part of the Grünerløkka–Torshov Line on 28 November 1902. It is located about 200 meters from Grefsen Station of the Gjøvik Line. The Norwegian National Rail Administration is planning to move the station platform so there can be direct transfer between NSB Gjøvikbanen's commuter rail
services, and the metro. Storo functions as a bus and tram hub; it serves line 11 and 12 on the Grünerløkka–Torshov- and Kjelsås Line
, and line 13 on the Sinsen Line.
Sinsen opened on 20 August 2006, three years after the two other stations. The station is located close to, but not adjacent, to the tram stop Sinsenkrysset on the Sinsen Line (tram no. 17). Located at the interchange
between Ring 3 and Trondheimsveien, it also serves as a bus hub.
The Løren Line is a proposed connection that would connect the Ring and Grorud Line. It would split from the Ring Line south of Sinsen, and run part in tunnel and part at-grade until it connects to the Grorud Line west of Økern
. In the tunnel section the new station, Løren, would be built. The day section would run parallel to part of the mainline Alnabru–Grefsen Line. The line will allow metro trains to run directly from the Grorud Line to the Ring Line, and thus pass from east to west without passing through the packed Common Tunnel. It is part of the political compromise Oslo Package 3, and estimated to be completed by 2017.
, Grønland
, Jernbanetorget
, Stortinget
, Nationaltheatret
and Majorstuen
). They head north on the Sognsvann Line, stopping at Blindern
, Forskningsparken
and Ullevål stadion. The Ring Line proper then splits off, and the trains serve Nydalen, Storo and Sinsen, before Carl Berners plass on the Grorud Line. After that, the trains again enter the Common Tunnel at Tøyen.
Lines 4, 5 and 6 operate on the Ring Line, each with a 15-minute headway. Line 5 and 6 operates on the west side of the line, with line 5 terminating at Storo and line 4 operating on the east side. Between Nydalen and Storo, lines 4 and 6 swap numbers. From the city center, line 4 comes from the Lambertseter Line, line 5 from the Grorud Line and line 6 from the Kolsås Line. After line 4 and 6 have run through the loop, they continue though the city again before heading to the terminal destination. Travel time from Nydalen and Storo stations is about the same, independent of which direction on the Ring Line travelers choose. Riders heading for the city center can therefore take the first train that comes, independent of which direction it is heading, thus giving Nydalen and Storo a five-minute headway service to the city center. The trains are operated by Oslo T-banedrift, a subsidiary of Kollektivtransportproduksjon, on contract with the public transport authority Ruter.
Transfer to the Kolsås-, Røa- and Holmenkoll Line is available at Majorstuen; transfer to the Lamberseter, Østensjø- and Furuset Line is available at Tøyen and transfer to the Grorud Line is available at Carl Berners plass. Transfer to Oslo Central Station, which serves all trains in Eastern Norway, is available at Jernbanetorget. Most west-bound trains can also be reached at Nationaltheatret
, and trains along the Gjøvik line can be reached at Grefsen Station
, that is close, but not adjacent, to Storo. The Oslo Tramway can be reached from several stations. In the city center, transfer to all lines is possible at Jernbanetorget; all lines but no. 12 can also be reached at either Stortinget or Nationaltheatret. Lines 11, 12 and 19 all terminate at Majorstuen; lines 17 and 18 run via Forskningsparken; lines 11, 12 and 13 can be reached at Storo; and line 17 runs past Carl Berners plass.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
line of the Oslo Metro of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It connects to the Sognsvann Line in the west and the Grorud Line in the east; along with these two lines and the Common Tunnel, the Ring Line creates a loop serving the city center and Nordre Aker
Nordre Aker
Nordre Aker is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway.-History:This area became part of the city of Oslo in 1948. Before that it was a part of Aker municipality in Akershus county.-Demographics and housing:...
borough. The line has three stations: Nydalen
Nydalen (station)
Nydalen is a rapid transit station on the Ring Line of the Oslo Metro. It is located at Nydalen in the Nordre Aker borough of Oslo, Norway. The station opened on 20 August 2003, as part of the first section of the Ring Line to Storo. The station is served by lines 4, 5 and 6 of the metro, as well...
, Storo
Storo (station)
Storo is a rapid transit station on the Ring Line of the Oslo Metro, and a tram station on the Grünerløkka–Torshov Line of the Oslo Tramway. It is located at Storo in the Nordre Aker borough of Oslo, Norway. The tram station opened on 28 November 1902, and the rapid transit station on 20 August...
and Sinsen
Sinsen (station)
Sinsen is a rapid transit station on the Ring Line of the Oslo Metro. It is located at Sinsen in the Grünerløkka borough of Oslo, Norway. Next to the station is the tram station Sinsenkrysset, that has been part of the Sinsen Line of the Oslo Tramway since 1939. The station opened on 20 August...
, and is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long. Four-fifths of the line is in two tunnels, with the 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) section between Storo and Sinsen, including both stations, being the only at-grade part. The line connects to the Grorud Line north of Carl Berners plass
Carl Berners plass (station)
Carl Berners plass is an underground rapid transit station located on the Grorud Line of the Oslo Metro, and a tram stop on the Sinsen Line of the Oslo Tramway. The square also has a bus stop for lines 20, 21, 31, 33 and 57. Located at Grünerløkka in Oslo, Norway, the area has a mixture of...
and with the Sognsvann Line north of Ullevål stadion
Ullevål stadion (station)
Ullevål stadion is a rapid transit station on the Sognsvann Line of the Oslo Metro. It is the last station served by lines 3, 4 and 5. North of the station, the Ring Line branches off from the Sognsvann Line...
.
Planning of the line started in the late 1980s and the city council approved the line 1997. Construction started in 2000; Nydalen and Storo opened on 20 August 2003, and Sinsen opened on 20 August 2006. The line cost to build and was financed through Oslo Package 2
Oslo Package 2
The Oslo Package 2 or O2 is a political agreement for financing investments in public transport in Oslo and Akershus, Norway. The program runs from 2001 to 2011, and includes many large and small investments in railways, the Oslo Tramway, the Oslo Metro and infrastructure for buses. Total budget is...
. The Ring Line is served by lines 4, 5 and 6 of the metro, operated by Oslo T-banedrift
Oslo T-banedrift
Oslo T-banedrift AS is a limited company that is responsible for operating Oslo Metro , the rapid transit in Oslo, Norway. The company is owned by Kollektivtransportproduksjon that again is owned by the city council...
on contract with the transport authority Ruter
Ruter
Ruter As is the public transport authority for Oslo and Akershus, Norway. The company, organized as a limited company is responsible for managing, but not operating, public transport in the two counties, including bus, the Oslo Metro, the Oslo Tramway and ferries...
. All lines operate each fifteen minutes. Nydalen and Storo are such located that trains in either direction use the same time along the loop, effectively giving a five-minute headway
Headway
Headway is a measurement of the distance/time between vehicles in a transit system. The precise definition varies depending on the application, but it is most commonly measured as the distance from the tip of one vehicle to the tip of the next one behind it, expressed as the time it will take for...
to the city center. After the opening of the line, the areas around the stations have had increased urban redevelopment. The infrastructure is owned and maintained by the municipal company Kollektivtransportproduksjon.
History
By the 1960s, Oslo had a rapid transit network that branched out north-east and north-west from the city center. In 1987, the western and eastern network were connected, and through trains started operating between the two networks from 1993. Plans to make a second connection through the borough of Nordre Aker were launched by politicians in the 1980s. It was argued that this was cheaper than building roads, with the per-kilometer price being about a quarter of that for motorways. Some politicians also saw the Ring Line as an opportunity to close all parts of the Oslo Tramway, except the Ekeberg-Ekeberg Line
The Ekeberg Line is a long light rail line of the Oslo Tramway which runs from Gamlebyen to Ljabru in Oslo, Norway. Operated by lines 18 and 19, it serves the area of Nordstarand and the neighborhoods of Ekeberg, Jomfrubråten, Bekkelaget and Ljan. The line is operated by Oslo Sporvognsdrift using...
and Lilleaker Line. Oslo Sporveier
Oslo Sporveier
Kollektivtransportproduksjon AS is a municipal owned public transport operator of Oslo, Norway, the name meaning simply "public transportation producer". It operates the trackage and maintains the stock of the Oslo Metro and Oslo Tramway, as well as owning eight operating subsidiaries...
, the contemporary operator of the metro, started planning the line during the late 1980s. The plans would take advantage of the Gjøvik Line's right-of-way between Storo and Sinsen, while the section from Storo to Tåsen would have to be built in a tunnel.
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen is the principal airport serving Oslo, Norway. It acts as the main domestic hub and international airport for Norway, and the second-busiest airport in the Nordic countries. A hub for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle, and a focus city for Widerøe, it is...
, to have a stop at Storo. This was lated discarded when it was instead chosen to be built via Lillestrøm
Lillestrøm Station
Lillestrøm Station is a railway station located at Lillestrøm in Skedsmo, Norway. The station serves as the main transportation hub of the eastern parts of Greater Oslo and all trains east of Oslo stop at Lillestrøm...
. There were also ideas to run trains from the Hoved Line from Lillestrøm to Grefsen Station
Grefsen Station
Grefsen Station is a railway station at Storo in Oslo, Norway on the Gjøvik Line. From the station there is also a short railway, the Alnabru–Grefsen Line, to Alna on the Hoved Line. The station is located 6.82 km from Oslo Central Station and is located between Tøyen and Nydalen at 109.2 metes...
via the Alnabru–Grefsen Line, located adjacent to Storo, that would allow the central parts of Groruddalen to connect with the Ring Line and Nordre Aker. When the operating company ordered new T2000 trains for the Holmenkoll Line, the design allowed future versions to have dual current systems, to handle both the 750 volt
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
s on the metro network (from a third rail and overhead wire), and the system of the main railways. This would allow the Ring Line to share the physical track with the Gjøvik Line on the section from Storo to Sinsen. The new T2ds were seen as a preparation for the Ring Line, and were optimized for higher speeds than the old stock, being capable of operating at 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph). At the same time, the Sognsvann Line was being upgraded to full metro standard, like the eastern part of the metro had, and would loose the overhead wires and get longer platforms.
In 1992, the tram division of Oslo Sporveier launched an alternative Ring Line that would have been built as a light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
, using in part the existing tramway. In the west, it would follow the Sinsen Line
Sinsen Line
The Sinsen Line is part of the Oslo Tramway on the east side of the city. Most of the line is served by line 17, although the northernmost tip is served by line 13 which otherwise runs on the Grünerløkka–Torshov Line. Both services use SL95 articulated trams.-Route:The line leaves the...
via Sinsen to Storo. A new line would have to be built from Storo to Tåsen
Tåsen (station)
Tåsen is a station on the Sognsvann Line of the Oslo Metro in Oslo, Norway. The station is located between Berg and Østhorn stations and is from Stortinget. As one of the original stations on the line, Tåsen was opened on 10 October 1934. The station was moved north in the 1990s, when the line...
. The line would then use the existing Sognsvann Line to Majorstuen
Majorstuen (station)
Majorstuen is a subway station on the Oslo Metro and a light rail station on the Briskeby Line of the Oslo Tramway. It is located in the Majorstuen neighborhood in the Frogner borough....
, where it would connect to the tramway and follow the Frogner Line
Frogner Line
The Frogner Line is a section of the Oslo Tramway which runs between Solli and Majorstuen, serving the neighborhood of Frogner. The line is served by tram number 12, and the Frogner section makes up the westernmost part of this line...
into the city, via a new Vika Line
Vika Line
The Vika Line is a light rail section of the Oslo Tramway in Oslo, Norway. It runs between Wessels plass, through the neighborhood of Vika and Aker Brygge, before arriving at Solli. The section is served by SL79 trams on line 12...
through Aker Brygge
Aker Brygge
Aker Brygge is an area in Oslo, Norway. It is a popular meeting place for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Oslo residents, tourists from all over the world, business people on the move, as well as musicians, artists, actors, A-, B- and C-celebrities find Aker Brygge their favourite place to...
. This alternative would cost NOK 61 million to build, compared to NOK 470 million estimated for the rapid transit solution. Named the Light Rail Ring , it would have 38 stops instead of 16 stops, and a travel time of 34 minutes instead of 22 minutes. Annual operating costs for the light rail solution would be NOK 57.5 million, compared to 43.9 million for the rapid transit solution.
Rikshospitalet
Rikshospitalet is located in Oslo, Norway. From January 1, 2009, the hospital is part of Oslo University Hospital....
, that was moving to Gaustad
Gaustad
Gaustad is a neighborhood in Nordre Aker borough of Oslo, Norway. It is located between Vinderen and Kringsjå. At Gaustad are Rikshospitalet and Gaustad Hospital, as well as residential areas that border to Nordmarka....
, should be served by public transport. The state wanted to extend the Ullevål Hageby Line
Ullevål Hageby Line
The Ullevål Hageby Line is a light rail section of the Oslo Tramway. It runs from Stortorvet in the city center of Oslo, Norway to Rikshospitalet. It passes through the areas of St. Hanshaugen, Ullevål Hageby and Blindern before reaching Gaustad...
of the tramway to the new hospital, while many local politicians wanted to use the rapid transit. Since the Ring Line would increase traffic on the Songsvann Line, moving the line was considered to better serve the hospital. In 1998, an agreement was reached whereby the light rail line would be built, and a new station for transfer from the metro would open at Forskningsparken
Forskningsparken (station)
Forskningsparken is a rapid transit station on the Sognsvann Line of the Oslo Metro. It also serves as a light rail station for the Ullevål Hageby Line of the Oslo Tramway. It is located at the north of the Blindern campus of the University of Oslo in the Nordre Aker borough of Oslo, Norway...
.
A detailed suggestion was presented by Oslo Sporveier in August 1996. It became clear that Berg
Berg (station)
Berg is a station on the Sognsvann Line of the Oslo Metro in Norway. It is located between Ullevål stadion and Tåsen stations and is the first station after the Ring Line leaves the Sognsvann Line. The station is located from Stortinget station. Berg is amongst the original stations on the line,...
would not be served by the Ring Line. Many neighbors to the Sognsvann Line complained about the proposal, stating that they had hoped that the section from Majorstuen to Berg would have been rebuilt as a tunnel. They also argued that it was irrational that the line was running at-grade in densely populated areas, while it would run in a tunnel through the then mostly unpopulated Nydalen. To compensate, Oslo Sporveier stated that they would build noise screens along the line. Also, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration
Norwegian Public Roads Administration
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is a Norwegian government agency responsible for the state and county public roads in the country. This includes planning, construction and operation of the state and county road networks, driver training and licensing, vehicle inspection and subsidies to...
protested to the plans, and stated that funding should be allocated to upgrading Ring 3
Ring 3 (Oslo)
Norwegian National Road 150, also known as Ring 3 and formerly Store Ringvei is a beltway limited-access road which circumnavigates Oslo, Norway. It runs from Ryen, through the Sinsen Interchange to Lysaker in Bærum.-History:...
to six lanes before public transport investments were made in the area.
The city council voted in favor of building the Ring Line on 25 June 1997, against the votes of the Progress Party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
. However, the decision did not include how the line would be financed, and the politicians stated that they were hoping that the state would use national road funds to finance the project. This was partially ensured in December, when a political agreement was reached for Oslo Package 2, a financing plan for investments in public transport in Oslo and Akershus between 2002 and 2011.
Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Transportation and Communications is a Norwegian ministry established in 1946, and is responsible for transportation and communication infrastructure in Norway. It is led by Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa...
and the city; the city would not except the government's promise to finance part of the line. Both Minister of Transport and Communications
Minister of Transport and Communications (Norway)
The Minister of Transport and Communications is a Councillor of State and Chief of the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications. Since 20 October 2009, the position has been held by Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa of the Centre Party...
, Dag Jostein Fjærvoll
Dag Jostein Fjærvoll
Dag Jostein Fjærvoll is a Norwegian politician for the Christian People's Party. He was Minister of Defence 1997-1999, and Minister of Transport and Communications 1999-2000 for the Christian People's Party....
from the Christian Democratic Party and Oslo City Commissioner of Transport and the Environment, Merete Agerbak-Jensen
Merete Agerbak-Jensen
Merete Agerbak-Jensen is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.She was born in Oslo, and was educated at the Norwegian Journalist College in 1994 and at the University of Oslo. She worked as a journalist in Akers Avis from 1987 to 1990 and Verdens Gang from 1995 to 1997...
from the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
, agreed upon the distribution of funding from the city and state, and both wanted construction to start as soon as possible. The city council did not accept the guarantees from the state until March 2000. Construction started in June, with the Agency for Road and Transport of the municipality responsible for construction. The city would pay NOK 224 million, while the state would pay NOK 673 million.
The first section opened from Ullevål stadion via Nydalen to Storo on 20 August 2003, costing NOK 590 million. With the opening, line 4 was extended from Ullevål stadion to Storo. Nydalen had grown up as an urban redevelopment area after the local industry had been abandoned in the 1980s, where 14,800 jobs had been located by 2004. On 20 August 2006, the final section opened, from Storo via Sinsen to Carl Berners plass, with the whole project costing NOK 1,348 million.
A report published by the city in 2007 declared the line a success and stated that all goals for the line had been exceeded. A survey conducted by the city in 2003 and 2007 showed that the Ring Line had a significant impact on the use of public transport in the area. Total public transport ridership increased from 28 to 45%; use for commuting
Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :...
increased from 35 to 61%. At the Norwegian School of Management
Norwegian School of Management
BI Norwegian Business School former name BI Norwegian School of Management is the largest business school in Norway and the second largest in all of Europe. BI has in total 6 campuses with the main one located in Oslo.-History:...
(BI), 85% of the students used public transport. The Ring Line reduced the estimated number of daily car trips by 10,000, and generated 11,000 more daily public transport trips. In 2007, daily passenger numbers at the stations were 8420 for Nydalen, 3630 for Storo and 2300 at Sinsen. The line allowed travel time from the Nydalen and Storo to the city center to be halved, and travel time from Nydalen to the city center is faster by metro than by taxi.
Route
Berg (station)
Berg is a station on the Sognsvann Line of the Oslo Metro in Norway. It is located between Ullevål stadion and Tåsen stations and is the first station after the Ring Line leaves the Sognsvann Line. The station is located from Stortinget station. Berg is amongst the original stations on the line,...
. It immediately enters a tunnel that runs via Nydalen to Storo. The station at Storo is just outside the entrance to the tunnel. From Storo to Sinsen, the tracks are laid parallel to the Gjøvik Line of the mainland railway. Also the Sinsen Line
Sinsen Line
The Sinsen Line is part of the Oslo Tramway on the east side of the city. Most of the line is served by line 17, although the northernmost tip is served by line 13 which otherwise runs on the Grünerløkka–Torshov Line. Both services use SL95 articulated trams.-Route:The line leaves the...
of the Oslo Tramway and the Ring 3
Ring 3 (Oslo)
Norwegian National Road 150, also known as Ring 3 and formerly Store Ringvei is a beltway limited-access road which circumnavigates Oslo, Norway. It runs from Ryen, through the Sinsen Interchange to Lysaker in Bærum.-History:...
motorway follow the same corridor between the two stations. The section between Ullevål stadion and Storo is 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi), while the section from Storo to Carl Berners plass is 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi). Of these, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) are in tunnels.
Nydalen is a neighborhood that has undergone an urban redevelopment after it formerly was an industrial area. The immediate vicinity of the station has several large working places. In 2005, BI, with 8000 students and faculty, moved into a new campus across the street from Nydalen Station. Nydalen is the only underground station on the Ring Line. The escalators leading down to the platform features The Tunnel of Light, an artistic presentation of sound and color around the riders as they ascend from or to descend to the station. The artwork contains 1800 lights and 44 speakers. Nydalen also serves as a bus hub.
Oslo Commuter Rail
Oslo Commuter Rail is a commuter rail centered in Oslo, Norway, connecting the capital to six counties in Eastern Norway. The system is operated by the Norwegian State Railways and its subsidiary NSB Gjøvikbanen, using Class 69 and Class 72 electric multiple units . The network spans eight routes...
services, and the metro. Storo functions as a bus and tram hub; it serves line 11 and 12 on the Grünerløkka–Torshov- and Kjelsås Line
Kjelsås Line
The Kjelsås Line is a tramway line running from Storo to Kjelsås in the norther part of Oslo, Norway. The line opened by Oslo Sporveier on 25 September 1934 as an extension of the Grünerløkka–Torshov Line that terminated at Storo. It is served by line 11 and 12 of the Oslo Tramway operated by Oslo...
, and line 13 on the Sinsen Line.
Sinsen opened on 20 August 2006, three years after the two other stations. The station is located close to, but not adjacent, to the tram stop Sinsenkrysset on the Sinsen Line (tram no. 17). Located at the interchange
Sinsen Interchange
The Sinsen Interchange is a heavily trafficked, multilevel road junction in Oslo, Norway. It connects the highways Norwegian National Road 150 and Trondheimsveien. The junction has existed since the 19th century, and has grown considerably in size since then. It was enhanced with a roundabout in...
between Ring 3 and Trondheimsveien, it also serves as a bus hub.
The Løren Line is a proposed connection that would connect the Ring and Grorud Line. It would split from the Ring Line south of Sinsen, and run part in tunnel and part at-grade until it connects to the Grorud Line west of Økern
Økern (station)
Økern is a station on Grorud Line on the Oslo Metro between the stations of Hasle and Risløkka, 5.4 km from Stortinget station. The station is located at the intersection between the subway line and the Ring 3 highway which runs north of Oslo, and Økern is a transportation node with...
. In the tunnel section the new station, Løren, would be built. The day section would run parallel to part of the mainline Alnabru–Grefsen Line. The line will allow metro trains to run directly from the Grorud Line to the Ring Line, and thus pass from east to west without passing through the packed Common Tunnel. It is part of the political compromise Oslo Package 3, and estimated to be completed by 2017.
Service
As a full ring, trains start through the Common Tunnel. If running clockwise, they pass through all the common stations (TøyenTøyen (station)
Tøyen is a rapid transit station located in the Common Tunnel of Oslo Metro in Norway. Located in the borough of Gamle Oslo, it is also called "Tøyen-Munchmuseet" due to its proximity to the art museum. It is the last station on the east side shared by all lines; the Grorud Line and Ring Line...
, Grønland
Grønland (station)
Grønland is a rapid transit station on the Oslo Metro in the Common Tunnel serving all six lines. It is located in the business and residential area Grønland, between the stations Jernbanetorget to the west and Tøyen to the east. The station was opened on May 22 1966 with the opening of the subway,...
, Jernbanetorget
Jernbanetorget (station)
Jernbanetorget is both a rapid transit station on the Oslo Metro and a light rail station of the Oslo Tramway. The metro station is in the Common Tunnel used by all lines under the city centre. It is located between Stortinget to the west and Grønland to the east. Until the construction of the...
, Stortinget
Stortinget (station)
Stortinget is an underground rapid transit station on the Common Line of the Oslo Metro, Norway. It is located in the heart of the city center, next to Stortinget, the Parliament of Norway. The station is served by all six lines of the metro. At the street level, the station serves tram routes 17,...
, Nationaltheatret
Nationaltheatret (station)
Nationaltheatret is an underground metro station and tram stop serving Vika and the city center of Oslo, Norway. It is located on the Common Tunnel of the Oslo Metro and on the Briskeby Line of the Oslo Tramway. Also located at the same place is Nationaltheatret Station of the Drammen Line. The...
and Majorstuen
Majorstuen (station)
Majorstuen is a subway station on the Oslo Metro and a light rail station on the Briskeby Line of the Oslo Tramway. It is located in the Majorstuen neighborhood in the Frogner borough....
). They head north on the Sognsvann Line, stopping at Blindern
Blindern (station)
Blindern is a rapid transit station on the Sognsvann Line of the Oslo Metro. It is located in the Vestre Aker borough of Oslo, Norway. Served by lines 3, 4 and 5, the station is located adjacent to the main campus of the University of Oslo, Blindern. Until 1999, the station served as terminus of...
, Forskningsparken
Forskningsparken (station)
Forskningsparken is a rapid transit station on the Sognsvann Line of the Oslo Metro. It also serves as a light rail station for the Ullevål Hageby Line of the Oslo Tramway. It is located at the north of the Blindern campus of the University of Oslo in the Nordre Aker borough of Oslo, Norway...
and Ullevål stadion. The Ring Line proper then splits off, and the trains serve Nydalen, Storo and Sinsen, before Carl Berners plass on the Grorud Line. After that, the trains again enter the Common Tunnel at Tøyen.
Transfer to the Kolsås-, Røa- and Holmenkoll Line is available at Majorstuen; transfer to the Lamberseter, Østensjø- and Furuset Line is available at Tøyen and transfer to the Grorud Line is available at Carl Berners plass. Transfer to Oslo Central Station, which serves all trains in Eastern Norway, is available at Jernbanetorget. Most west-bound trains can also be reached at Nationaltheatret
Nationaltheatret station
Nationaltheatret Station is an underground railway station on the Drammen Line serving Vika and the central business district of Oslo, Norway. It is the second-busiest railway station in Norway, behind Oslo Central Station , from which Nationaltheatret is away...
, and trains along the Gjøvik line can be reached at Grefsen Station
Grefsen Station
Grefsen Station is a railway station at Storo in Oslo, Norway on the Gjøvik Line. From the station there is also a short railway, the Alnabru–Grefsen Line, to Alna on the Hoved Line. The station is located 6.82 km from Oslo Central Station and is located between Tøyen and Nydalen at 109.2 metes...
, that is close, but not adjacent, to Storo. The Oslo Tramway can be reached from several stations. In the city center, transfer to all lines is possible at Jernbanetorget; all lines but no. 12 can also be reached at either Stortinget or Nationaltheatret. Lines 11, 12 and 19 all terminate at Majorstuen; lines 17 and 18 run via Forskningsparken; lines 11, 12 and 13 can be reached at Storo; and line 17 runs past Carl Berners plass.