Arendalsbanen
| Arendalsbanen | |
| 250px | |
|---|---|
| Arendal Station | |
| Info | |
| Type | Railway |
| Start station | Nelaug |
| End station | Arendal |
| No. of stations | 8 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1908 |
| Owner | Jernbaneverket |
| Operator(s) | Norges Statsbaner |
| Character | Commuter trains |
| Rolling stock | BM69 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 37 km |
| No. of tracks | 1 |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
| Electrified | 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC |
Arendalsbanen is a branch line of Sørlandsbanen in Southern Norway. The line runs between the station of Nelaug and the town of Arendal in Aust-Agder in Norway. The line was opened in 1908 and electrified in 1995 and is the only branch line still in operation in Norway. The line is operated by NSB using BM69 electric multiple units, and is used to transport people to Oslo, with train change at Nelaug. Shortage of rolling stock caused the line to be closed between October 20 2000 and June 24 2001.
Contents
History
The line now called Arendalsbanen was planned and built by NSB as a local railway that was going to connect Arendal with an important part of the cities surroundings up the river Nidelva. The line was first opened to Froland in 1908. In 1910 the line was extended to Åmli and by 1913 the line had reached Treungen. The railway that went from Treungen to Arendal was officially called Treungenbanen. Further expansions to Fyresdal were discussed. Treungenbanen had a branch line from Rise Station to Grimstad. This line was built as a private railway, but was later taken over by NSB and operated as Grimstadbanen. Lumber and ore transport was one of the main activities for these railways, of course in addition to passenger transport. Both Treungenbanen and Grimstadbanen were built in narrow gauge (1067 mm).
Sørlandsbanen reached Nelaug in 1935, and Treungenbanen became split in to branch lines. As a temporary solution, Sørlandsbanen terminated in Arendal, and because of this Arendal - Nelaug was upgraded to standard gauge. On November 9 1935 the first train went from Oslo West with among others King Haakon VII, Crown Prince Olav and Prime Minister Johan Nygaardsvold. At Nelaug there was locomotive change and a large ceremony in Arendal. For a three year period Arendal was the largest transportation hub in Southern Norway, with travelers from the west changing from steam ship to railway if they wanted quick travel east to the capital. Neither before nor later has Arendal Station has such traffic. Also Grimstadbanen was converted to standard gauge soon afterwards.
In 1986 Arendalsbanen got a serious competitor when the coach service between Kristiansand and Oslo started with multiple daily departures.
Stations
References
- Thor Bjerke and Ove Tovås (1989): Togbytte på Nelaug Norsk jernbaneklubb, Oslo ISBN 82-90286-10-4
External links
- Jernbaneverket's list of stations on Arendalsbanen (Norwegian)
- Jernbaneverket's list of stations on Arendalsbanen (in English, but lacks station descriptions)
