Simensbråten Line
Encyclopedia
The Simensbråten Line was a light rail
line of Oslo Tramway between Jomfrubråten
and Simensbråten
in Oslo
, Norway
. Opening on 30 September 1931, it branched off the Ekeberg Line
at Jomfrubråten
and had three stops along the 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) route—Ekebergparken
, Smedstua
and Simensbråten
. Operated by Ekebergbanen
, the line was closed on 29 October 1967. It is the only light rail line in Oslo to have been closed.
and terminated at 146.7 metres (481.3 ft) above mean sea level. The line served the areas of Ekeberg
and Simensbråten
. In rush hour Ekebergbanen provided direct services to the city center, but otherwise only provided a shuttle service to Jomfrubråten.
from Gamlebyen (then called Oslo) to Ekebergplatået. This application was recommended by Aker Municipal Council, but the idea was rejected by the Tramway Committee for Kristiania and Aker. They felt a funicular was not an appropriate and efficient means of transport for the planned residential areas at Ekebergplatået. Instead, they recommended a light rail. Oslo City Council stated on 27 April 1921 that instead a branch of the Ekeberg Line should be built from Sportsplassen Station to Simensbråten, in addition to the funicular.
A committee was established with representatives from the municipalities of Oslo, Aker, and Ekebergbanen. It saw the benefits of both lines, but recommended that the light rail be prioritized. Negotiations started between the municipalities and the company. Ekebergbanen stated that it was not possible to operate the branch line profitably, and that they could not raise sufficient capital to build the branch. In April 1922, the three made an agreement about the branch. However, at the time the plateau was being considered as one of the possible locations
for the new airport to serve Oslo, and this delayed the planning. In 1927, concession was granted by royal resolution, after it had been decided to built the new airport
at Fornebu
.
Construction of the line started in December 1928 During construction, the Ekeberg Line past Jomfrubråten was moved. Instead of following Kongsveien, it was moved further up. The double-tracked Ekeberg Line was placed on the new line, while the Simensbråten Line would follow the old route along Kongsveien. The Simensbråten Line would thus cross under the Ekebergn Line and then through a curve turn onto its right-of-way. The Simensbråten Line was completed in mid-1931 and It was officially opened on 30 September 1931. The line was never profitable, and needed municipal grants to operate.
The Simensbråten Line was planned extended onwards to Lambertseter
. In December 1931, concession for the extension was sent, either east or west of Brannfjellet. The application was amended in 1932 all the way to Nordstrandveien. In 1938, the application was approved by the Parliament of Norway, but Oslo and Aker municipalities could not agree on the route along Brannfjellet. In addition, Aker insisted that the Ekeberg Line first be extended south of Sæter before the Simensbråten Line be extended. A compromise was never found, and the line never extended.
World War II
and the limitations on fuel gave the Ekeberg Line a large increase in traffic Unlike many other Norwegian tramways, the tram vehicles were not confiscated and moved to Germany, because no German tramways used both 1,200 volts and allowed 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) wide vehicles. Following the end of the war, it was decided that Oslo and Aker would merge. Ekebergbanen's concession lasted until 30 June 1947, which was initially extended on year. In March 1948, Oslo Sporveier
, the municipal company that operated among other things the street tramways, offered to purchase Ekebergbanen. All but eight shares were sold, and from December the board of Ekebergbanen and Oslo Sporveier was identical. However, the company retained its own name, administration, rolling stock
and personnel.
After the nationalization, the company started a renovation process of the infrastructure and rolling stock. Combined with a municipal policy of low fares, the company started going with a loss. Five new trams were delivered from 1948 to 1952, and built at the depot at Holtet, with used equipment from some of the older trams. An additional nine new trams were delivered between 1952 and 1955. Five additional trams were rebuilt from 1955 to 1960, by which time all the narrow trams had been rebuilt or retired. The use of a unique voltage gave operational difficulties, as fuses could regularly blow at Oslo Hospital if errors where done while switching from the one current to the other. In addition, all the trams were custom built with extra equipment with limited spare parts. All the trams delivered during the 1950s were built so they could later be converted to only use 600 volt power. The depot was expanded in 1952.
In 1960, the Oslo City Council voted to close the street tramway and replace all routes with either diesel buses or the Oslo Metro. The specific plans for the Ekeberg Line were not decided, although the line was considered either to be a stand-alone light rail or connected to the metro. From 30 October 1960, the route for the Simensbråten Line trams in the city changed, so they instead followed the route Scheigaards gate – Vognmannsgata –Jernbanetorget – Kirkeristen to Stortorvet instead of the old route via Grønland
and Brugata. From 1963, the route terminated at Jernbanetorget, after the rest of the route was closed due to the construction of the metro.
From 1 July 1965, Oslo Sporveier took over the operation of the Simensbråten Line, which was numbered Line 16. Oslo Sporveier took over all employees and rolling stock, but Ekebergbanen remained a holding and real estate company. Immediately following the take-over, Oslo Sporveier introduced a 20-minute headway and suggested that the line be closed and replaced by buses from 29 October 1967, when the Østensjø Line of the metro opened. Following the closing of Sagene Ring
, there were increased protests against closing the tramway. Traffic had decreased on the Ekeberg Line, but proponents for keeping it stated that this was because Oslo Sporveier had reduced the frequency and moved the end station out of the core of the city center. When the proposal to close the Ekeberg Line was considered by the city council, it was decided that only the Simenbråten Line was to be closed. The Simensbråten Line is the only light rail line in Oslo to have been closed. It was replaced by a bus route that went up the other side of the hill, and did not correspond with the Ekeberg Line.
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...
line of Oslo Tramway between Jomfrubråten
Jomfrubråten
Jomfrubråten is a residential area of Nordstrand in Oslo, Norway. It is located approximately away from the city centre. The area was disintegrated from Ekeberg in 1920, and made a residential area when the Ekeberg Line opened in 1917...
and Simensbråten
Simensbråten
Simensbråten is a neighborhood in the borough of Nordstrand, Oslo, Norway.This suburb mostly includes houses, apartments and villa's, located alongside a grove dividing Simensbråten fromBrattlikollen....
in 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...
. Opening on 30 September 1931, it branched off the Ekeberg Line
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...
at Jomfrubråten
Jomfrubråten (station)
Jomfrubråten is a light rail station on the Ekeberg Line of the Oslo Tramway. It is located near Jomfrubråten in Ekeberg, in the borough of Nordstrand, in Oslo, Norway.The station opened on 11 June 1917 as part of the Ekeberg Line to Sæter...
and had three stops along the 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) route—Ekebergparken
Ekebergparken (station)
Ekebergparken is a light rail station on the Simensbråten Line of the Oslo Tramway. It is located near Ekebergparken in Ekeberg, in the borough of Nordstrand, in Oslo, Norway....
, Smedstua
Smedstua (station)
Smedstua was a light rail station on the Simensbråten Line of the Oslo Tramway. It was located at Smedstua in Ekeberg, in the borough of Nordstrand, in Oslo, Norway....
and Simensbråten
Simensbråten (station)
Simensbråten was a light rail station on the Oslo Tramway.Located at Simensbråten in Nordstrand, it was the terminus of the Simensbråten Line which was opened in 1931 as a side branch of the Ekeberg Line. The Simensbråten Line was closed on 29 October 1967. The area is currently served by Ryen...
. Operated by Ekebergbanen
Ekebergbanen (company)
AS Ekebergbanen was a private company that built and operated the Ekeberg Line in Oslo, Norway. It was founded 27 March 1914, and the line opened 11 June 1917 from Stortorvet to Sæter. The company also built a line to Simensbråten that was closed 29 October 1967...
, the line was closed on 29 October 1967. It is the only light rail line in Oslo to have been closed.
Route
The Simensbråten Line was a 1.3 kilometre (0.807784557644749 mi) long branch of the Ekeberg Line. It branched off south of Jomfrubråten and had three stations: Ekebergparken, Smedstua and Simensbråten. The line started at 115 metres (377.3 ft) above mean sea levelAbove mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
and terminated at 146.7 metres (481.3 ft) above mean sea level. The line served the areas of Ekeberg
Ekeberg
Ekeberg is a neighborhood in the city of Oslo, Norway. The Norway Cup soccer tournament takes place at Ekebergsletta every summer. "Sletta" means plateau. The painting "the Scream" by Edvard Munch is painted from Utsikten a part of Ekeberg.In the area are a number of old Iron Age grave mounds and...
and Simensbråten
Simensbråten
Simensbråten is a neighborhood in the borough of Nordstrand, Oslo, Norway.This suburb mostly includes houses, apartments and villa's, located alongside a grove dividing Simensbråten fromBrattlikollen....
. In rush hour Ekebergbanen provided direct services to the city center, but otherwise only provided a shuttle service to Jomfrubråten.
History
In 1918, AS Ekebergbanen sent an application to build a funicularFunicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
from Gamlebyen (then called Oslo) to Ekebergplatået. This application was recommended by Aker Municipal Council, but the idea was rejected by the Tramway Committee for Kristiania and Aker. They felt a funicular was not an appropriate and efficient means of transport for the planned residential areas at Ekebergplatået. Instead, they recommended a light rail. Oslo City Council stated on 27 April 1921 that instead a branch of the Ekeberg Line should be built from Sportsplassen Station to Simensbråten, in addition to the funicular.
A committee was established with representatives from the municipalities of Oslo, Aker, and Ekebergbanen. It saw the benefits of both lines, but recommended that the light rail be prioritized. Negotiations started between the municipalities and the company. Ekebergbanen stated that it was not possible to operate the branch line profitably, and that they could not raise sufficient capital to build the branch. In April 1922, the three made an agreement about the branch. However, at the time the plateau was being considered as one of the possible locations
Oslo Airport localization controversy
The location of the airport serving Oslo, Norway, has been the subject of several political debates since 1918. The fist controversy was initially related to choice between the islands of Gressholmen and Lindøya in the Oslofjord for a water aerodrome. The debate later changed, arriving at the...
for the new airport to serve Oslo, and this delayed the planning. In 1927, concession was granted by royal resolution, after it had been decided to built the new airport
Oslo Airport, Fornebu
Oslo Airport, Fornebu was the main airport serving Oslo and Eastern Norway from 1 June 1939 to 7 October 1998. It was then replaced by Oslo Airport, Gardermoen and the area has since been redeveloped. The airport was located at Fornebu in Bærum, from the city center. Fornebu had two runways, one...
at Fornebu
Fornebu
Fornebu is a peninsular area in the suburban municipality of Bærum in Norway, bordering western parts of Oslo.Oslo Airport, Fornebu served as the main airport for Oslo and the country since before WWII and until the evening of October 7, 1998, when it was closed down...
.
Construction of the line started in December 1928 During construction, the Ekeberg Line past Jomfrubråten was moved. Instead of following Kongsveien, it was moved further up. The double-tracked Ekeberg Line was placed on the new line, while the Simensbråten Line would follow the old route along Kongsveien. The Simensbråten Line would thus cross under the Ekebergn Line and then through a curve turn onto its right-of-way. The Simensbråten Line was completed in mid-1931 and It was officially opened on 30 September 1931. The line was never profitable, and needed municipal grants to operate.
The Simensbråten Line was planned extended onwards to Lambertseter
Lambertseter
Lambertseter is a suburb of the city of Oslo, Norway, and is part of the borough of Nordstrand.Lambertseter was built over a short period starting from 1951, and was the very first modern suburb of Oslo...
. In December 1931, concession for the extension was sent, either east or west of Brannfjellet. The application was amended in 1932 all the way to Nordstrandveien. In 1938, the application was approved by the Parliament of Norway, but Oslo and Aker municipalities could not agree on the route along Brannfjellet. In addition, Aker insisted that the Ekeberg Line first be extended south of Sæter before the Simensbråten Line be extended. A compromise was never found, and the line never extended.
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the limitations on fuel gave the Ekeberg Line a large increase in traffic Unlike many other Norwegian tramways, the tram vehicles were not confiscated and moved to Germany, because no German tramways used both 1,200 volts and allowed 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) wide vehicles. Following the end of the war, it was decided that Oslo and Aker would merge. Ekebergbanen's concession lasted until 30 June 1947, which was initially extended on year. In March 1948, 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 municipal company that operated among other things the street tramways, offered to purchase Ekebergbanen. All but eight shares were sold, and from December the board of Ekebergbanen and Oslo Sporveier was identical. However, the company retained its own name, administration, rolling stock
Ekebergbanen rolling stock
Ekebergbanen has operated a series of similar trams for use on the Ekeberg Line, the Simensbråten Line and the line in towards the city center. The trams were in use between 1917 and 1974.-History:...
and personnel.
After the nationalization, the company started a renovation process of the infrastructure and rolling stock. Combined with a municipal policy of low fares, the company started going with a loss. Five new trams were delivered from 1948 to 1952, and built at the depot at Holtet, with used equipment from some of the older trams. An additional nine new trams were delivered between 1952 and 1955. Five additional trams were rebuilt from 1955 to 1960, by which time all the narrow trams had been rebuilt or retired. The use of a unique voltage gave operational difficulties, as fuses could regularly blow at Oslo Hospital if errors where done while switching from the one current to the other. In addition, all the trams were custom built with extra equipment with limited spare parts. All the trams delivered during the 1950s were built so they could later be converted to only use 600 volt power. The depot was expanded in 1952.
In 1960, the Oslo City Council voted to close the street tramway and replace all routes with either diesel buses or the Oslo Metro. The specific plans for the Ekeberg Line were not decided, although the line was considered either to be a stand-alone light rail or connected to the metro. From 30 October 1960, the route for the Simensbråten Line trams in the city changed, so they instead followed the route Scheigaards gate – Vognmannsgata –Jernbanetorget – Kirkeristen to Stortorvet instead of the old route via Grønland
Grønland
Grønland is a neighbourhood in central Oslo, Norway. It is served by several tram and bus lines, as well as the Oslo Metro at the Grønland Station....
and Brugata. From 1963, the route terminated at Jernbanetorget, after the rest of the route was closed due to the construction of the metro.
From 1 July 1965, Oslo Sporveier took over the operation of the Simensbråten Line, which was numbered Line 16. Oslo Sporveier took over all employees and rolling stock, but Ekebergbanen remained a holding and real estate company. Immediately following the take-over, Oslo Sporveier introduced a 20-minute headway and suggested that the line be closed and replaced by buses from 29 October 1967, when the Østensjø Line of the metro opened. Following the closing of Sagene Ring
Sagene ring
Sagene ring is a former tramway in Oslo, Norway. The route was operated as line 0 of the Oslo Tramway between 1916 and 1954. The line went from the depot behind Sagene Church along Nordre Gravlund, Geitmyrsveien, Colletts gate, Ullevålsveien, Akersgaten, Karl Johans gate, via Stortorvet, Storgata,...
, there were increased protests against closing the tramway. Traffic had decreased on the Ekeberg Line, but proponents for keeping it stated that this was because Oslo Sporveier had reduced the frequency and moved the end station out of the core of the city center. When the proposal to close the Ekeberg Line was considered by the city council, it was decided that only the Simenbråten Line was to be closed. The Simensbråten Line is the only light rail line in Oslo to have been closed. It was replaced by a bus route that went up the other side of the hill, and did not correspond with the Ekeberg Line.