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Stortinget (station)
Encyclopedia
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, 18 and 19 on the Ullevål Hageby Line
as Tinghuset and Prof. Aschehougs gate. Stortinget is kilometer marker zero for the metro network and is owned by Kollektivtransportproduksjon.
There has been a tram stop at Tinghuset since the opening of the Oslo Tramway in 1875. The rapid transit station opened as Sentrum in 1977, and was connected to the eastern network of the metro. It was forced to close in 1983 due to leaks. It took the new name following the 1987 re-opening; this time is was also connected to the western network. The station has four platforms—originally two were used for the eastern trains and two for the western ones. Since 1993, trains have operated through the station.
in 1928. The company, Holmenkolbanen
, had plans for further extensions into the heart of the city, but high costs during the construction of the initial tunnel hampered progress. In 1954, the Parliament of Norway decided to build a rapid transit system for Oslo. Four lines to the east of the city would be built, and in 1966 the section from Tøyen
to Jernbanetorget
opened by Oslo Sporveier
. Jernbanetorget was located adjacent to Oslo East Station, the main railway station serving Oslo. However, the eastern lines also did not extend into the core of the central business district of the capital.
During the 1960s, the Oslo Tunnel was being planned to connect the Drammen Line to Oslo East Station. This would make the West Station
unnecessary, and would allow a central station to be built at the location of the East Station. The tunnel was planned to run in a similar route as would be necessary to connect Jernbanetorget to Nationaltheatret, and a railway station was planned to connect to Nationaltheatret. Simultaneously, Oslo Sporveier worked with possibilities to connect their eastern and western networks, and get both into the city core. During the 1960s, the planning office for the metro proposed to build a connecting tunnel between Nationaltheatret and Jernbanetorget. However, the initial plans involved creating a station close to Nationaltheatret, named for Slottsparken, which would serve as the transfer point between the two systems. This station had a planned dimension to hold 25,000 people.
At the time, the western and eastern networks were incompatible; in addition to different platform heights, the eastern network used six-car trains with a third-rail power supply, while the western network used overhead wires and two-car trains. The initial plans were met with criticism, following media's discovery that the main planners had not consulted several hired specialists, and that alternatives to the preferred route had not been made. As a consequence, several engineers working for the Norwegian State Railways
made two alternative suggestion for the route. By 1975, the plans were changed so Nationaltheatret would become the transfer station, by building a balloon loop
for the eastern trains, while the western trains would terminate as before. This solution would allow the two networks to be connected later. In 1978, the city planner discarded the proposal from Oslo Sporveier to build a new station at Slottsparken, and instead decided that Stortinget would become the interchange between the two systems. This would allow the western network to later be upgraded to metro standard
and allow through trains. The proposal was supported by all political parties except the Labour Party
.
The decision to build Sentrum Station was taken by the city council on 22 May 1969; the decision also involved that the transfer station be placed at Slottsparken/Nationaltheatret. Construction started in 1972, and the first leaks were revealed. By the time the station opened on 9 January 1977, the leaks had not been removed. During trials in January, it turned out that the tracks were too low for all types of trains to be able to open their doors, causing the tracks to have to be hightenend. By 1978, the contractor and the municipality felt that the leaks were under control, and the municipality took over the station. In February 1983, the station was closed to finally remove all leaks. At the time, it was expected that the station could reopen in 1984. The leakages were caused by two sources: the use of the wrong type of concrete, and the wrong construction method. These were specified correctly in the tender contracts, but after the contractor was chosen, an agreement was made between the municipality and Selmer for the use of the membrane method. Combined with the inferior quality of concrete, the leaks were unavoidable. In 1986, the municipality sued Selmer for the it cost to repair the station.
The station reopened on 7 March 1987, with the new name Stortinget. The name derives from the Parliament of Norway that is adjacent to the station. The Common Tunnel was completed, and the trains from the western network terminated where at the old platforms, where the eastern trains had previously terminated. The eastern trains instead operated through a balloon loop. The station featured a step-free walk between the two systems. With the opening of Stortinget, the metro network was declared finished, after the last extension on the Furuset Line to Ellingsrudåsen
had been made in 1981. After the opening of Stortinget, only five new station have opened: Mortensrud
(1998), Forskningsparken
(1999), Nydalen
, Storo
(both 2003), Sinsen
and Husebybakken
(both 2006). In 1993, the Sognsvann Line and the Common Tunnel were rebuilt to metro standard, and the first through trains started operating on both sides of Stortinget. By 1995, also the Røa Line was upgrades, and all lines started operating through Stortinget.
Stortinget has four platforms
. Most regular trains, which travel through the city center use the main platforms which were formerly used only for trains on the western side of the network. At each side is a platform for trains from the east terminating at Stortinget. Before the lines were joined together these platforms were in heavy use, but now they are used only for a small number of extra trains. A loop which passes underneath the main track connects the two side platforms, allowing the trains to turn without having to reverse direction.
on contract with Ruter
.
West-bound trams stop at Tinghuset, while east-bound trams stop at Prof. Aschehougs gate. They are served by lines 17, 18 and 19 of the Oslo Tramway. Westwards, line 17 and 18 operate along the Ullevål Hageby Line to Rikshospitalet
; travel time is 16 minutes. Line 19 branches off onto the Briskeby Line
to Majorstuen
. Eastwards, line 17 operates to Grefsen, with a travel time of 17 minutes. Lines 18 and 19 operate to Ljabru
, with a travel time of 22 minutes. The tramway is operated by Oslo Sporvognsdrift
on contract with Ruter.
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 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, 18 and 19 on 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...
as Tinghuset and Prof. Aschehougs gate. Stortinget is kilometer marker zero for the metro network and is owned by Kollektivtransportproduksjon.
There has been a tram stop at Tinghuset since the opening of the Oslo Tramway in 1875. The rapid transit station opened as Sentrum in 1977, and was connected to the eastern network of the metro. It was forced to close in 1983 due to leaks. It took the new name following the 1987 re-opening; this time is was also connected to the western network. The station has four platforms—originally two were used for the eastern trains and two for the western ones. Since 1993, trains have operated through the station.
History
The first underground railway to serve Oslo was the extension of the Holmenkoll Line to NationaltheatretNationaltheatret (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...
in 1928. The company, Holmenkolbanen
Holmenkolbanen
A/S Holmenkolbanen was a company that owned and operated part of the Oslo Tramway and Oslo Metro in Norway from 1898 until 1975 when services were taken over by the majority owner Oslo Sporveier. Holmenkolbanen opened the Holmenkoll Line in 1898, and expanded it to become the first Nordic...
, had plans for further extensions into the heart of the city, but high costs during the construction of the initial tunnel hampered progress. In 1954, the Parliament of Norway decided to build a rapid transit system for Oslo. Four lines to the east of the city would be built, and in 1966 the section from Tøyen
Tøyen (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...
to 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...
opened by 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...
. Jernbanetorget was located adjacent to Oslo East Station, the main railway station serving Oslo. However, the eastern lines also did not extend into the core of the central business district of the capital.
Oslo Vestbanestasjon
Oslo West Station or Oslo V, is a former railway station located in Vika in Oslo, Norway. It was the terminus of the Drammen Line between 1872 and 1980, until the Oslo Tunnel opened. The station remained in use until 1989, when all traffic was moved to the new Oslo Central Station...
unnecessary, and would allow a central station to be built at the location of the East Station. The tunnel was planned to run in a similar route as would be necessary to connect Jernbanetorget to Nationaltheatret, and a railway station was planned to connect to Nationaltheatret. Simultaneously, Oslo Sporveier worked with possibilities to connect their eastern and western networks, and get both into the city core. During the 1960s, the planning office for the metro proposed to build a connecting tunnel between Nationaltheatret and Jernbanetorget. However, the initial plans involved creating a station close to Nationaltheatret, named for Slottsparken, which would serve as the transfer point between the two systems. This station had a planned dimension to hold 25,000 people.
At the time, the western and eastern networks were incompatible; in addition to different platform heights, the eastern network used six-car trains with a third-rail power supply, while the western network used overhead wires and two-car trains. The initial plans were met with criticism, following media's discovery that the main planners had not consulted several hired specialists, and that alternatives to the preferred route had not been made. As a consequence, several engineers working for the Norwegian State Railways
Norwegian State Railways (1883–1996)
The Norwegian State Railways was a state-owned railway company that operated most of the railway network in Norway. The government agency was created in 1883 to oversee the construction and operation of all state-owned railways in Norway...
made two alternative suggestion for the route. By 1975, the plans were changed so Nationaltheatret would become the transfer station, by building a balloon loop
Balloon loop
A balloon loop or turning loop allows a rail vehicle or train to reverse direction without having to shunt or even stop. Balloon loops can be useful for passenger trains and unit freight trains, such as coal trains....
for the eastern trains, while the western trains would terminate as before. This solution would allow the two networks to be connected later. In 1978, the city planner discarded the proposal from Oslo Sporveier to build a new station at Slottsparken, and instead decided that Stortinget would become the interchange between the two systems. This would allow the western network to later be upgraded to metro standard
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...
and allow through trains. The proposal was supported by all political parties except the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
.
The decision to build Sentrum Station was taken by the city council on 22 May 1969; the decision also involved that the transfer station be placed at Slottsparken/Nationaltheatret. Construction started in 1972, and the first leaks were revealed. By the time the station opened on 9 January 1977, the leaks had not been removed. During trials in January, it turned out that the tracks were too low for all types of trains to be able to open their doors, causing the tracks to have to be hightenend. By 1978, the contractor and the municipality felt that the leaks were under control, and the municipality took over the station. In February 1983, the station was closed to finally remove all leaks. At the time, it was expected that the station could reopen in 1984. The leakages were caused by two sources: the use of the wrong type of concrete, and the wrong construction method. These were specified correctly in the tender contracts, but after the contractor was chosen, an agreement was made between the municipality and Selmer for the use of the membrane method. Combined with the inferior quality of concrete, the leaks were unavoidable. In 1986, the municipality sued Selmer for the it cost to repair the station.
The station reopened on 7 March 1987, with the new name Stortinget. The name derives from the Parliament of Norway that is adjacent to the station. The Common Tunnel was completed, and the trains from the western network terminated where at the old platforms, where the eastern trains had previously terminated. The eastern trains instead operated through a balloon loop. The station featured a step-free walk between the two systems. With the opening of Stortinget, the metro network was declared finished, after the last extension on the Furuset Line to Ellingsrudåsen
Ellingsrudåsen (station)
Ellingsrudåsen is a subway station on the Oslo Metro, located at Ellingsrud in the Alna borough. Since its opening November 8, 1981, it has been the end station for the Furuset Line . Ellingsrudåsen is mostly a residential area, above the station are a few shops.Ellingsrudåsen is located deep...
had been made in 1981. After the opening of Stortinget, only five new station have opened: Mortensrud
Mortensrud (station)
Mortensrud is a rapid transit station on the Østensjø Line of the Oslo Metro. It is located in Mortensrud in the Søndre Nordstrand borough of Oslo, Norway. Construction of the station started in 1995, which was taken into use on 24 November 1997, when it became the terminal station of the...
(1998), 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...
(1999), 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...
(both 2003), 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 Husebybakken
Husebybakken (station)
Husebybakken was a metro station on the Kolsås Line of the Oslo Metro. Serving the neighborhood of Montebello in Oslo, Norway, it opened in 1942, when the connection line between Sørbyhaugen and Jar was opened. It was closed on 19 June 1961, but reopened from 31 July 2006 to 31 May 2008, when the...
(both 2006). In 1993, the Sognsvann Line and the Common Tunnel were rebuilt to metro standard, and the first through trains started operating on both sides of Stortinget. By 1995, also the Røa Line was upgrades, and all lines started operating through Stortinget.
Facilities
Railway platform
A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. Almost all stations for rail transport have some form of platforms, with larger stations having multiple platforms...
. Most regular trains, which travel through the city center use the main platforms which were formerly used only for trains on the western side of the network. At each side is a platform for trains from the east terminating at Stortinget. Before the lines were joined together these platforms were in heavy use, but now they are used only for a small number of extra trains. A loop which passes underneath the main track connects the two side platforms, allowing the trains to turn without having to reverse direction.
Service
Stortinget is served by all six lines of the Oslo Metro. The station is considered the heart of the system, and is kilometer marker zone of all distances. All services have a 15-minute headway, except during late night. The metro is operated by Oslo T-banedriftOslo 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 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...
.
West-bound trams stop at Tinghuset, while east-bound trams stop at Prof. Aschehougs gate. They are served by lines 17, 18 and 19 of the Oslo Tramway. Westwards, line 17 and 18 operate along the Ullevål Hageby Line to Rikshospitalet
Rikshospitalet (station)
Rikshospitalet is a light rail tram station at the end of the Ullevål Hageby Line of the Oslo Tramway. It is located at Rikshospitalet, the Norwegian National Hospital, at Gaustad in Oslo, Norway....
; travel time is 16 minutes. Line 19 branches off onto the Briskeby Line
Briskeby Line
The Briskeby Line is a section of the Oslo Tramway which runs between Jernbanetorget, through the neighborhoods of Briskeby and Uranienborg, before arriving at Majorstuen...
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....
. Eastwards, line 17 operates to Grefsen, with a travel time of 17 minutes. Lines 18 and 19 operate to Ljabru
Ljabru (station)
Ljabru is a light rail station on the Oslo Tramway.Located at Ljabru in Nordstrand, it is the current terminus of the Ekeberg Line. It was opened on 17 September 1941 as an extension of that line from Sæter. Until 1967, the stretch between Sæter and Ljabru was the only single track rail in Oslo. A...
, with a travel time of 22 minutes. The tramway is operated by Oslo Sporvognsdrift
Oslo Sporvognsdrift
Oslotrikken AS, formerly Oslo Sporvognsdrift AS, is the company that operates the Oslo Tramway in Oslo, Norway. Oslotrikken is owned by Kollektivtransportproduksjon, which is again owned by the city council and has an operating contract with Ruter. The company operates 72 trams , has 374 employees...
on contract with Ruter.