Sørlandsbanen
Encyclopedia
The Sørland Line is a railway
line between Drammen
(though this is connected to Oslo
by means of the Drammen Line) via Kristiansand
to Stavanger
. The line is 545 km long between Oslo and Stavanger.
, the Jæren Line from Egersund
to Stavanger
in Western Norway was opened in 1878. Up to 1913 the name used on plans and for the completed sections was the Vestland Line (The West Country Line).
Sørlandsbanen was completed by the German occupation force
during World War II
. It was opened for regular traffic on 1 May 1944. The line was an important communications link for transportation of troops, as well as war material. Long stretches of the Sørland Line railway are set away from the coast, instead of on the more densely populated coast
line. One reason for this was to protect the line from invading forces, and also to prevent the line being bombarded by navy ships
.
On 15 November 1950 the Hjuksebø train disaster
killed 14 people in a collision between an express train and runaway freight cars.
, the Arendal Line
, which runs between Nelaug
and Arendal
. Another branch line, the Flekkefjord Line
, from Sira
to Flekkefjord
, was once part of the main line. It was turned into a branch line upon completion of the Sørland Line in 1944, and was finally closed in 1990. Other branch lines which are now closed are the Numedal Line between Kongsberg and Rødberg
(in Nore og Uvdal
), the Setesdal Line and the Kragerø Line between Neslandsvatn
and Kragerø
.
Kristiansand Station
is designed as a terminal station
. Therefore, trains from Stavanger towards Oslo reverse direction when leaving Kristiansand.
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
line between Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
(though this is connected to 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...
by means of the Drammen Line) via Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
to Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
. The line is 545 km long between Oslo and Stavanger.
History
The railway was constructed in several phases, the first section being opened in 1871 and the last not opened until 1944. While there was a continual construction work from Oslo westward as far as MoiMoi, Norway
Moi is the administrative centre of the Lund municipality, in Rogaland county in Norway. It has a population of about 2000. Moi lies next to Lundevatnet, one of the deepest lakes in Norway.-Industry:...
, the Jæren Line from Egersund
Egersund
The town of Egersund was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was merged with the surrounding municipality of Eigersund January 1, 1965....
to Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
in Western Norway was opened in 1878. Up to 1913 the name used on plans and for the completed sections was the Vestland Line (The West Country Line).
Sørlandsbanen was completed by the German occupation force
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
during 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...
. It was opened for regular traffic on 1 May 1944. The line was an important communications link for transportation of troops, as well as war material. Long stretches of the Sørland Line railway are set away from the coast, instead of on the more densely populated coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
line. One reason for this was to protect the line from invading forces, and also to prevent the line being bombarded by navy ships
Naval ship
A naval ship is a ship used for combat purposes, commonly by a navy. Naval ships are differentiated from civilian ships by construction and purpose...
.
On 15 November 1950 the Hjuksebø train disaster
Hjuksebø train disaster
The Hjuksebø train disaster was a rail accident on the railway Sørlandsbanen on 15 November 1950 between the stations of Hjuksebø and Holtsås in the Sauherad municipality in Telemark, Norway. With fourteen deaths resulting from the crash, this was Norway's worst railway accident in peacetime until...
killed 14 people in a collision between an express train and runaway freight cars.
Subsections
Among the stretches which make up the Sørland Line are:- Oslo–Drammen is the Drammen Line, completed in 1872.
- Drammen–KongsbergKongsbergis a town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is located at the southern end of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsberg....
, opened in 1871. - Kongsberg–BøBø, TelemarkBø is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Midt-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bø i Telemark. The municipality of Bø was established on 1 January 1838...
, opened in 1924. - LundeLunde, TelemarkLunde is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality centre was Bjervamoen.It was created by a split from Bø on 1 January 1867. At that time Lunde had a population of 2,257....
–Neslandsvatn (KragerøKragerøis a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vestmar. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kragerø....
), opened in 1927. - Neslandsvatn–NelaugNelaugNelaug is a village in the southern part of the municipality of Åmli in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The population was 161. The village lies east of the Nelaug lake, which is regulated by a hydroelectric power plant...
(ArendalArendalis a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
), opened in 1935. - NelaugNelaugNelaug is a village in the southern part of the municipality of Åmli in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The population was 161. The village lies east of the Nelaug lake, which is regulated by a hydroelectric power plant...
–Kristiansand, opened in 1938. - Kristiansand–MoiMoi, NorwayMoi is the administrative centre of the Lund municipality, in Rogaland county in Norway. It has a population of about 2000. Moi lies next to Lundevatnet, one of the deepest lakes in Norway.-Industry:...
, opened in 1944. - Moi (Flekkefjord)–Egersund, opened in 1904.
- EgersundEgersundThe town of Egersund was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was merged with the surrounding municipality of Eigersund January 1, 1965....
–Stavanger is the Jæren Line, which was opened in 1878.
Branch lines
Sørlandsbanen has one operational branch lineBranch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
, the Arendal Line
Arendal Line
The Arendal Line is a long railway line between Arendal and Simonstad in Norway. At Nelaug, north of Arendal, the line intersects with the Sørland Line. The southern section is electrified and provides a feeder passenger service. The line originally ran north from Arendal to Treungen and the...
, which runs between Nelaug
Nelaug
Nelaug is a village in the southern part of the municipality of Åmli in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The population was 161. The village lies east of the Nelaug lake, which is regulated by a hydroelectric power plant...
and Arendal
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
. Another branch line, the Flekkefjord Line
Flekkefjord Line
The Flekkefjord Line is a abandoned branch line to the Sørland Line. It ran between Sira and Flekkefjord in Vest-Agder, Norway. The only current activity on the line is tourist draisines. The station buildings along the line were designed by the architect Paul Armin Due—these have all been...
, from Sira
Sira, Norway
Sira is a village located within the municipality of Flekkefjord in south-western Norway. The village is located at the border of the counties Vest-Agder and Rogaland, along European route E39 and the railway Sørlandsbanen. The village is served by Sira Station.Sira takes its name from the Sira...
to Flekkefjord
Flekkefjord
is a town and municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.The town of Flekkefjord was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . The rural municipalities of Bakke, Gyland, Hidra, and Nes were merged with Flekkefjord on 1 January 1965.Flekkefjord is the westernmost town of the...
, was once part of the main line. It was turned into a branch line upon completion of the Sørland Line in 1944, and was finally closed in 1990. Other branch lines which are now closed are the Numedal Line between Kongsberg and Rødberg
Rødberg
Rødberg is the administrative centre of Nore og Uvdal municipality, Norway.Rødberg is located in the Norwegian traditional district and valley of Numedal. Its population is 468, and it is located on the Rødberg dam on the Numedalslågen River....
(in Nore og Uvdal
Nore og Uvdal
Nore og Uvdal is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rødberg....
), the Setesdal Line and the Kragerø Line between Neslandsvatn
Neslandsvatn
Neslandsvatn is a small village in Drangedal with a population of 262. It is also a station on Sørlandsbanen. It is a popular skiing and snowboarding area....
and Kragerø
Kragerø
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vestmar. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kragerø....
.
Kristiansand Station
Kristiansand Station
Kristiansand Station is a railway station located in downtown Kristiansand in Vest-Agder, Norway on the Sørland Line. The station is served by regional trains to Oslo and Stavanger...
is designed as a terminal station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
. Therefore, trains from Stavanger towards Oslo reverse direction when leaving Kristiansand.