Vestgrensa (station)
Encyclopedia
Vestgrensa was a light rail
station
on the Sognsvann Line of the Oslo Metro in Norway
. It opened on 10 October 1934, and was located between Blindern
and Ullevål stadion
stations. The station was rebuilt when the Sognsvann Line was upgraded from light rail
to metro standard in the early 1990s. It was closed on 22 August 1999, when it was replaced by the new station Forskningsparken
.
had built a light rail line from Majorstuen
to Sognsvann
. The line was double-tracked
from Majorstuen to Korsvoll
(now Østhorn), and single-tracked
from there to Sognsvann. On 21 February 1939, the section from Korsvoll to Sognsvann was upgraded to double tracks, and the station Korsvoll had its name changed to Østhorn. Ullevål Haveby station changed also name, to Vestgrensa, to avoid confusion with the northbound Ullevål stadion station
.
Vestgrensa was part of Holmenkolbanen
's operating network until 1975, when the municipality of Oslo
bought all the company's stock. In the early 1990s, the stations on the Sognsvann Line were upgraded to metro standard, which involved a heightening and lengthening of the platforms, and installation of a third rail
power supply and a new signaling system. The electrified third rail made it impossible for passengers to cross at track level, and under- or overpasses had to be built at all stations.
In 1992, the transport authorities of Oslo decided to close Nordberg
and Frøen
stations, on the grounds that these stations were too expensive to maintain. The platforms
at Vestgrensa were moved a few metres to adjust to the metro trains
. Seven years later, on 22 August 1999, Vestgrensa was closed and replaced with the newly opened Forskningsparken Station
.
neighbourhood in Oslo, between the Oslo Innovation Center and the football stadium Ullevaal Stadion
. The station was positioned on an elevated embankment, some metres from a bridge over a pedestrian walkway also named Vestgrensa. The station served the residential area in Ullevål Hageby, as well as the University of Oslo
at Blindern
. A scout hut was in many years located close to the station.
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...
station
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
on the Sognsvann Line of the Oslo Metro in 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 opened on 10 October 1934, and was located between 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...
and 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...
stations. The station was rebuilt when the Sognsvann Line was upgraded from 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...
to metro standard in the early 1990s. It was closed on 22 August 1999, when it was replaced by the new station 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...
.
History
Ullevål Haveby station opened on 10 October 1934, when AkersbanerneAkersbanerne
A/S Akersbanerne was a municipal owned company that operated tramways in the former Municipality of Aker in current Oslo, Norway. The company was established in 1917, and opened the suburban Østensjø Line tramway in 1926; it took over the majority ownership of Holmenkolbanen in 1933, that owned the...
had built a light rail line from 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....
to Sognsvann
Sognsvann (station)
Sognsvann station is the last stop on Sognsvann Line, the western side of line 3 on the Oslo T-bane. The station is located south of the lake Sognsvann. Next to the station on the west side is the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, while on the east side are the Norwegian National Archives.The...
. The line was double-tracked
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
from Majorstuen to Korsvoll
Østhorn (station)
Østhorn is a station on the Sognsvann Line of the Oslo Metro in Norway. It is located from Stortinget station between Tåsen and Holstein stations. As one of the original stations on the line, Østhorn was opened on 10 October 1934...
(now Østhorn), and single-tracked
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
from there to Sognsvann. On 21 February 1939, the section from Korsvoll to Sognsvann was upgraded to double tracks, and the station Korsvoll had its name changed to Østhorn. Ullevål Haveby station changed also name, to Vestgrensa, to avoid confusion with the northbound Ullevål stadion station
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...
.
Vestgrensa was part of 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...
's operating network until 1975, when the municipality 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...
bought all the company's stock. In the early 1990s, the stations on the Sognsvann Line were upgraded to metro standard, which involved a heightening and lengthening of the platforms, and installation of a third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
power supply and a new signaling system. The electrified third rail made it impossible for passengers to cross at track level, and under- or overpasses had to be built at all stations.
In 1992, the transport authorities of Oslo decided to close Nordberg
Nordberg (station)
Nordberg was a station on the Sognsvann Line of the Oslo Metro in Oslo, Norway. It was opened on 10 October 1934, and was located between Østhorn and Holstein stations, in a level crossing with the steep road Borgestadveien. The station saw several accidents, and was closed on 5 May 1992 when the...
and Frøen
Frøen (station)
Frøen is a station on the Oslo Metro in the Vestre Aker borough, it is the first station on the Holmenkollen Line after Majorstuen. The name refers to Frøen Gård, a stately estate located near the present location of the t-bane station, of which now only the manor house remains...
stations, on the grounds that these stations were too expensive to maintain. The platforms
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...
at Vestgrensa were moved a few metres to adjust to the metro trains
Oslo Metro rolling stock
The rolling stock of Oslo Metro, Norway has consisted of three classes: T1000/T1300, T2000 and MX3000. The T1000 was built as 162 single cars from 1964 to 1978. From 1979 to 1985, 33 new T1300 trains were built, followed by the conversion of 16 T1000s. Six two-car T2000 units were delivered in 1994...
. Seven years later, on 22 August 1999, Vestgrensa was closed and replaced with the newly opened Forskningsparken Station
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...
.
Location
Vestgrensa was located in the Ullevål HagebyUllevål Hageby
Ullevål Hageby is a residential area and garden city in borough Nordre Aker of Oslo, Norway. All housing in the area is part of the housing cooperative Oslo Havebyselskap...
neighbourhood in Oslo, between the Oslo Innovation Center and the football stadium Ullevaal Stadion
Ullevaal Stadion
Ullevaal Stadion is an all-seater football stadium located in Oslo, Norway. It is the home ground of Vålerenga IF and the Norway national football team, and the site of the Norwegian Cup Final. From its opening in 1926 to 2009 it was the home ground of FK Lyn. With a capacity of 25,572, it is the...
. The station was positioned on an elevated embankment, some metres from a bridge over a pedestrian walkway also named Vestgrensa. The station served the residential area in Ullevål Hageby, as well as the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
at Blindern
Blindern
Blindern is the main campus of the University of Oslo, located in Nordre Aker in Oslo, Norway.-The campus:Most of the departments of the University of Oslo are located at Blindern; other, smaller campuses include Sentrum , Gaustad , St...
. A scout hut was in many years located close to the station.