Vika Line
Encyclopedia
The Vika Line is a light rail
section of the Oslo Tramway in Oslo
, Norway
. It runs between Wessels plass, through the neighborhood of Vika
and Aker Brygge
, before arriving at Solli. The section is served by SL79
trams on line 12. The line is owned by the municipal company Kollektivtransportproduksjon, and operated by its subsidiary Oslo Sporvognsdrift
.
The line was opened on 21 August 1995 to serve the newly redeveloped areas with a high concentration of jobs. From 1875 to 1961, the Vika area has also been served by the Vestbanen Line. The line serves the large working areas at Aker Brygge, that has a large number of corporate head offices, as well as the Oslo City Hall
and The City Hall Square
. The line provides connection to the city's water bus services to Nesodden
and Bygdøy
.
, and opened as a horsecar
route from Oslo West Station
to Stortorvet
on 10 October 1875. It was electrified in 1899, and extended to Skillebekk
in 1909, as what became the Skøyen Line. The Vika Line was closed in 1961, one year after the city council decided to gradually close the city's tramway.
, that also featured shopping and residential areas. The Vika area had by the mid 1990s 5,000 residents and 30,000 jobs. With the construction of the Festning Tunnel
, it would also become possible to make The City Hall Square, the square in front of Oslo City Hall
, car-free.
Plans were launched in a report in 1989, that summarized the possibilities for different public transport expansions throughout Oslo. In October, an agreement was reached where the to build the line would be split evenly between the municipality, the state and the private real estate developers: Aker Eiendom, Olav Thon Eiendomsselskap and Berdal Strømme. By 1990, municipal-owned Oslo Sporveier
, the then owner and operator of the tramway, stated that the project would be profitable, and contribute NOK 4.9 million per year to the company. This meant that the municipality could recover the investment within three years.
In 1992, the city council gave funding for the project. One of the suggestions for the private financing of the project, was for the companies to crate a komandittselskap, and purchase two trams from the city for NOK 8 million each. The Vika Line was also seen as part of a possible light rail version of the Ring Line—a circular line that was to connect northern Oslo between east and west without passing through the city center. Had the light rail solution not been discarded in favor of making the ring part of the Oslo T-bane
, the Vika trams would, after reaching Majorstuen, have continued onwards towards Rikshospitalet
, that opened in 1999, and Nydalen
.
, Socialist Left Party
, Centre Party
and the Red Electoral Alliance
. The right-winged opposition parties opposed the suggestion, arguing that financing was not yet finalized, and that they wanted to have The City Hall Square completely free of all traffic, not just automobiles. City Commissioner of Transport and the Environment, Raymond Johansen
from the Socialist Left Party, argued that building the line would creating a more people-friendly city center, and allow the different parts of the city center to be better connected with public transport.
Construction started on 18 August 1994, when Raymond Johansen lay down the first track. By then, inflation had adjusted the construction cost to NOK 53.5 million. The line opened on 21 August 1995.
When the line opened, it was served by two lines: no. 10 Jar
–Sinsen
–Disen and no. 15 Majorstuen
–Frogner–Sagene
.
The line was the first new street tram line to be built in Oslo since the Sinsen Line
opened in 1939. Estimates before opening showed that the line should have 900,000 riders the first year. By June 1996, the two lines had a daily ridership increase of 2,300, a 19% increase.
With the redevelopment of the Bjørvika
and Vippetangen
areas, located east of The City Hall Square, three other segments of tramway have been proposed to be built along the fjord edge, and could connect to the Vika Line in the future.
articlulated trams by Oslo Sporvognsdrift
, on contract with Ruter
. The trams and tracks are owned by the municipal company Kollektivtransportproduksjon. The line is 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) long.
The line follows the streets Rosenkrantz gate, The City Hall Square and Cort Adelers gate. It has unique stations: Christiania torv
, Rådhusplassen, Aker brygge
and Vikatorvet. It intercepts with the Skøyen Line
at Wessels plass to the east, where the trams continue to the city center. In the west, the line intercepts with the Skøyen- and Frogner Line
at Solli. Only along The City Hall Square and Cort Adlers gate at Vikatorvet does the new line follow the route of the former Vestbanen Line.
At The City Hall Square, there is transfer to the ferry quay for Oslo Fergene
, that operates route 91 on contract with Ruter
to Bygdøy
. At Aker Brygge, there is transfer with Nesodden–Bundefjord Dampskipsselskap
, that operates Ruter
route 601 ferries to Nesodden
. Transfer to line 13 of the tramway, that serves the Skøyen- and Lilleaker Line is possible at Solli; transfer to line 19, that serves the Briskeby Line, is possible at Wessels plass and Kirkegata. All other tram routes can be reached at Stortorvet
. Transfer to the rapid transit (T-bane) and railway are available at Kirkeristen, where they connect to Jernbanetorget
, Oslo Central Station and Oslo Bus Terminal
.
Aker Brygge is a large working area, and features the head offices of several of Norway's largest companies, including DnB NOR
, Storebrand
and Aker. It also has 70 stores and 40 restaurants. Also located in the area is the former Western Railway Station
, that today's hosts the Nobel Peace Center
. At The City Hall Square is the Oslo City Hall
, and the square borders to the recreational and historical area of Akershus Fortress
.
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...
section of the Oslo Tramway 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...
. It runs between Wessels plass, through the neighborhood of Vika
Vika, Oslo
Vika is a neighborhood in the borough Frogner in Oslo, Norway. It is located between the Oslofjord, Aker Brygge, Pipervika, Slottsparken and Oslo City Hall....
and Aker Brygge
Aker Brygge
Aker Brygge is an area in Oslo, Norway. It is a popular meeting place for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Oslo residents, tourists from all over the world, business people on the move, as well as musicians, artists, actors, A-, B- and C-celebrities find Aker Brygge their favourite place to...
, before arriving at Solli. The section is served by SL79
SL79
SL79 is a class of 40 articulated trams operated by the Oslo Tramway of Norway. The trams were a variation of the Duewag trams that had been developed by the German manufacturer since the 1950s. The six-axle vehicles are unidirectional with four doors on the right side. The trams can seat 77...
trams on line 12. The line is owned by the municipal company Kollektivtransportproduksjon, and operated by its subsidiary 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...
.
The line was opened on 21 August 1995 to serve the newly redeveloped areas with a high concentration of jobs. From 1875 to 1961, the Vika area has also been served by the Vestbanen Line. The line serves the large working areas at Aker Brygge, that has a large number of corporate head offices, as well as the Oslo City Hall
Oslo City Hall
Oslo City Hall houses the city council, city administration, and art studios and galleries. The construction started in 1931, but was paused by the outbreak of World War II, before the official inauguration in 1950. Its characteristic architecture, artworks and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, held...
and The City Hall Square
The City Hall Square, Oslo
Rådhusplassen is a square located between Oslo City Hall and the Oslofjord in Vika, Oslo, Norway. Previously used as a road and part of European route E18, it has since 1994 served as a recreational area...
. The line provides connection to the city's water bus services to Nesodden
Nesodden
Nesodden is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Follo. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Nesoddtangen. The parish of Næsodden was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
and Bygdøy
Bygdøy
Bygdøy or Bygdø is a peninsula on the western side of Oslo, Norway. Administratively, Bygdøy belongs to the borough of Frogner.Bygdøy has several museums, like the Kon-Tiki Museum, which shows all year long the legendary expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl; the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History ; the...
.
Vestbanen Line
The first line at Vika was built by Kristiania SporveisselskabKristiania Sporveisselskab
AS Kristiania Sporveisselskab or KSS, nicknamed the Green Tram , was the first tram operator in Oslo, Norway. Founded in 1874, it started operation of horsecar services the following year and electric tram services in 1899...
, and opened as a horsecar
Horsecar
A horsecar or horse-drawn tram is an animal-powered streetcar or tram.These early forms of public transport developed out of industrial haulage routes that had long been in existence, and from the omnibus routes that first ran on public streets in the 1820s, using the newly improved iron or steel...
route from Oslo West Station
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...
to Stortorvet
Stortorvet (station)
Stortorvet is a station on the Oslo Tramway in Oslo, Norway. The station is located on the square Stortorvet in the city centre.It is served by the lines 11, 17 and 18. In 2009, it was decided to improve the square, the station and the tram tracks in the street.-References:...
on 10 October 1875. It was electrified in 1899, and extended to Skillebekk
Skillebekk (station)
Skillebekk is a light rail station on the Oslo Tramway.Located at Skillebekk, it was opened by Kristiania Elektriske Sporvei on 2 March 1894 as a part of the first stretch of what would become the Skøyen Line. It is served by line 13....
in 1909, as what became the Skøyen Line. The Vika Line was closed in 1961, one year after the city council decided to gradually close the city's tramway.
Planning
During the 1980s, the former shipyard of Akers Mekaniske Verksted at Vika went through an urban redevelopment. Several large companies started building corporate head offices at the area known as Aker BryggeAker Brygge
Aker Brygge is an area in Oslo, Norway. It is a popular meeting place for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Oslo residents, tourists from all over the world, business people on the move, as well as musicians, artists, actors, A-, B- and C-celebrities find Aker Brygge their favourite place to...
, that also featured shopping and residential areas. The Vika area had by the mid 1990s 5,000 residents and 30,000 jobs. With the construction of the Festning Tunnel
Festning Tunnel
The Festning Tunnel is a motorway tunnel on European Route E18 in the city center of Oslo, Norway. The tunnel has two tubes, with three lanes in each. It runs from Bjørvika, under Akershus Fortress, The City Hall Square and Vika to Filipstad. The tunnel is and elevation at the deepest.The tunnel...
, it would also become possible to make The City Hall Square, the square in front of Oslo City Hall
Oslo City Hall
Oslo City Hall houses the city council, city administration, and art studios and galleries. The construction started in 1931, but was paused by the outbreak of World War II, before the official inauguration in 1950. Its characteristic architecture, artworks and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, held...
, car-free.
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 then owner and operator of the tramway, stated that the project would be profitable, and contribute NOK 4.9 million per year to the company. This meant that the municipality could recover the investment within three years.
In 1992, the city council gave funding for the project. One of the suggestions for the private financing of the project, was for the companies to crate a komandittselskap, and purchase two trams from the city for NOK 8 million each. The Vika Line was also seen as part of a possible light rail version of the Ring Line—a circular line that was to connect northern Oslo between east and west without passing through the city center. Had the light rail solution not been discarded in favor of making the ring part of the Oslo T-bane
Oslo T-bane
The Oslo Metro is the rapid transit system of Oslo, Norway, operated by Oslo T-banedrift on contract from the transit authority Ruter. The network consists of six lines that all run through the city centre, with a total length of . It has a daily ridership of 268,000 with 105 stations of which 16...
, the Vika trams would, after reaching Majorstuen, have continued onwards towards Rikshospitalet
Rikshospitalet
Rikshospitalet is located in Oslo, Norway. From January 1, 2009, the hospital is part of Oslo University Hospital....
, that opened in 1999, and Nydalen
Nydalen
Nydalen is a neighbourhood in the Nordre Aker borough in northern Oslo, Norway.- History :Since the late 19th century Nydalen has been a largely industrial area...
.
Construction
The city council made the final decision to build the line on 18 May 1994, supported by the Labour PartyNorwegian 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....
, Socialist Left Party
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
, Centre Party
Centre Party (Norway)
The Centre Party is a centrist and agrarian political party in Norway, founded in 1920. The Centre Party's policy is not based on any of the major ideologies of the 19th and 20th century, but has a focus on maintaining decentralised economic development and political decision-making.From its...
and the Red Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance was an alliance of left-wing groups formed into a Norwegian political party to promote revolutionary far-left ideals into the Norwegian parliament...
. The right-winged opposition parties opposed the suggestion, arguing that financing was not yet finalized, and that they wanted to have The City Hall Square completely free of all traffic, not just automobiles. City Commissioner of Transport and the Environment, Raymond Johansen
Raymond Johansen
Raymond Johansen is a Norwegian politician and party secretary of the Labour Party, following the footsteps of his uncle, Thorbjørn Berntsen, who is one of the veterans of the Norwegian Labour Party....
from the Socialist Left Party, argued that building the line would creating a more people-friendly city center, and allow the different parts of the city center to be better connected with public transport.
Construction started on 18 August 1994, when Raymond Johansen lay down the first track. By then, inflation had adjusted the construction cost to NOK 53.5 million. The line opened on 21 August 1995.
When the line opened, it was served by two lines: no. 10 Jar
Jar (station)
-External links:*...
–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...
–Disen and no. 15 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....
–Frogner–Sagene
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,...
.
The line was the first new street tram line to be built in Oslo since the Sinsen Line
Sinsen Line
The Sinsen Line is part of the Oslo Tramway on the east side of the city. Most of the line is served by line 17, although the northernmost tip is served by line 13 which otherwise runs on the Grünerløkka–Torshov Line. Both services use SL95 articulated trams.-Route:The line leaves the...
opened in 1939. Estimates before opening showed that the line should have 900,000 riders the first year. By June 1996, the two lines had a daily ridership increase of 2,300, a 19% increase.
With the redevelopment of the Bjørvika
Bjørvika
Bjørvika is a neighborhood in the Sentrum borough of Oslo, Norway. The area is an inlet in the inner Oslofjord, situated between Gamlebyen and Akersness. It serves as an outlet for the river Akerselva. Since the 2000s, it has been undergoing urban redevelopment, being transformed from a container...
and Vippetangen
Vippetangen
Vippetangen is the southern point of the peninsula Akersneset in central Oslo, Norway, located southeast of Akershus Fortress. It is surrounded by the Oslo Fjord and has served as an important section of the port in Oslo...
areas, located east of The City Hall Square, three other segments of tramway have been proposed to be built along the fjord edge, and could connect to the Vika Line in the future.
Route
The Vika Line is served by line 12 of the Oslo Tramway. Services are each ten minutes, with reduced frequency in evening and on weekends. All lines are operated with SL79SL79
SL79 is a class of 40 articulated trams operated by the Oslo Tramway of Norway. The trams were a variation of the Duewag trams that had been developed by the German manufacturer since the 1950s. The six-axle vehicles are unidirectional with four doors on the right side. The trams can seat 77...
articlulated trams 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
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...
. The trams and tracks are owned by the municipal company Kollektivtransportproduksjon. The line is 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) long.
The line follows the streets Rosenkrantz gate, The City Hall Square and Cort Adelers gate. It has unique stations: Christiania torv
Christiania torv (station)
-References:*...
, Rådhusplassen, Aker brygge
Aker brygge (station)
Aker Brygge is a tramway station on the Oslo Tramway.Located at Aker Brygge, it was opened by Oslo Sporveier in 1994 as a part of the Vika Line. It is served by line 12....
and Vikatorvet. It intercepts with the Skøyen Line
Skøyen Line
The Skøyen Line is a tramway line running from Slottsparken to Skøyen in Oslo, Norway. It is served by line 13 of the Oslo Tramway. It connects the Briskeby Line at Slottsparken to the Lilleaker Line at Skøyen....
at Wessels plass to the east, where the trams continue to the city center. In the west, the line intercepts with the Skøyen- and Frogner Line
Frogner Line
The Frogner Line is a section of the Oslo Tramway which runs between Solli and Majorstuen, serving the neighborhood of Frogner. The line is served by tram number 12, and the Frogner section makes up the westernmost part of this line...
at Solli. Only along The City Hall Square and Cort Adlers gate at Vikatorvet does the new line follow the route of the former Vestbanen Line.
At The City Hall Square, there is transfer to the ferry quay for Oslo Fergene
Oslo Fergene
Oslo Fergene is a passenger ferry operator in Oslo, Norway. The company has contracts with Ruter to operate ferries from Vippetangen to the islands of Hovedøya, Bleihøya, Gressholmen, Lindøya, Nakholmen and Langøyene on routes 91–94....
, that operates route 91 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...
to Bygdøy
Bygdøy
Bygdøy or Bygdø is a peninsula on the western side of Oslo, Norway. Administratively, Bygdøy belongs to the borough of Frogner.Bygdøy has several museums, like the Kon-Tiki Museum, which shows all year long the legendary expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl; the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History ; the...
. At Aker Brygge, there is transfer with Nesodden–Bundefjord Dampskipsselskap
Nesodden–Bundefjord Dampskipsselskap
Nesodden–Bundefjord Dampskipsselskap, Nesoddbåtene or NBDS is a Norwegian shipping company that operates the passenger ferry in Oslofjord. The company has six ships, of which two are high-speed, and has 50 employees. The company has 2.7 million passengers annually. The primary function is to...
, that operates 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...
route 601 ferries to Nesodden
Nesodden
Nesodden is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Follo. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Nesoddtangen. The parish of Næsodden was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
. Transfer to line 13 of the tramway, that serves the Skøyen- and Lilleaker Line is possible at Solli; transfer to line 19, that serves the Briskeby Line, is possible at Wessels plass and Kirkegata. All other tram routes can be reached at Stortorvet
Stortorvet (station)
Stortorvet is a station on the Oslo Tramway in Oslo, Norway. The station is located on the square Stortorvet in the city centre.It is served by the lines 11, 17 and 18. In 2009, it was decided to improve the square, the station and the tram tracks in the street.-References:...
. Transfer to the rapid transit (T-bane) and railway are available at Kirkeristen, where they connect 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...
, Oslo Central Station and Oslo Bus Terminal
Oslo Bus Terminal
Oslo Bus Terminal is the main bus station serving Oslo, Norway. Owned by Vaterland AS it is located beside Oslo Central Station and serves local buses to Akershus as well as domestic and international coaches.-Service:...
.
Aker Brygge is a large working area, and features the head offices of several of Norway's largest companies, including DnB NOR
DnB NOR
DNB ASA is Norway's largest financial services group with total combined assets of more than NOK 2.0 trillion and a market capitalisation NOK 102 billion as per December the 31st. The Group includes brands such as DNB, Vital, Nordlandsbanken, Cresco, Postbanken, DnB NORD and Carlson...
, Storebrand
Storebrand
Storebrand is a financial services company in Norway. By volume, the company's main activities are related to life insurance and pension savings. However, the company also has major divisions working on investments, banking and, since 2006, P&C insurance products...
and Aker. It also has 70 stores and 40 restaurants. Also located in the area is the former Western Railway Station
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...
, that today's hosts the Nobel Peace Center
Nobel Peace Center
Nobel Peace Center is a showcase for the Nobel Peace Prize and the ideals it represents. The Center is also an arena where culture and politics merge to promote involvement, debate and reflection around topics such as war, peace and conflict resolution....
. At The City Hall Square is the Oslo City Hall
Oslo City Hall
Oslo City Hall houses the city council, city administration, and art studios and galleries. The construction started in 1931, but was paused by the outbreak of World War II, before the official inauguration in 1950. Its characteristic architecture, artworks and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, held...
, and the square borders to the recreational and historical area of Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
.