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The Oslo tunnelbane began as a network of suburban railroads which finally were connected through a city tunnel to form today's network of T-bane lines. So some lines date back to the end of the last century (Holmenkollbanen 1898). All western lines had their terminus station at Majorstuen until a 2 km long tunnel was built to Nationaltheatret in 1928. On the eastern side of town, tramways dominated until the 1950's, there was only one rail-line (today's line 3 east). Line 4 to Bergkrystallen was opened as a metro line in 1966 although part of the line had been used for light rail before. In the 1970's the rest of the eastern lines was built with their city terminus at Jernbanetorget (Central Station). In 1977 the city tunnel could be opened for the eastern lines to reach Stortinget, in 1986 also western lines could run through the new tunnel from Nationaltheatret to Stortinget although passengers had to transfer here because of two different supply systems (only the eastern lines had third rail supply then). From 1993 on, the western lines either changed their power supply to third rail or new trains equipped with both systems (catenary and 3rd rail) have been used on Line 1 (2-car trains, switch at Frøen) and the former Line 4 to Kolsås (3-car trains, switch at Montebello - this route is now being upgraded for full metro service). Along the stretches using overhead wires there are also some level crossings. Since 1995 all 5 lines run through the shared metro tunnel from east to west. On 12 April 2003, the line arrangement on the western side was changed, with Line 1 being cut back to Majorstuen (during peak hours through operation to Bergkrystallen). After passenger protests, Line 1 has been running again through the city tunnel all the way to Helsfyr since 8 Jan 2005.
The ring line was completed on 21 Aug 2006 when the missing section between Storo and Carl Berners plass was brought into service. Since that day, Line 4 and the newly created Line 6 have been serving the ring jointly in a loop. In summer 2003, 99 new metro-cars were ordered from Siemens (based on those currently being built for the Vienna U-Bahn), for delivery from 2006. Three of these new cars will form a permanently coupled unit, allowing free movement between them. The new trains will mainly replace more than 30-year old rolling stock. (Photo - MX3002 © Siemens) |
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20 Aug 2003: Ullevål Stadion - Storo 22 Nov 2004: Bekkestua - Kolsås reopened (Kolsåsbanen) 21 Aug 2006: Storo - Carl Berners plass For detailed history click here! |
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- In the city centre a new station (Homansbyen) has been planned for a long time between Nationaltheatret and Majorstuen. |
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Fares
(03/2007)
Single ticket - NOK 22 (good for 1 hour, NOK 30 if bought from bus/tram driver) Flexikort (8-Trips) - NOK 160 Dagskort (24-Hour Pass) - NOK 60 7 dagers kort (7-Day Pass) - NOK 210 All tickets are valid on buses, tram (trikken), metro (T-bane), boats and local trains within Oslo. Tickets have to be validated before starting the first trip. Operation Trains start running between 5:00 and 6:00 in the morning and run through until 1:00 after midnight. Frequency is every 15 minutes during daytime on all branches which amounts to a 3 minutes headway on the common central section. After 21:00 all lines are served every 30 minutes. |
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T-bane.no (Official Website) Oslo Sporveier (Official Page) NSB - Norwegian National Railways Oslo T-bane at Wikipedia.de and in Norwegian Homansbyen - A new station being added Leif Spångberg's Oslo Photo Gallery Kolsåsbanen - action group to save this line More Oslo T-Bane Photos by Leif-Harald Ruud |
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