Randsfjorden Line
| Length: | Starts: | Ends: | Status: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 54 km | Hokksund Station | Randsfjord Station | In service |
The Randsfjorden Line was previously the 87-kilometre long railway line between Drammen and Randsfjord. Today the length as been shortened to 54 kilometres and is now defined as the railway line between Hokksund and Hønefoss. The Randsfjorden Line was the fifth opened railway line in Norway.
Hen Station. Photo: Anders Beer Wilse
Freight transport
Randsfjorden became an important hub for freight transport. Animals, timber, ice and liquors were transported with steamships on Randsfjorden and further with freight trains to Drammen. Up to eight freight trains were daily operating in the beginning of the 1900s. The line also had passenger services, but the trains were slow. After the opening, the travel time could take as long as 6.5 hours between Drammen and Randsfjorden.
Several branch lines
As well as the connection line to Kongsberg, the Randsfjorden Line had two branch lines. At Vikersund the Krøderen Line opened in 1872 to Krødsherad. In 1926 the Sperillen Line was opened as a branch line between Hen and Finsand. The Randsfjorden Line also had a connection to Hønefoss from Roa when the Bergen Line opened in 1909. A new station was built in Jevnaker, one kilometre further east of the former Randsfjorden Station. This station took over most of the passenger traffic. As a result, the passenger service was closed in 1933. It was reopened in 1944, but closed for the second time on 26 May 1968. The freight train services continued to Randsfjorden until 1 January 1981 and Bergermoen became the new terminus. The track between Bergermoen and Randsfjorden was replaced by a rail trail in 1984.
The future
Due to few passengers, the commuter trains terminated their services between Hokksund and Hønefoss in 2001. Two years later the services were resumed, but once again closed in 2004. The Randsfjorden Line is today a connection line for the trains operating on the Bergen Line. The railway's future will depend on the Ringerike Line between Sandvika and Hønefoss, which are planned opened in 2028/29. The Randsfjorden Line will then probably be used by freight trains only.