Solør Line
| Length: | Starts: | Ends: | Status: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94 km | Kongsvinger Station | Elverum Station | Abandoned |
The Solør Line is the 94-kilometre long railway line between Kongsvinger and Elverum. The line lacks electrification and is solely used for freight trains after passenger services terminated in 1994.
Kongsvinger Station. Photo: Norsk Jernbanemuseum
Timber
The timber transport was considered important for the Solør Line. Since the 1600s, timber has been rafted down the river Glomma to the sawmills located further south. The Solør Line was not profitable after the opening. The timber industry continued with timber rafting because it was less expensive. The ridership was too low in order to make the passenger traffic profitable as well, although some trains between Oslo and Trondheim was running on the Solør Line until 1991. On 29 August 1994, all passenger services were terminated.
Even thought the Solør Line was not profitable after the opening, the number of freight trains are steadily increasing. Especially timber and tiles are transported. The forest industries in Solør and Østerdalen are exporting a huge amount of timber to Sweden, a trade that will probably continue to increase. The line may be electrified as a part of a modernisation. Local spokesmen have proposed to reopen the passenger traffic.