Dovre Line
| Length: | Starts: | Ends: | Status: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 492 km | Trondheim S | Eidsvoll Station | In service |
The Dovre Line is a main line between Eidsvoll and Trondheim which opened in 1921. Before the opening, there were several isolated railways between Oslo and Trondheim, even in the end of the 1800s.
Trondheim Central Station. Photo: Axel Lindahl/Norsk Folkemuseum
Patchwork
The years before the official opening in 1921, the railway lines between Oslo and Trondheim was a patchwork. Both Oslo and Trondheim had their own isolated railways. The Trunk Line between Oslo and Eidsvoll opened in 1854 and the Trondhjem—Støren Line ten years later, but with different track gauges. Since 1854 until 1921 the railway was gradually extended upward the Gudbrand Valley. The narrow-gauge Trondhjem—Støren Line was also converted to a standard gauge railway in 1921. The Dovre Line was not finished electrified until 1970.
Economic success
Today the Dovre Line is one of the most profitable and busy railways and is part of the so-called InterCity Triangle. The railway follows the Gudbrand Valley upward Dombås where the line branches off to Åndalsnes, known as the Rauma Line. The Dovre Line stretches over the mountain range Dovrefjell towards Oppdal and Trondheim past musk oxes and places known from Norwegian folk tales. Highest point is 1,024 meters above sea level and is located just north of Hjerkinn Station. After the Gardermoen Line opened for speeds up to 210 kilometres per hour, further modernisations and construction of double tracks to Hamar are planned dimensioned for speeds up to 250 kilometres per hour. In December 2015 double tracks were opened between Minnesund and Kleverud. The rest of the part between Venjar south of Eidsvoll and Hamar is scheduled for completion in 2024 and will reduce the travel time by half an hour. _Norsk Bane AS_ has larger ambitious goals with a high-speed line that will use only 2 hours and 30 minutes between Oslo and Trondheim.