Røa Line
| Length: | Starts: | Ends: | Status: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 km | Stortinget Station | Østerås Station | In service |
The Røa Line is the metro line 2 in Oslo which runs between Stortinget and Østerås. It opened to Smestad in 1912 and was gradually extended until it reached the terminus Østerås in 1972.
Røa Station. Photo: Erlend Garåsen
The opening
The single track Smestad Line opened on 7 November 1912. In the beginning there were services every 20 minutes, and every 10 minutes between Majorstuen and Borgen during peak hours. On 1 November 1924 A/S Smestadbanen was transferred to Aker Municipality. It was then decided to extend the line with double tracks to Makrellbekken and later to Røa. The construction work started in 1933 and was completed on 24 January 1935.
Extensions
On 6 July 1939 the stretch between Makrellbekken and Røa was rebuilt with double tracks. In 1941 the municipality voted to extend the line further westwards, but due to the lack of workers and materials, it was not opened to Grini until 22 December 1948. The line was further extended to Lijordet on 3 December 1951 and finally to Østerås on 15 November 1972.
Upgrades
During the 1970s the Røa Line was upgraded with new rails and concrete sleepers. New cars was set in service in 1978. These could also run on the eastern metro lines since they could use a third rail as well as overhead electrification. Several of the platforms on the Røa Line was rebuilt and adapted to the new car sets.
Metro standard
On 5 February the Røa Line was closed and upgraded to metro standard. The platforms on all stations but Østerås was extended to 100 metres, suitable for longer train sets. Borgen station was moved further north, and Heggeli, Sørbyhaugen, Huseby skole and Grini stations were closed. Volvat station was from now only served by the Kolsås Line due to short platforms. On 19 November the Røa Line reopened as Line 2 between Østerås and Ellingsrudåsen.