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You are here: Frontpage / Gjøvik LineHistory

Gjøvik Line

Length: Starts: Ends: Status:
124 km Oslo S Gjøvik Station In service
The Gjøvik Line is the 124-kilometre long railway line between Oslo and Gjøvik. It was one of the first lines in Norway which was to be contracted on public service obligation.
NSB Type 66 at Oslo East Station. Photo: Anders Beer Wilse/Norsk Folkemuseum
NSB Type 66 at Oslo East Station. Photo: Anders Beer Wilse/Norsk FolkemuseumPublic domain
The Gjøvik Line was approved by the Parliament in 1894 and opened in 18 December 1900. At that time the official name of the line was the North Line, which ran between Grefsen and Røykenvik. The line was extended to Oslo and Gjøvik two years later, which became the new termini. Before the line opened, passengers had to go by steamship from Gjøvik to Eidsvoll on the Mjøsa Lake and further by train on the Trunk Line. Thus the new line shortened the travel time significantly.

Three branch lines
The Gjøvik Line had formerly three branch lines, The Røykenvik Line between Jaren and Røykenvik, the Valdres Line between Eina and Fagernes and the Skreia Line between Reinsvoll and Skreia. All these lines are today abandoned. In addition, the Roa—Hønefoss Line branches off at Roa Station which is a part of the Bergen Line. Until 1989, the passenger trains to Bergen ran on parts of the Gjøvik Line. Commuter trains are dominating on the Gjøvik Line today, whereas 80 percent within the Akershus and Oslo counties. Due to low ridership, a public service obligation contract was issued in 2006. NSB Gjøvikbanen AS won the bid and has been operating ever since.

Culinary train experiences
The Sult Group has in cooperation with the Norwegian Heritage Trains arranged culinary train journeys on parts of the Gjøvik Line since Autumn 2008. The trains consists of several restaurant cars from the years 1909 to 1937. The passengers are being served champagne, a four-course meal and coffee avec in first class vintage carriages.