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You are here: Frontpage / Vestfold LineHistory

Vestfold Line

Length: Starts: Ends: Status:
129 km Drammen Station Myrane Station In service
The Vestfold Line is an 148-kilometre railway line between Drammen and Eidanger. Previously the line had four branch lines, all of them now demolished but the Brevik Line. The long-term goal is to upgrade the line between Drammen and Skien with high-speed double tracks.
The Vestfold Line near Holmestrand. Photo: Anders B. Wilse/Norsk Folkemuseum
The Vestfold Line near Holmestrand. Photo: Anders B. Wilse/Norsk FolkemuseumPublic domain
The Vestfold Line was approved by the Parliament in June 1875 after a long debate whether the railway should follow the coast line or be built as an inner line further away from the seaside. The former alternative was chosen including a branch line to Horten. The County Line, the original name of the Vestfold Line, was opened as a narrow-gauged railway line to Larvik on 13 October 1881 and extended to Skien on 23 November 1882. In 1949 the line was converted from narrow to normal gauge and electrified in 1957.

Several branch lines
The Vestfold Line had four branch lines. In 1881 the Horten Line was opened, which ran between Skoppum and Horten. In 1895 the Brevik Line opened between Eidanger and Brevik. The Tønsberg—Eidsfoss Line between Tønsberg and Eidsfoss was finished in 1901 and the Holmestrand—Vittingfoss Line between Holmestrand and Hvittingfoss in 1902. All these branch lines are demolished but the Brevik Line, which still has some freight train services after the passenger service was closed in 1968. In 1938 the Tønsberg—Eidsfoss Line and Holmestrand—Vittingfoss Line were closed. The Horten Line was closed in 2002 after the passenger services was terminated in 1967.

Double tracks
The Vestfold Line is today being modernised with double track which allow trains to run at high speed. On 17 December 2016 a 14.3-kilometre section with double track was opened between Holm and Nykirke. A new double track between Farriseidet and Eidanger opened on 24 September 2018. The remaining sections to upgrade are Drammen—Skoger, Nykirke—Barkåker and Tønsberg—Larvik.