Northern Norway Line

The Northern Norway Line (Norwegian: Nord-Norgebanen) is a proposed railway which would be built through Northern Norway. Several proposals have been launched; one is to connect from the Nordland Line at Fauske and continue onwards to Narvik, Tromsø, and Harstad. The Troms Line (Norwegian: Tromsbanen) is a more limited proposal, which calls for a line between Narvik and Tromsø, but which would not connect to the rest of the railway network in Norway and instead the Swedish railway network via the Ofoten Line.^[1] During the Second World War, the German occupation forces started building the Polar Line between Fauske and Narvik, but that was abandoned after the war.

2019 study

In 2019 the Norwegian Railway Directorate signed an agreement with Asplan Viak to study the development of a line from Fauske via Narvik to Tromsø.^[2] The Fauske – Tromsø Line would be around 375 kilometres (233 mi) long, while the Bjerkvik – Harstad line would be just over 80 kilometres (50 mi) long. The study has two suggested routes, one with a lot of tunnels, and one with fewer tunnels. The former has a 53-kilometre (33 mi) long tunnel and the latter 9 bridges over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) length. Both have suspension bridges with over 1,000-metre (3,300 ft) span, near world record for railway bridges. The analyses found the full scheme development would cost 113 billion kr, while the line to Harstad would cost around 20 billion kr. The analysis showed that it would cost more than 100 billion kr ($US 11.6 billion). However, the Norwegian Railway Directorate says the line will not be economically viable, as calculations show a net loss for the state of between 46 billion kr and 109 billion kr.^[3]

Proposed routes and details

There are both 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) and 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) lines being proposed.

Northern Norway Line

Legend

					from Murmansk via Pechenga
					(border Russia/Norway)
					from Rovaniemi (Arctic Railway)
					Kirkenes
					Lakselv
					from Kolari
					Skibotn
					to Tromsø
					(↑1520mm gauge only)
					to Halstad
					Bjerkvik
					from Kiruna
					Bjørnfjell
					to Narvik
					(Mountain route)
					from Bodø (←1435mm gauge only)
					Fauske
					existing route (←1435mm gauge only)
					straighter alignment (↓1520mm gauge only)
					Mo-i-Rana
					Mosjøen
					Levanger
					Trondheim
					(route undefined)
					Kongsvinger
					(border Norway/Sweden)
					Gothenburg

1520mm gauge routes

Proposed routes: Kirkenes - Lakselv - Skibotn - Bjørnfjell - Fauske - Mo-i-Rana - Mosjøen - Levanger - Trondheim - Kongsvinger - Gothenburg, and Kolari - Skibotn - Tromsø
Number of tracks: 1-2
Electrification: 25kV 50Hz AC overhead lines
Minimum overhead wiring height: 6.7m above top of rails
Minimum track center spacing: 4.7m
Minimum passing loop length: 1500m
Platform height: 200mm above top of rails

1435mm gauge routes

Proposed routes: Fauske - Bjørnfjell - Harstad
Number of tracks: 1
Electrification: 15kV 162⁄3Hz AC overhead lines
Minimum overhead wiring height: 5.3m above top of rails

References

^ "Tromsbanen på sporet" (in Norwegian). 2009-06-05. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
^ Burroughs, David (21 January 2019). "Norway appoints consultants for Fauske – Tromsø study". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
^ Burroughs, David (1 July 2019). "Fauske – Tromsø railway not economically viable, study finds". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 30 July 2019.

[1] "Tromsbanen på sporet" (in Norwegian). 2009-06-05. Retrieved 2010-01-18.

[2] Burroughs, David (21 January 2019). "Norway appoints consultants for Fauske – Tromsø study". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 28 January 2019.

[3] Burroughs, David (1 July 2019). "Fauske – Tromsø railway not economically viable, study finds". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 30 July 2019.

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