Sørlandet Line
The Sørlandsbane (German Südlandbahn ) is a railway line in southern Norway ( Sørlandet ), which runs from Oslo via Kristiansand to Stavanger. The actual range of Sørlandsbane branches in Hokksund west of Drammen from the Randsfjordbane. It is 528 km long electrified and along the entire length. Guides you through 189 tunnels and over 490 bridges. 121 km of the route are approved for speeds over 100 km / h.
The Sørlandsbane closes this part of the routes Drammenbane, the Randsfjordbane, the Flekkefjordbane, the Arendalsbane and Jærbane. All these sections were built in the construction of the initial total routing in narrow gauge with a gauge of 1067 mm and umgespurt later on standard gauge.
History
The track construction lasted for many decades: Oslo - Kongsberg 1872, Kongsberg Kristiansand built 1920-1938 and Egersund - Stavanger 1878.
Sections
- Oslo - Drammen V, Drammenbanen, opened on October 7, 1872, track width 1067 mm, standard gauge from 1920
- Drammen Hokksund, Randsfjordbanen, opened on 15 November 1866 Track width 1067 mm, standard gauge from 1909
- Hokksund - Kongsberg, originally a branch line from Randsfjordbanen, opened on 9 November 1871 gauge 1067 mm standard gauge from 1909
- Actual Sørlandsbanen (the term was defined in 1913 by decision of the Storting, before the track in the planning phase and start of construction Vestlandsbanen was called ) Nordagutu - Gvarv, opened on December 18, 1922
- Gvarv - Bø, opened on December 1, 1924
- Bø - Lunde, opened on December 15, 1925
- Lunde Neslandsvatn ( - Kragerø ) opened on December 1, 1927
- Nelaug - Grovane, opened on June 22, 1938
- Kristiansand Sira Tronviken, opened on March 1, 1943
The entire route was completed during the Second World War under the German occupation and opened on 1 May 1944 to normal operation. The track was an important transport axis for the transport of troops and war material. In long parts of the route turns inland through coastal remote areas and not along the densely populated coast. This served to protect against invading forces and the shelling by warships.