Northern Norway Line
{{Short description|Proposed railway which would be built through Northern Norway}}
The Northern Norway Line ({{langx|no|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 ({{langx|no|Tromsbanen}}) is a more limited proposal that calls for a line between Narvik and Tromsø, but would not connect to the rest of the railway network in Norway and instead connect with the Swedish railway network via the Ofoten Line.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/troms_og_finnmark/1.6639614|language=no|access-date=2010-01-18|date=2009-06-05|title=Tromsbanen på sporet}} During the Second World War, the German occupation forces started building the Polar Line between Fauske and Narvik, but the project 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.railjournal.com/regions/europe/norway-appoints-consultants-for-fauske-tromso-study/ |title=Norway appoints consultants for Fauske – Tromsø study |last=Burroughs |first=David |date=21 January 2019 |website=International Railway Journal |access-date=28 January 2019 }} The Fauske – Tromsø Line would be around {{convert|375|km}} long, while the Bjerkvik – Harstad line would be just over {{convert|80|km}} long. The study has two suggested routes, one with a lot of tunnels, and one with fewer tunnels. The former has a {{convert|53|km|adj=on}} long tunnel and the latter 9 bridges over {{convert|1000|m}} length. Both have suspension bridges with over {{convert|1000|m|adj=on}} span, near world record for railway bridges. The analyses found the full scheme development would cost {{NOK|113 billion|link=yes}}, while the line to Harstad would cost around {{NOK|20 billion}}. The analysis showed that it would cost more than {{NOK|100 billion}} ($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 {{NOK|46 billion}} and {{NOK|109 billion}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/fauske-tromso-railway-not-economically-viable-study-finds/ |title=Fauske – Tromsø railway not economically viable, study finds |last=Burroughs |first=David |date=1 July 2019 |website=International Railway Journal |access-date=30 July 2019 }}
Proposed routes and details
There are both {{track gauge|1520mm}} and {{track gauge|sg}} lines being proposed.
{{Routemap
|navbar = Northern Norway Line
|title = Northern Norway Line
|map =
exCONTg~~ ~~ ~~from Murmansk via Pechenga
exSTR+GRZq~~ ~~ ~~(border Russia/Norway)
\exABZg+l\exCONTfq~~ ~~ ~~from Rovaniemi (Arctic Railway)
exHST~~ ~~Kirkenes
exHST~~ ~~Lakselv
\exABZg+l\exCONTfq~~ ~~ ~~from Kolari
exBHF~~ ~~Skibotn
exCONTgq\exABZgr\~~ ~~ ~~to Tromsø
exSTR~~ ~~ ~~(↑1520mm gauge only)
exCONTgq\exABZgr+r\~~ ~~ ~~to Halstad
exHST~~ ~~Bjerkvik
\xABZg+l\CONTfq~~ ~~ ~~from Kiruna
BHF~~ ~~Bjørnfjell
CONTgq\xABZgr\~~ ~~ ~~to Narvik
exSTR~~ ~~ ~~(Mountain route)
CONTgq\xABZg+r\~~ ~~ ~~from Bodø (←1435mm gauge only)
BHF~~ ~~Fauske
CONTgq\xABZgr\~~ ~~ ~~existing route (←1435mm gauge only)
exSTR~~ ~~ ~~straighter alignment (↓1520mm gauge only)
exHST~~ ~~Mo-i-Rana
exHST~~ ~~Mosjøen
exHST~~ ~~Levanger
exBHF~~ ~~Trondheim
exLSTR~~ ~~ ~~(route undefined)
exHST~~ ~~Kongsvinger
exSTR+GRZq~~ ~~ ~~(border Norway/Sweden)
exKBHFe~~ ~~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 16{{frac|2|3}}Hz AC overhead lines
- Minimum overhead wiring height: 5.3m above top of rails
References
{{reflist}}
{{Railways in Norway}}
Category:Proposed railway lines in Norway