Hardanger Line

Hardanger Line
NSB Class 64 train at Granvin
Overview
Native name	Hardangerbanen
Type	Railway
System	Norwegian railway
Status	Abandoned
Termini	Voss Station Granvin Station
Operation
Opened	1935
Closed	1989
Owner	Norwegian State Railways
Operator(s)	Norwegian State Railways
Character	Passenger and freight
Technical
Line length	27.5 km (17.1 mi)
Number of tracks	Single
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	15 kV  16 2⁄3 Hz AC
Highest elevation	248.4 m (815 ft) amsl

Hardanger Line

Bergen Line from Bergen 385.32 km Voss Station(1883) 56.5 m amsl Bergen Line to Myrdal Vosso(87 m) Haugamoen(1935) 388.74 km Palmafoss(1935) 86.0 m amsl branch line to Voss sementvarefabrikk Kinne(1935) 392.26 km Mønshaug(1935) 161.3 m amsl Bjørgum Mala(1981) 395.99 km Dalsleitet(1935) 397.14 km Flatlandsmo(1935) 248.4 m amsl 400.27 km Skjervet(1935) 231.7 m amsl Skjervet I(60 m) Skjervet II(123 m) Skjervet III(1101 m) Skjervet IV(27 m) 404.30 km Såkvitno(1935) 405.62 km Nesheim(1935) 26.9 m amsl Selland(1935) Kollanes(1935) Granvinelvaand Rv7 (34 m) Hurpo(22 m) Granvinelva(36 m) 412.77 km Granvin(1935) 2.0 m amsl

The Hardanger Line (Norwegian: Hardangerbana or Hardangerbanen) was a 27.45-kilometre (17.06 mi) railway between Voss and Granvin in Hordaland, Norway. The line connected to the Bergen Line in Voss, and ran to the Hardangerfjord and the district of Hardanger. Construction started in 1921, but the line did not open until 1 April 1935. Owned and operated by the Norwegian State Railways (NSB), the passenger transport was provided by three NSB Class 64 electric multiple units. They remained in use until 1985, when passenger transport was terminated. All transport ceased in 1988, and 21 kilometres (13 mi) of the line was demolished in 1991. The 3 kilometres (2 mi) from Voss to Palmafoss remains, and is owned by the Norwegian National Rail Administration. The line featured six stations, fourteen halts, four tunnels and was among Norway's steepest railways. It was NSB's first line to open electrified. The line was known as the Granvin Line (Granvinbanen) until February 1936. In 2016 Palmafoss was established a emergency freight terminal and the tracks were reestablished.

The Hardanger Line ran 27.45 kilometres (17.06 mi) from Voss to Granvin in Hardanger. From Voss to Skjervet, the line ran in relatively flat terrain, with easy construction. Along this section the route followed what is now Norwegian National Road 13. At Skjervet, the two split; towards Nesheim the gradient increased and the topography became more difficult. On this section there were four tunnels, named Skjervet Tunnel I through IV, the longest being 1,101 metres (3,612 ft). Between the two longest tunnels, the line was built on a shelf. Later, the tunnel was extended from 630 metres (2,070 ft) to also include that portion in the tunnel. From Skjervet, the railway ran on the west side of the river Granvinvatnet, while the road ran on the east side.