Romerike Tunnel
Flytoget Airport Express Train at Etterstad
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Line | Gardermoen Line |
| Location | Østmarka, Norway |
| System | Norwegian railways |
| Start | Etterstad |
| End | Lillestrøm |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 22 August 1999 |
| Owner | Bane NOR |
| Operator |
Norwegian State Railways Flytoget SJ Värmlandstrafik |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 14.580 km (9.060 mi) |
| No. of tracks | Double |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Electrified | 15 kV 16 2⁄3 Hz AC |
| Operating speed | 210 km/h (130 mph) |
The Romerike Tunnel (Norwegian: Romeriksporten) is a 14.580-kilometre (9.060 mi) railway tunnel in Norway between Oslo and Lillestrøm. It is the longest railway tunnel in Norway and forms the first section of the Gardermoen Line. It is double track and electrified, permitting speeds of 210 kilometres per hour (130 mph).
Construction started in 1994, with plans to open with the rest of the Gardermoen Line and Oslo Airport, Gardermoen on 8 October 1998. Due to serious leakage from Lutvann and several other lakes, it did not open until 22 August 1999. The leaks increased the cost of the tunnel from 0.5 billion kr to NOK 1.8 billion. The main contractor was Scandinavian Rock Group. The tunnel was originally owned by NSB Gardermobanen, then the Norwegian National Rail Administration, and now owned by Bane NOR. The tunnel allows long-distance, regional and Flytoget Airport Express Trains to bypass the old Hoved Line, reducing journey times between Oslo and Lillestrøm from 29 to 12 minutes.
The tunnel was constructed as part of the high-speed Gardermoen Line which runs from Oslo to Eidsvoll via Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. The tunnel makes up most of the 18-kilometre (11 mi) section between Oslo Central Station and Lillestrøm Station and was built to bypass the meandering Trunk Line which dates from 1854. Despite the older line being double track, capacity had reached its limit due to a combination of some trains making many stops and others none until Lillestrøm. The Romerike Tunnel would also be straighter and allow higher through speeds, decreasing travel time from 29 to 12 minutes. The decision to build the Gardermoen Line and Romerike Tunnel was taken by the Norwegian Parliament on 8 October 1992, with the opening planned for six years later on 8 October 1998.
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