Ekeberg Line

Infobox rail line
name = Ekeberg Line
nativename = Ekebergbanen
color =

logo_width = 100px


image_width =
caption =
type = Tramway
system = Oslo Tramway
status =
locale = Oslo, Norway
start = Oslo Hospital
end = Ljabru
stations =
routes = Line 18 and 19
ridership =
open = 11 June 1917
close =
owner = Kollektivtransportproduksjon
operator = Oslo Sporvognsdrift
character =
depot =
stock = SL79
SL95
linelength = 6.6 km
tracklength =
notrack = Double track
gauge = Standard gauge
el = 750 V
speed = 80 km/h
elevation = 117.8 m

Ekebergbanen
map_state = show

The Ekeberg Line ( _no. Ekebergbanen) is a light rail line serving Nordstrand in Oslo, Norway, and part of the Oslo Tramway. The line opened in 1917, and extended to the current terminus Ljabru in 1941. The line is operated by Oslo Sporvognsdrift, using SL79 and SL95 stock, on lines 18 and 19, with services up to every five minutes.

History

Concession for the Ekeberg Line was initially given in 1897 to the company AS Ekebergbanen, but not until 1913 was it incorporated. Construction started in 1914 and on 11 June 1917 the first operation started from Oslo Hospital to Sæter. The company had made an agreement with Kristiania Sporveisselskab to use their tracks from Oslo Hospital to Stortorvet along the Gamleby Line, but chose to use 1,200 instead of 600 volts to create sufficient power for the steep climb, [cite web |url=http://www.byarkivet.oslo.kommune.no/OBA/sporveiene/eb.asp |title=A/S Ekebergbanen |author=Oslo City Archive |accessdate=2008-08-08 |language=Norwegian] and opted for the first years to use single track. In 1924 the company started operating adjacent bus lines. On 30 September 1931 a branch 1.3 km Simensbråten Line was opened from Jomfrubråten to Simensbråten; it was operated with a shuttle service outside rush hour when direct services were operated into the city center.Aspenberg, 1994: 15] Double track was opened in 1931 from Sjømannskolen to Kastellet, to Bråten in 1940 and to Sæter in 1946.Bjerke and Holom, 2004: 348] The line was extended from Sæter to Ljabru on 17 September 1941; unlike the rest of the line it was single track.Aspenberg, 1994: 15]

In 1949 the municipal owned Oslo Sporveier bought the majority of the stock in AS Ekebergbanen, transferring the four bus lines to their bus division in 1953. With the construction of the Oslo T-bane due to open in 1966, the line went via Grønland until 30 October 1960, after which it was rerouted via Schweigaards Street, with Østbanen as the terminus from 18 August 1963, until a through line to Skøyen in 1969, after Oslo Sporveier had taken over the management of the company. The Simensbråten Line was closed on 29 October 1967, and on 26 September 1974 the rolling stock was integrated with the rest of the tram system, and the voltage lowered to 600 volts. In 1979 upper section was rebuilt to double track, with the exception of Sæter Bridge that remains the only single track section of track of the Oslo Tramway. In 1993, AS Ekebergbanen was fully merged with Oslo Sporveier, and ceased to exist as a separate company. Along with the rest of the tram system the voltage was increased to 750 volts on 4 June 2000. In 2002 the board of Oslo Sporveier proposed closing the Ekeberg Line along with the Kjelsås Line, but this was stopped by the general assembly. [cite web |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/oslo/article423126.ece |title=Trikkelinjer reddet - inntil videre |author=Aftenposten |date=2002-10-23 |language=Norwegian]

Rolling stock

For the opening of the line five narrow trams were delivered from Skabo Jernbanevognfabrikk, numbered 1001–1005, and further seven units in 1921. By 1933 the streetcar lines has been rebuilt to allow wider cars, and the second main batch of four units delivered were 2.5 meters instead of 2.1 m wide. After this the company rebuilt their other units to the wider width. As the first tramway in the capital the Ekeberg Line used boogies instead of double axle cars; they were made for 1,200 volts, but since the city lines were only 600 volts they were notoriously slow in the city streets. In 1974 the older Ekeberg material was retired, and instead Oslo Sporveier took into use their pool of trams; at first the "Goldfish" and later other models along with the rest of the tramway operations. [Aspenberg, 1994: 55–56]

Future expansion

As part of Oslopakke 3 the Ekeberg Line is planned expanded to Hauketo Station on the Østfold Railway Line. In the center of town the line will be moved to become part of the Fjord Line, making the line go through Bjørvika. [cite web |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/oslo/article1972873.ece |title=Slik skal bilkøene kuttes |author=Aftenposten |date=2007-09-03 |language=Norwegian]

ervice

Oslo Sporvognsdrift operate two of the six tram lines on the Ekeberg Line. No 19 runs the full length with SL79-stock to Majorstuen, while Line 18 operates the full length in rush hour, and only from Holtet off rush hour with SL95-stock to Rikshospitalet. Both services run every 10 minutes at day and every 20 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays, while the 10-minute headway is reduced to 15 minutes during the summer schedule. The Ekeberg line is therefore served each 5 minutes during the day. [cite web |url=http://ruter.no/Rutetilbud/Trikk/ |title=Sporvognsruter |author=Ruter |date=2008 |language=Norwegian]

Notes

References

*cite book |author=Aspenberg, Nils Carl |title=Trikker og forstadsbaner i Oslo |publisher=Baneforlaget |location=Oslo |year=1994 |isbn=82-91448-03-5
*cite book |author=Bjerke, Thor and Holom, Finn |title=Banedata 2004 |publisher=Norsk Jernbaneklubb / Norsk Jernbanemuseum |location=Oslo / Hamar |year=2004 |isbn=82-90286-28-7