Arendal Station

Infobox Norwegian station
name = Arendal


caption =
locale = Arendal
municipality = Arendal
line = Arendalsbanen
distance = 317.63 km
elevation = 7.6 m
coordinates =
start = 1908
architect =
platforms = 1
owner = Jernbaneverket
operator = Norges Statsbaner
t-bane =
line1 =
line2 =
line3 =
line4 =
line5 =
line6 =
airport =
tram =
bus = |

Arendal is a railway station located in Arendal, Norway. It is the terminal station of Arendalsbanen, a branch line of Sørlandsbanen; 317.63 kilometers from Oslo S and 7.6 meters above sea level.

History

Arendal Station was originally built as the terminus of Treungenbanen, that connected Treungen in inner Telemark with the lumber port of Arendal. The station was completed when Treungenbanen was finished to Froland in 1908 as a narrow gauge railway. By 1910 Arendal had connections to Åmli and by 1913 all the way to Treungen.

In 1927 Kragerø opened as the temporary terminus of Sørlandsbanen. When the construction of Sørlandsbanen was approaching Nelaug Treungenbanen was rebuilt to standard gauge. On November 9, 1935 Sørlandsbanen terminus was again moved, this time from Kragerø to Arendal. The even was marked with celebrations and a special opening train from Oslo V via Nelaug to Arendal with King Haakon VII, Crown Prince Olav and Prime Minister Nygaardsvold among the guests. At Nelaug the opening train had to change direction and locomotive, and for a period of three years Arendal Station was an important hub for transport in Southern Norway.

In Arendal the passengers came from Rogaland and Vest-Agder with steam ship and changed to railway to travel faster to the capital. There was also a bus between Kristiansand and Arendal. This time was the all-time high of riderships passing through Arendal Station.

Branch line

In 1938 Sørlandsbanen was completed all the way from Oslo V to Kristiansand Station. The line from Nelaug to Arendal was degraded to a branch line. Treungenbanen was still in operation, but it was still narrow gauged in its upper part, and freight had to be reloaded and passenger change train at Nelaug. Arendalsbanen was electrified from Nelaug to Arendal in 1995, the sole electrification of existing track on the Norwegian rail network since 1970. At the time the BM 92 diesel multiple units were replaced with BM 69 electrical multiple units. There were at one time trials with direct Signatur trains to Oslo, but the idea abandoned.

Arendalsbanen is the only remaining branch line where Norges Statsbaner still operates passenger traffic. The travel times are shorter by coach bus both eastwards and westwards, and Arendalsbanen is regularly threatened with closure. Travel time from Arendal Station to Oslo is about 4.5 hours, with four daily connections. Westwards to Stavanger takes about 5.5 hours, with three daily connections.

Literature

* Thor Bjerke and Ove Tovås: "Togbytte på Nelaug", Norsk Jernbaneklubb 1989. ISBN 82-90286-10-4

Nsb next line
line = Arendalsbanen
prestation = "terminus"
poststation = BråstadNsb next local
line = Arendalsbanen
prestation = "terminus"
poststation = Bråstad