2.4.11.1 Oslo T-bane, Norway Key information Network length 84.2 km Operational lines 6 Stations 90 Average daily ridership 22,500 (2013) Fare system Contactless smart card, mobile ticketing apps Track and Power 1,435 mm; third rail, 750 V DC Technology ATC Commencement of operations 1898 Notes: ATC automatic train control Background: Oslo is the capital city of Norway, a highly developed and oil-rich country with a stable economy. The municipality of Oslo spans 454 square km and is located in the inner part of the Oslo Fjord in south-eastern Norway. Oslo has a population of 600,000 and is often called the world s biggest village, given that approximately two-thirds of the municipality area is covered with forests, waterways and agricultural land. The Oslo metro, known as the Tunnelbana or T-bane, serves 14 out of the 15 boroughs of Oslo (all except St. Hanshaugen), as well as the neighbouring municipality of Bærum. It is one of the largest metro systems in Europe and commenced operations in 1898. Key players: Ruter AS is a common management company for public transportation in Oslo and Akershus. It is owned by the Oslo municipality (60 per cent) and the Akershus county authority (40 per cent). Oslo T-banedrift AS operates the T-bane under a contract awarded by Ruter. Oslo Sporveien AS (Sporveien), earlier named Kollektivtransportproduksjon AS (KTP), operates and maintains the rolling stock. The company is fully owned by the city government and operates under contract with the public transport authority Ruter AS. Current network: The current network comprises six lines, which together span 84.2 km and cover 90 stations (15 underground). The six routes pass through the Common Tunnel in the city centre from Majorstuen through Jernbanetorget (Oslo S/ Oslo Central station) to Tøyen before branching out to different lines and the Ring Line (Ringen) to serve the suburbs. The farthest station is 17.3 km from the city centre. Table 2.4.11.1.1 provides the network details.
Project profiles - Europe Table 2.4.11.1.1: Current network Line (Colour) Terminal stations Line 1 (Purple) Frognerseteren Ellingsrudåsen Line 2 (Light blue) Avløs Ellingsrudåsen Line 3 (Yellow) Storo Mortensrud Line 4 (Dark blue) Ring Bergkrystallen Line 5 (Orange) Østerås Vestli Line 6 (Green) Sognsvann Ring Source: Oslo T-banedrift Ridership: In 2013, ridership was estimated to be 82 million passengers, equivalent to an average daily ridership of about 22,500 passengers. Rolling stock and technology: The system deploys 115 model MX3000 three-car trains the world s biggest uniform metro fleet provided by Germany-based Siemens. As of February 2014, the entire rolling stock of the earlier T1000 trains was replaced with the Siemens fleet. The first order for 33 trains was placed with Siemens in 2003. Subsequent orders were for 30 trains in 2005, 20 in 2008, and 32 in 2010, taking the total order to 115. Each three-car train has a total capacity of 493 passengers, is walk-through, air-conditioned and allows step-free access to the platforms. Each car is equipped with four three-phase asynchronous 140-kW motors, giving each three-car unit a power output of 1,680 kw. Tracks are standard gauge (1,435 mm). Power is sourced from the third rail (750 V DC). UKbased Invensys Rail has designed, installed and commissioned the automatic train control (ATC) signalling solution based on its WESTRACE interlocking system, which involves four aspect signals for the metro. Fare collection system: Ruter has adopted a zone-based integrated ticketing system. There are eight zones in Oslo and Akershus (1, 2V, 2S, 2Ø, 3S, 3Ø, 4S and 4N) as well as four border zones (3V, 4V, 4SØ and 4Ø) where Ruter cooperates with neighbouring counties. The Oslo region is in Zone 1. In 2002, France-based Thales was selected to introduce a multi-modal, fully contactless smart card-based fare collection system as well as an interoperable fare management system. In 2009, Thales signed its second maintenance contract, valid up to 2014. The company provides on-site maintenance (systems, depots, repair, logistics, management and administrative support), software maintenance and spare parts. The four-level fare system is compliant with ISO 24014-1 Interoperable Fare Management System architecture. It accepts period passes and T-Purse (Mifare DESFire); limited-use tickets for single journeys; and day passes (Mifare Ultralight). The system combines the fare structure of each operator in accordance with the special business agreements between operators. www.globalmasstransit.net
Travelcard The Travelcard is a plastic card on which the passenger can carry tickets or top-up with pay-asyou-go credit. The same card can be loaded with a new ticket or be topped-up with credit. There are more than 700,000 Travelcards in use in Oslo and Akershus. For the Oslo metro, which is within Zone 1, a single ticket fare for one zone is automatically deducted from the credit when the card is scanned. The ticket is then activated (started) and becomes valid for the journey. Mobile tickets In December 2012, a service enabling download of single tickets was launched for smartphones. This service was well received. As of May 2013, more than 220,000 people had downloaded the app, and about 10,000 mobile tickets were being sold every day. In May 2013, a second version of the application was launched to offer the 24-hour, 7-day and 30-day tickets in addition to single tickets. By the end of December 2013, more than 534,000 people had downloaded the app, and about 4.5 million mobile tickets had been sold. About 20 per cent of the passengers buy tickets with the mobile app. Ticket sales through the app earned 17 per cent of Ruter s 2013 revenue. Extensions/Capital projects: Several key future projects have been proposed under the Oslo Package 3, a financing plan for the expansion of roads and public transportation infrastructure in Oslo and Akershus between 2008 and 2027. In May 2012, the Oslo Package 3 agreement was extended from 2013 to 2032 with an overall budget of NOK90 billion financed from toll charges (about NOK60 billion) and government funding. In addition, Ruters has proposed a few other projects. Table 2.4.11.1.2 provides details of the extensions planned for existing lines, new lines, line upgrades and station projects. Table 2.4.11.1.2: Capital projects Project New lines/extensions and line upgrades Kolsås Line (west end of Line 6) Common Tunnel Description Upgradation for shared operation of metro trains and trams. Involves replacement of the overhead wire by third rail, extension of station platforms to accommodate six-car trains, signalling modifications, ATC and new rolling stock. Upgradation of the common tunnel from Nationaltheatret to Majorstuen (including signalling upgrades). Estimated investment (NOK million) 1,000 100 Status expected opening in October 2014. Proposed under Oslo Package 3. Continued...
Project profiles - Europe Project Loren Railway (phase 2) (phase 3) New metro tunnel Station projects Avløs depot Majorstuen station Homansbyen station Source: Global Mass Transit Research Description New link connecting Hasle station on Line 5 with the Økern station on the Ring Line, to relieve congestion in the common tunnel. It includes construction of a new underground station at Loren. Line from Ellingsrudåsen to Tveita via Furuset, Lindeberg, Trosterud and Haugerud to be extended up to Lørenskog (5 km) to connect the new Akershus University Hospital. Estimated investment (NOK million) 1,000 2,500 3.8-km extension of the Furuset Line to Lillestrøm. 1,900 4.8 km link from Ellingsrudåsen to Stovner. New tunnel from Majorstuen to Tøyen via Stortinget to relieve traffic in the existing common tunnel. Construction of a new maintainence depot at Avløs. It will comprise four new buildings for staging, interior cleaning, servicing and maintenance of subway cars. Construction of a new station at Majorstuen. Construction of a new station at Homansbyen between Nationaltheatret and Majorstuen to replace the existing tram station. 2,400 10,000 870 1,800 700 Status expected opening by May 2016. Station construction contract worth NOK357 million awarded to Skanska Norway in May 2013. Proposed under Oslo Package 3; funding secured. To be undertaken after the is completed. expected opening by May 2015. Siemens Rail Automation to supply signalling and train control equipment. To be developed between 2014 and 2017 under Oslo Package 3. Signalling system upgrade: Up to 25 per cent of all delays in the metro are caused by the signalling equipment. It is planned to install a semi-automatic system, where the trains are operated from a central computer. The driver would then only have to close doors at stations and confirm that the train is ready for departure. Fare system: The response to the mobile ticketing system has been positive, but phones that have run out of battery and breaks in the Internet connection cause problems in downloading the tickets. Ruter is working on a solution to the latter problem. Recent developments: In February 2014, Ruter took the delivery of the final MX3000 metro train from Siemens, taking the total number of MX3000s in its fleet to 115. In January 2014, Norway-based mobile operator Telenor provided access to high-speed mobile Internet service between Risløkka and Vestli on metro Line 5. www.globalmasstransit.net
In December 2013, Germany-based Siemens Rail Automation secured the contract to supply signalling and train control equipment for the new metro depot at Avløs. Also, by the end of December 2013, more than 534,000 people had downloaded the app for mobile ticketing, and about 4.5 million mobile tickets had been sold. The ticket sales through the app provided 17 per cent of Ruter s 2013 revenue. In November 2013, it was announced that investments of about NOK2.28 billion are required to upgrade the signalling system in the metro. In September 2013, Ruter announced that its ticket app had been a success, with over 350,000 downloads since the launch before Christmas in 2012 and over three million tickets sold. Also, in September 2013, Ruter announced that bikes could be carried on the subway free of charge. Bikes will be allowed onboard outside rush hour. The NOK15 charge to bring a bike on board generated an annual revenue of NOK6 million for Ruter. (1 NOK [Norwegian Krone] = 0.16 USD)