It is not unusual for train sections to be closed for maintenance, but it is among the rarities that such a long train section as between Stavanger and Drammen is closed. It is the entire Sørlandsbanen of about 70 miles. – We think it is the first time that we have closed an entire train section. We are not completely sure, but we talked about it today and were unable to find out if it had happened before, says communications advisor at Bane Nor, Harry Korslund. For 60 hours, rails must be replaced, trees must be felled, vegetation cleared, a new bridge built and water and frost protection done in the tunnel. To mention something. – During a packed long weekend, we will carry out important and necessary maintenance work, says track manager at Bane Nor, Atle Havnerås. Track manager at Bane Nor Atle Havnerås. Photo: Martin Salem / news Long planning The planning started four years ago. In addition to Bane Nor’s people, a dozen contractors and construction companies are also involved in the work. – It is far more efficient to close an entire train section and do a maintenance marathon like this, than to close partial sections. This must be done on the Sørlandsbanen within 60 hours. On selected parts of the stretch between Lura and Stavanger, old rails will be replaced. When the work is done, about six kilometers of the Jærbanen will have brand new rails. In the vicinity of Jørgen Erichsen’s gate between Paradis and Stavanger, digging and felling of trees will take place along the tracks. At Hinna/Gauselvågen, construction work is being carried out related to the establishment of a new water and sewage system across the tracks. The work is connected with the ongoing work to build a new bridge for the bus route in the area. On the section between Ganddal and Hinna, vegetation will be cleared along the railway. Vegetation clearing helps, among other things, to reduce the risk of collisions with wildlife, trees falling over the tracks and, last but not least, a better travel experience for people on the move. At Hålandsveien south of Bryne station, construction work related to the establishment of a new water and sewage system across the tracks will take place throughout the weekend. The work is carried out on behalf of Time municipality. At Varhaug and Heskestad, the drainage facilities are being improved and reinforced. For reasons of safety, Bane Nor is particularly concerned with ensuring stable ground under the tracks, also in cases where large amounts of rainfall occur. At Haugstadelv between Vigrestad and Brusand, an old bridge is being replaced. The new bridge will have so-called continuous ballast which contributes to simpler and more efficient future track maintenance. Bridges with continuous ballast also mean that the track in the area becomes less vulnerable to rail breaks and solar flares, which in the worst case can cause trains to derail. In the Gylandstunnel, work will continue throughout the weekend to install water and frost protection. On the section between Fidjetun and Oggevatn, we carry out various maintenance work on the signaling system. At the Moripen viaduct between Nelaug and Herefoss, a so-called sliding joint is moved in connection with the tracks. On the section between Neslandsvatn and Nelaug, there will be hectic activity with drilling for new foundations, hoisting of new masts, laying of cables, etc. The weekend work is part of the extensive and ongoing modernization of the facilities that supply the trains with running power on the eastern part of the Sørlandsbanen. On selected parts of the stretch between Nakksjø and Drangedal, we are replacing old rails over a total stretch of around 3.3 km. On the same section, we will also move fiber cables from old to new masts. On the sections Bø-Nakksjø and Bø-Nordagutu, so-called insulated rail joints are being replaced. In addition, new guide rails are being laid in a number of switches. At Bø station, sleepers are being changed in a switch at the eastern end of the station. At Hjuksebø, new rails are being laid in track 3 at the station. Old rails will also be replaced over a stretch of just under 1,900 meters between Hjuksebø and Nordagutu. On the section Darbu-Skollenborg-Kongsberg, periodic checks will be made of the facilities that supply the trains with running current. The bulk of the work related to the new train parking facility at Kongsberg station has been done, but this weekend too there will be some construction activity to ensure that the facility is ready for full use in mid-December. On selected parts of the stretch between Darbu and Krekling, old and worn sleepers are being replaced. At Hokksund, moving wear parts are replaced in two switches at the station. During the weekend, all sleepers on the railway bridge over the Nøstelva will also be replaced. On selected parts of the stretch between Steinberg and Hokksund, old and worn sleepers are replaced. During the weekend, sleepers are also being replaced under a track switch at the western end of Steinberg station. After the main works, mechanical packing (stabilization) and alignment of the tracks on the Darbu-Krekling and Steinberg-Hokksund sections will take place. Track stabilizers will also be used on both sections. The purpose is to reduce/eliminate the need for slow driving which otherwise normally leads to delays for a certain time while waiting for the track to “settle”. At Mjøndalen station, switching and adjustment of a so-called track field which is in connection with the signaling system at the station will take place. On the section between Daler and the level crossing at Papyrus, worn rails are being replaced. At the Sundland workshop just outside Drammen, there is also a lot of activity. Extensive work is underway to replace the old with the new. At the moment, work is underway to build a new bypass track. A total of 10 switches are to be replaced, and in addition, both the catenary system and the signaling system are to be rebuilt, with all that entails of the need for new guideways and cable routes. Korslund emphasizes that in the future they will still have to close sections to carry out maintenance. Bane Nor also utilizes the time of day when there are no trains for maintenance. – We have a backlog on railway maintenance in Norway of between NOK 25 and 26 billion. Senior communications advisor at Bane Nor, Harry Korslund. Photo: Thomas Martinsen / news Sørlandsbanen closes on Friday morning between Stavanger and Kristiansand. The last regional train from Stavanger leaves at 04.27. From Oslo to Kristiansand, the track closes at 9pm on Friday evening. On Jærbanen, the last train from Stavanger leaves at 05.54 on Friday morning. The last train from Egersund is at 06.20. Jærbanen is the busiest section of the Sørlandsbanen. For three days, the trains will stand still on this section. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news Passengers must watch for when the buses leave Buses will be set up on the train routes. The buses that go to all the stops for the train are not able to keep all the timetables. The train company Go-Ahead has therefore also set up buses that stop at a few places. – This applies to departures between Stavanger and Kristiansand and Kristiansand–Oslo. The buses will go there at the departure times for the train from where it starts, says press officer at Go-Ahead, Simen Lockart Rohde. Passengers who are going to travel must follow the websites of Go-Ahead, Vy and EnTur. Havnerås reminds that even if the normal train traffic is suspended, work trains can arrive at any time. He emphasizes that it is dangerous and forbidden to cross the railway except at level crossings. The work should be finished on Monday morning. – We are super happy that people take a lot of trains, but more trains means more wear and tear. So we have enough to do. This will not be the last time we have to carry out extensive maintenance and modernisation, says Korslund.
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