– Unfortunately, it takes time to fix, admits Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap). – But the long-term goal is for us to get more trains on the route, says the transport minister. He meets news at Oslo S with a new budget leak in his pocket. According to Nygård, it aims to significantly strengthen the operation, maintenance and renewal of Norwegian railways. NOK 12 billion in total In next year’s state budget, they will allocate an extra NOK 2.9 billion to take care of the railway we have. In total, the government will spend over NOK 12 billion: Operation and maintenance: NOK 6.6 billion, 26 per cent more than this year. Renewal (heavier maintenance such as replacement of the entire track): NOK 5.5 billion, 38 per cent more than this year. NO TRAIN: A signal failure between Oslo S and the Nationaltheatret paralyzed train traffic earlier in September. Old signaling systems are part of the problem. Photo: Halvor Ekeland It will partly come at the expense of new investments. For the first time in many years, next year the government will spend more on “old” than new. – It is because we have seen that Norwegian railways’ major challenge is that there is a backlog on the maintenance side. We have too many challenges with delays and settings, says Jon-Ivar Nygård. The goal in the National Transport Plan is 30 per cent fewer delays and hours with settings in by 2036. Train passengers news meets at Oslo S share the desire for more trains on the route, but not everyone is convinced. Oslo S Dora Thorhallsdottir– I have heard those promises for quite some time.– Was your train on schedule today?– Almost. It was four minutes late, and that’s as it usually is. – I have an agreement with someone that every time the train is punctual, we will take a picture and send it to each other. We have sent two messages in half a year. Olav Juven Tobias Mangersnes– Was your train on schedule today?– Today it was not on schedule. – Is it usually on schedule?- Yes, I think so, really.- Do you believe the politicians’ promises about more trains on schedule?- Anything that improves the train service is just bang.- So you like the train?- I love the train . Olav Juven Anne Kari Holm – On schedule today, but often delayed. – Do you know what the reason is? – No, they have a whole book of recipes on why there are delays. – Now the politicians are promising that more trains will run on schedule . What do you think about that? – That would be nice, we would really appreciate that. – Do you believe? They say that they will invest much more in operation and maintenance. – Yes, I think that may be the recipe, at least. Olav Juven Andreas Malabanan – Is the train most often on schedule or most often delayed? – In winter it is delayed. In summer time it is also delayed. So really, I would say that it is delayed. – The politicians promise that the trains will run on time. Do you believe in it? – No. Politicians are liars. Fewer trains on route In recent years, things have gone the wrong way. The numbers speak for themselves. Punctuality on Norwegian railways is getting worse. Bane Nor aims for nine out of ten trains to be on time. In 2023, 87.6 per cent of the passenger trains were on schedule. It was a notch worse than the previous year. And this year it’s even worse. So far in 2024, only 85.6 percent of the passenger trains have kept to the timetable. In May this year, the National Audit Office delivered a crushing verdict on Norwegian railways. – They have received more money, but they have not done what is needed, the National Audit Office wrote about Bane Nor. WELL-KNOWN OPINION: Signal errors and other problems are the nightmare for every commuter going home after a long day at work Photo: Ørn E. Borgen / NTB Criticized The extent of delays and settings is criticised, the report concluded. – This has affected many people for many years, said Auditor General Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen. Bane Nor CEO Thor Gjermund Eriksen made the following sigh of relief: – The main problem in Norwegian railways is that we are increasing the capacity of trains, without keeping pace when it comes to maintenance and development. At the same time, he called for the money politicians have promised for operation and maintenance. Many promises Because there has been no shortage of promises. – We promise that more trains will be on schedule, said transport minister Nygård in the so-called railway speech in January. This should happen by investing more in precisely maintenance and renewal. He announced the same in the National Transport Plan. DIFFERENT NOW?: Nygård believes the government is now putting action behind the words that more trains will run on schedule. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB A package of NOK 14 billion to upgrade the railways in and around Oslo should benefit frustrated commuters. It is here that constant signal errors and errors with the power supply affect most travelers. – Have the politicians, including you, promised more trains on the route before? – Yes, but now we do it concretely in the state budget. We are coming with a clear twist where we spend far more money on operation, maintenance and renewal, says Jon-Ivar Nygård. Oslo area He also says that a significant part of the money will be used in the Oslo area, where errors and delays have the greatest consequences. – It is natural to use resources where there is the greatest need. Getting something done with the maintenance backlog in the Oslo region will benefit the whole of railway Norway, says the transport minister. AFFECTS MANY: Over 90,000 passengers travel by train to and from Oslo S every day. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB Published 18.09.2024, at 06.28
ttn-69
The government will give 2.9 billion more to take care of the railway – promises more trains on route – Stor-Oslo
