The case in summary – Bane Nor risks a train stoppage between Skien and Larvik for Christmas if they do not get approved axle counters in the track by 22 December.- Train traffic on the Vestfold Line was stopped on 4 December because Bane Nor had not delivered documentation on the completed signaling system.- Bane Nor got a temporary permit and train traffic reopened, but they have received nine postponements since the opening five years ago. – If Bane Nor does not meet the new deadline, it could lead to delays, extra waiting time in sub-zero temperatures and buses for trains. – Director of development in Bane Nor, Bettina Sandvin, cannot give any guarantees, but believes that the Christmas traffic will go as it should. – The Railway Authority believes that the new plan from Bane Nor is credible and has confidence that they will meet the deadline. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. If Bane Nor does not finish by 22 December, there will be another train stop between Skien and Larvik for Christmas. That’s what Erik Ø. Reiersøl-Johnsen, director of the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate, says. The reason is that there is still a lack of approval for so-called axle counters in the track. This could easily have been done five years ago, which Bane Nor himself confirms to news. Complete documentation still missing On 4 December, the inspectorate stopped all train traffic on the Vestfold Line between Larvik and Skien. The reason is that Bane Nor had not provided documentation on the completed signaling system, which was put into operation in 2018. Several actors were present when an inspection was carried out along the track between Larvik and Porsgrunn on Friday morning. Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news Train traffic on the section in question was nevertheless allowed to reopen on Thursday, after Bane Nor hastily obtained a new temporary permit from the supervisory authority. The new deadline is set for 22 December. This will be the ninth postponement Bane Nor has received since opening five years ago. If they do not reach their destination by the new deadline, the travelers risk new rounds by bus for train, delays and extra waiting time in freezing temperatures. Development director at Bane Nor, Bettina Sandvin, cannot give any guarantees, but feels fairly certain that this will go well. Bettina Sandvin, Executive Vice President Development, Bane Nor. Photo: Aksel Jermstad / Bane NOR – Everything indicates that the Christmas traffic will go as it should, she tells news on Friday. Could have been done in 2018 The axle counters work as they should, but the verification itself is not finished. – Has approval of these axle counters been the problem since 2018? – Yes, it has been, confirms Sandvin. – Why haven’t you been able to submit this documentation earlier, if it can be resolved in a few days in December 2023? – I don’t have a very good answer to that right now. We have launched investigations to find out how that situation could arise. – Our main focus is to get the documentation for the inspection in place. Then we have to figure out how we ended up here. This is my responsibility, emphasizes Sundvin. On Friday, inspections were finally carried out along the train route, where the axle counters were thoroughly checked. Bane Nor is working hard to reach the finish line within the deadline from the Railway Authority. Here from an inspection at Porsgrunn station on Friday morning. Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news The companies Sintef AS and Certifier Nordic AS are responsible for this job. None of them wish to comment on the work to news, and refer to the clients. – Taken seriously, the Norwegian Railway Authority believes that the new plan from Bane Nor is credible, and has confidence that it will reach its goal within the deadline. That’s what Erik Ø. Reiersøl-Johnsen says to news. – What happened when they could not renew the permit on 1 December is that we requested and demanded this documentation in order to finish the project and be able to grant a permanent permit, says the director. Erik Ø. Reiersøl-Johnsen, Director of the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate. Photo: STATENS JERNBANETILSYN Reiersøl-Johnsen says they have been asking for this with “increasing and powerful measures” for five years. Most recently with compulsory fines from 1 October, and not least when they decided to completely halt train traffic earlier this week. – What we achieved was that this received so much attention that it was taken seriously. That they finish what they have to. The inspectorate has set aside days to process the application for final approval when it is scheduled to arrive next week. – What happens if the new application is not satisfactory? – Then the track will be closed again. If Bane Nor does not reach its destination, the train must turn around at Larvik station. Photo: Philip Hofgaard / news Couldn’t believe his eyes County mayor in Vestfold and Telemark county municipality, Terje Riis Johansen, thinks the case is completely crazy. Terje Riis Johansen. – When I saw it for the first time, I couldn’t believe my eyes. First and foremost, it is bad for the travelers, but also in terms of how we as a nation manage and administer our infrastructure. – Do you feel confident that they will be able to meet the deadline? – No, I don’t think I should be the one to say that. We just have to expect and demand that one gets into a position to give a final permit.
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This could stop train traffic on the Vestfold Railway before Christmas – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
