The Bergen Line covers 461 km via Roa (483 km via Drammen) and is considered one of Norway’s most resilient freight corridors due to challenging mountain conditions that limit road transport reliability.
The initiative replaces more than 1,400 annual truck journeys with rail transport, equivalent to 1.2 million road kilometres and 1,500 tonnes of CO₂ savings each year.
The Norwegian Railway Directorate has released three strategic studies assessing the future role of rail in meeting passenger, freight and public transport demand through 2050.
The units were handed over on 8 April 2026 and have already entered service, enabling the retirement of five legacy locomotives with an average age of 40 years.
The agreement extends a partnership of more than two decades and supports growing production at Halewood, where Jaguar Land Rover is investing in facilities for next-generation electric vehicles.