The Norwegian Dovre line between Oslo and Trondheim was closed between August 2023 and May 2024, due to a bridge collapse following extreme weather. Now, the line is again closed and will not be in use until at least mid-April. Like in 2023, the culprit is a bridge.
A bridge over the Ottaelva river moved up to 15 centimetres due to ice formation and high water levels. It has been closed since 21 January – and the Dovre line with it.
Whereas the bridge was supposed to be taken back into use tomorrow, 5 February, Bane NOR is saying that it will take much longer to reopen the line: “The assessment of the extent of damage at Otta Bridge shows that it is necessary to reinforce the southern land bridge before we can open it to normal traffic. As it stands now, we will have carried out the necessary measures and be able to open it to traffic in mid-April.”
Redirecting traffic
The Norwegian national rail operator Vy has five freight trains that run on the Dovre line. The company will have to find a different route for its trains. “We are investigating the possibility of running as much freight traffic as possible on the Røros Line”, a company representative told Norwegian media.
“Unfortunately, it will be a much less environmentally friendly form of transport since we cannot run electrified trains on the Røros Line”, the representative said. What’s more, the Røros route only has a single track, whereas the Dovre line is both electrified and has double tracks.
An often-heard fear in the rail industry is also applicable here: “What will be challenging is getting the transporters back on the train after the closure. The fear is that they will enter into long-term agreements with car transporters”, the Vy representative said. How much the company stands to lose financially, it does not know yet.