Norway delays ERTMS rollout, impacting major railway projects

The rollout of Norway’s new signals system, ERTMS, is facing delays, impacting several major railway projects across the country. Originally set for completion by 2032, the implementation date has been postponed to 2034. This affects key initiatives, including the new double track through Moss, the Vestfold Line improvement package between Oslo and Tønsberg, and enhancements on the Dovre Line between Oslo and Hamar.

Birgitte Langballe, acting head of communications at Bane Nor, stated that overlapping challenges and delays among suppliers have necessitated a revision of rollout plans, with updates expected by early 2025. The ERTMS system was intended to reduce postponements and enhance rail safety.

The projects impacted include:

– The new double track through Moss (costing around 28 billion NOK), expected to open in 2030.
– The Vestfold Line project, which aimed for improved travel times and a frequency of up to four trains per hour by December 2025 will now see improvements postponed until at least December 2026 due to ERTMS delays.
– Upgrades on the Dovre Line, set for completion by December 2027, are likely to be affected as well.

Local commuters, such as Even Gran who travels from Horten to Oslo, expressed disappointment over the delays but remain hopeful. Langballe acknowledged the frustrations faced by commuters, assuring them that efforts are being made to mitigate the impact of these delays on rail services.