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Oslo Metro

technology Maturity 5-7

Trains run in the city.

Oslo Metro Map.svg
Oslo Metro Map.svg
They go under the ground. They go over the ground too. The trains help people move. They are fast and fun. Do you like train rides?

34 words

Trains run in the city of Oslo.

Oslo Metro Map.svg
Oslo Metro Map.svg
There are five lines. All lines go through the city center. Some lines go to a nearby town.
TogJernbanetorget.JPG
TogJernbanetorget.JPG
The trains go under the ground. Seventeen stations are inside or underground. The trains help many people move. It is a very good way to travel.

56 words

The Oslo Metro is a fast train system in Oslo, Norway.

Oslo Metro Map.svg
Oslo Metro Map.svg
It helps people travel across the city and nearby areas. There are five lines in the system. All five lines run through a central path called the Common Tunnel.
TogJernbanetorget.JPG
TogJernbanetorget.JPG
This tunnel lets trains move between the east and west sides of the city. The system has 101 stations in total. Seventeen of these stations are underground or indoors.

The metro has a long history. The first line, the Holmenkollen Line, opened in 1898. In 1928, the system became the first underground metro in the Nordic countries. This happened when a new line opened to Nationaltheatret.

Nationaltheatret stasjon with tram.jpeg
Nationaltheatret stasjon with tram.jpeg

Today, the trains use MX3000 stock. This is the name for the type of train cars used. These new trains replaced older models between 2006 and 2010. In 2016, 118 million people used the system in one year. A study in 2024 found it was a very efficient way to travel.

166 words

The Oslo Metro is a fast train system in Oslo, Norway.

Oslo Metro Map.svg
Oslo Metro Map.svg
It helps people move quickly through the city and nearby areas. The network has five different lines that all meet in the middle. These lines use a shared path called the Common Tunnel. This tunnel connects the eastern and western parts of the city. There are 101 stations in the whole system. Seventeen of these stations are located underground or inside buildings.
TogJernbanetorget.JPG
TogJernbanetorget.JPG

Learning how the metro works is like following a map. All five lines run through the center of the city first. After that, they split off into different branches. For example, lines 4 and 5 both serve the Grorud branch. Some lines go to the north, while others go south. Two lines also travel on the Ring Line to connect different parts of town.

Oslo Metro Map.svg
Oslo Metro Map.svg
The trains run from early in the morning until late at night. Most lines have at least four trains every hour.

The history of these trains started a long time ago. The very first line was the Holmenkollen Line in 1898. In 1928, it became the first underground metro in the Nordic countries. This happened when a line opened to Nationaltheatret.

Nationaltheatret stasjon with tram.jpeg
Nationaltheatret stasjon with tram.jpeg
Later, the city decided to build a new network in Eastern Oslo. This new part of the system opened on May 22, 1966. It used a special "metro standard" to make travel better. This included using a third rail for power.

Many different types of trains have traveled these tracks. For a long time, the system used T1000 trains.

Forskningsparken tbane.jpg
Forskningsparken tbane.jpg
Between 2006 and 2010, these were replaced by new MX3000 trains. These newer trains are what people use today. In 2016, about 118 million people rode the metro in one year. A report in 2024 said it was the most efficient system in Europe. This is a very big job for one city to do.

You can recognize metro stations by looking for a blue sign. The sign has a white "T" inside a circle.

Blindern stasjon.jpg
Blindern stasjon.jpg
Most stations are easy to find at ground level. Some stations have small shops or ticket machines inside. Even though the system is old, it is still growing. A new line is being built to connect Majorstuen to Fornebu. This work is expected to finish by the year 2027.

398 words

The Oslo Metro is a rapid transit system serving Oslo, Norway.

Oslo Metro Map.svg
Oslo Metro Map.svg
It is operated by Sporveien T-banen under a contract from the transit authority Ruter. The network is vital for moving people through the city and nearby areas. It serves 14 out of the 15 boroughs of Oslo. Two lines even reach into the neighboring municipality of Bærum. In 2016, the system recorded an annual ridership of 118 million people. A 2024 report assessed the Oslo Metro as the most efficient system among 23 European rapid transit networks.

The system functions through a network of five lines that all pass through a central path. This shared path is called the Common Tunnel.

TogJernbanetorget.JPG
TogJernbanetorget.JPG
All five lines run through the city center before splitting into different branches. The network includes 101 stations in total. Of these, 17 stations are located underground or indoors. Most underground stations are in the Common Tunnel or in short tunnel sections on the eastern network. The Furuset Line is a notable example, as it is built mainly in or under tunnels.

The metro lines are organized into specific branches and routes. The Grorud branch is served by both lines 4 and 5. The Lambertseter branch receives full-time service from line 4 and limited service from line 1. On the west side, the Holmenkollen and Sognsvann lines cover the northern parts of Oslo. The Ring Line connects the northeastern and northwestern parts of the city.

Oslo Metro Map.svg
Oslo Metro Map.svg
Additionally, the Kolsås and Røa lines reach into Bærum. The system is currently expanding with a new line under construction from Majorstuen to Fornebu. This project aims for completion by 2027 and involves a cost of 13 billion NOK shared by the city and the state.

The history of rail transport in Oslo began in 1854 with the Hoved Line.

Nationaltheatret stasjon with tram.jpeg
Nationaltheatret stasjon with tram.jpeg
Early services included the Drammen Line in 1872 and the Østfold Line in 1879. The first suburban tram line, the Holmenkollen Line, opened in 1898. This was the first rapid transit in Oslo because it used electric trams with proper stations. In 1928, the system became the first Nordic underground rapid transit system. This happened when the underground line to Nationaltheatret opened. This underground section was a precursor to what we now call a premetro.

Developing the modern metro required strict technical standards. In 1949, a planning office for a T-bane was established. By 1954, the city council decided to build the network in Eastern Oslo. They created a "metro standard" to improve the service. This standard included using a third rail for power supply. It also included cab signaling with Automatic Train Protection. Stations were built long enough for six-car trains. Level crossings were replaced by bridges and underpasses to increase safety and speed.

The eastern network officially opened on May 22, 1966, when the Common Tunnel opened.

TogJernbanetorget.JPG
TogJernbanetorget.JPG
This connected Brynseng to the Jernbanetorget station. Over the following years, various lines were added. The Grorud Line opened in October 1966. The Østensjø Line connected to the system in 1967. The Furuset Line opened in 1970 and reached Ellingsrudåsen by 1981. For a long time, the eastern and western networks were separate. They were not fully connected through the Stortinget station until 1993.

Different types of rolling stock, or train cars, have been used throughout the system's history. The eastern network originally used T1000 stock.

Forskningsparken tbane.jpg
Forskningsparken tbane.jpg
Between 2006 and 2010, these were replaced by the modern MX3000 stock. The western network previously used T1300 and T2000 cars. Today, the MX3000 units are the standard for the fleet. Travelers can identify metro stations by looking for a blue sign with a white "T" inside a circle.
Blindern stasjon.jpg
Blindern stasjon.jpg
Most stations have ticket machines and some even feature small kiosks.

630 words
🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Nationaltheatret stasjon with tram.jpeg
Nationaltheatret stasjon with tram.jpeg
File:10 969 Bf Majorstuen, ET2008 Ri Frognerseteren (Holmenkollen).jpg
10 969 Bf Majorstuen, ET2008 Ri...
File:Forskningsparken tbane.jpg
Forskningsparken tbane.jpg
File:TogJernbanetorget.JPG
TogJernbanetorget.JPG
File:Oslo Metro Map.svg
Oslo Metro Map.svg
File:Nydalen T-banestasjon med T1300.jpg
Nydalen T-banestasjon med T1300.jpg
File:Blindern stasjon.jpg
Blindern stasjon.jpg
File:I12 065 Hp Røa, ET 3198.jpg
I12 065 Hp Røa, ET 3198.jpg
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