# Dovre Line

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dovre_Line
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dovre_Line.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovre_Line
> Source revision: 1325950934
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Railway line in Norway

Dovre Line Dovrebanen at Kvam Station Overview Native name Dovrebanen Owner Bane NOR Termini Eidsvoll Trondheim S Stations 25 Service Type Railway Operator(s) SJ Norge Vy CargoNet Rolling stock Class 73, El 14, El 16, El 18 History Opened 1921, the original Dovre Line Technical Line length 553 km (344 mi) Number of tracks Single or double Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Electrification 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC Operating speed Oslo-Eidsvoll: Max. 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph) Oslo-Trondheim average: 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) Route map Legend year closed Meråker Line Trondheim Central Skansen Bridge Skansen Nidareid tunnel Marienborg Stavne–Leangen Line Stavne junction Hoem tunnel Selsbakk Selsbakk tunnel Lerbroelva bridge Heimdal Hegstad 1987 E6 Kvammen 1987 Melhus resited ↓ 1993 Kvål Ler Lundesokna bridge Lundamo Gulfoss 1993 Gulfossen bridge Gulfoss Tunnel Hovin Støren Røros Line Basmoen Snøan Soknedal Garli Berkåk Ulsberg Orkla bridge Orkla tunnel Granholtet 1951 Indsetveien 1966 Gisna 1966 Byna bridge Fagerhaug Myrplass 1966 Rønningen 1951 Garå 1966 Oppdal Hevle 1966 Driva Holan Kolstad tunnel Drivstua Driva Øilien tunnel Klemma tunnel Kleivane tunnel Stølan tunnel Hestekrubben tunnel Grimsdal tunnel Nystubekk tunnel Høgsnyta tunnel Gammelhullet tunnel Kongsvoll Trøndelag Svoni; county boundary summit (1,024.4 m) Oppland Hjerkinn Gjeitberget tunnel Vålåsjø Fokstua Grønbogen tunnel Rauma Line Dombås tunnel Dombås Dovre Tallerås bridge Brennhaug Sel Otta Sjoa Kvam Vinstra Harpefoss Hundtorp Ringebu Kvitfjell Fåvang Losna Tretten Øyer Hafjell Hunderfossen Hunder Fåberg Hovemoen Lillehammer Bergseng Brøttum Ring Moelv Ringsaker Rudshøgda Veldre Brumunddal Jessnes Nordvika Hamar Røros Line Akersvika Ottestad Stange Sørli Timber freight terminal Steinsrud Tangen Skaberud Espa Strandlykkja Hedmark County boundary Akershus Skrårud 1980 Morskogen 2015 Korslund 1980 Ørbekk 1980 Minnevika Bridge Minnesund 2023 Bunes 1980 Dokknes 1967 Eidsvoll Gardermoen Line Trunk Line year closed

The **Dovre Line** ([Norwegian](/source/Norwegian_language): *Dovrebanen*) is the name of three Norwegian railway lines to the historic city of [Trondheim](/source/Trondheim_(city)).

## Definition

- Dovre Line is the 484-kilometre (301 mi) main line between [Eidsvoll Station](/source/Eidsvoll_Station) and [Trondheim Station](/source/Trondheim_Station), used by [Jernbaneverket](/source/Norwegian_National_Rail_Administration) since 2008.

- Dovre Line is also the current name of the 548-kilometre (341 mi) main line of the [Norwegian railway system (Jernbaneverket)](/source/Rail_transport_in_Norway) between [Oslo](/source/Oslo) and Trondheim,[1] used when referring to the long-distance passenger trains.

- Dovre Line was the name of the 209-kilometre (130 mi) main line between [Dombås](/source/Domb%C3%A5s) and Trondheim until 2008.[2]

The most inclusive of these meanings of Dovre Line thus includes the other two. To complicate the pattern even more, the first use of the Dovre Line was on the section between Dombås and Støren, completed in 1921. When this last section of the new standard gauge main line between Oslo and Trondheim via [Lillehammer](/source/Lillehammer) and Dombås was opened in 1921, the originally 49-kilometre (30 mi) long narrow gauge section between [Støren](/source/St%C3%B8ren) and Trondheim was made the northern part of the new Dovre Line. When talking about construction of railways in Norway, Dovre Line refers to the 158.1-kilometre (98.2 mi) long Dombås - Støren section.[3]

## Sections of the most inclusive use of *Dovre Line* (Dovrebanen)

Section Km Original Name Opened Remark Illustration Oslo - Eidsvoll 64 Gardermobanen 1998 Replaced Hovedbanen Eidsvoll - Hamar 59 Eidsvold-Hamarbanen 1880 Hamar - Tretten 88 Eidsvold-Trettenbanen 1894 Tretten - Otta 83 Eidsvold-Ottabanen 1896 Otta - Dombås 46 Eidsvold-Størenbanen/Syd 1913 Dombås - Støren 158 Dovrebanen 1921 Hjerkinn station at the Dovre Line, 1970 Støren - Trondheim 51 Trondhjem-Størebanen 1864 Narrow gauge until 1919, dual until 1921[4]

## General description and short history

The section south of Eidsvoll was until 1998 Norway's first public railway, Hovedbanen, from 1854, 68 km long. The present line between Oslo and Eidsvoll is the 4 km shorter [Gardermoen Line](/source/Gardermoen_Line), the only high-speed line in the country. Hovedbanen is still in service for freight trains (and local commuters to Dal), but is not considered as a part of Dovre Line. The entire line from [Oslo](/source/Oslo) to [Trondheim](/source/Trondheim_(city)) is 548 km today. It is a more heavily traveled line than the older [Røros Line](/source/R%C3%B8ros_Line) and electrification was completed 1 November 1970.[2] Between 1935 and 1958, the Dovre Line was served by some of Norway's largest [steam locomotives](/source/Steam_locomotive), the 2-8-4 [NSB Class 49](/source/NSB_Class_49) "Dovregubben" ("Dovre Giant").

Compared to the Røros Line, the Dovre Line takes a more westerly course running through the town of [Lillehammer](/source/Lillehammer_(town)) and over the mountainous stretches of [Dovre Municipality](/source/Dovre_Municipality), before merging with the Røros Line again at [Støren](/source/St%C3%B8ren). There is one branch line, the [Rauma Line](/source/Rauma_Line) which leaves the Dovre Line at [Dombås](/source/Domb%C3%A5s).

To avoid the fairly regular river flooding on the railway line along the river [Gaula](/source/Gaula_(Tr%C3%B8ndelag)), the [Gulfoss Tunnel](/source/Gulfoss_Tunnel) was completed in 1918 in the [Hovin](/source/Hovin%2C_Tr%C3%B8ndelag) area of [Melhus Municipality](/source/Melhus_Municipality) in what is now [Trøndelag](/source/Tr%C3%B8ndelag) county.

On 14 August 2023, the line was severed when the [Randklev Bridge](/source/Randklev_Bridge), which crosses the Lågen River in Ringebu, slid into the river. The river was swallowed by floodwater, a result of [Storm Hans](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_European_windstorm_season#Storm_Hans). The bridge was 172m in length and was opened in 1957. It had been closed when the collapse occurred. An adjacent road bridge, which is a former railway bridge, was not affected by the floodwater, but it has been closed as a precautionary measure.[5] The bridge was repaired, and reopened 20 May 2024.[6][7]

The line was cut off again on 21 January 2025, due to the bridge south of [Otta Station](/source/Otta_Station) being closed off due to heavy ice accumulation around its foundations that weakened them.[8] As of early February 2025 the line is not scheduled to resume services until mid-April 2025.[9]

## Service

The [Norwegian State Railways](/source/Vy) used to be the sole operator of passenger services on the Dovre Line. Since June 2020, the service is operated by [SJ Norge](/source/SJ_Norge) under the brand "SJ Nord".[10] In each direction they are four express trains between Oslo and Trondheim, of which two daily departures with the [tilting](/source/Tilting_train) [Class 73](/source/NSB_Class_73) units, offering travel times down to 6 hours 37 minutes[11] for an average of 80 km/h (50mph), with departures in the morning and afternoon. There is also a locomotive-hauled afternoon train and a [night train](/source/Night_trains_of_Norway) with sleeper cars. In addition there is a morning service from Dombås to Oslo. At Dombås there is correspondence with [Møre og Romsdal](/source/M%C3%B8re_og_Romsdal) via the Rauma Line.

The southern part of the line has hourly departures with regional trains from Lillehammer to Oslo operated by Vy. In the northern end, the Dovre Line is served by the [Trøndelag Commuter Rail](/source/Tr%C3%B8ndelag_Commuter_Rail).

## Accidents

The original Dovre Line was completed and officially opened on 17 September 1921. The inauguration ended on a tragic note when the train returning from the celebrations collided just after leaving Trondheim in the [Nidareid train disaster](/source/Nidareid_train_disaster) the next day. The worst Norwegian railway disaster in peacetime also happened on the Dovre Line on 22 February 1975 when two trains [collided](/source/Tretten_train_disaster) one kilometer north of [Tretten](/source/Tretten) station, killing 27 people and wounding 25. There were approximately 800 people on the two trains.

## Plans

The section between Eidsvoll and Hamar is currently being rebuilt and partly realigned as a double track line capable of 200-250 km/h. Some sections has already been opened, and the whole section is scheduled to be complete by 2027.

Further north, there may be constructed some shorter double track sections between Hamar and Lillehammer. North of Lillehammer there are no plans for larger expansions. Longer crossing loops and renewal of the existing line and its infrastructure are the only plans in the foreseeable future.

## Driver’s cab documentation

Several parts of the Dovre Line are documented through driver’s cab recordings made by Norwegian locomotive engineers. These videos illustrate gradients, curvature, winter operations and the line’s mountain profile. Full overview:[12]

## References

### Footnotes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Norway rail trips: The Dovre line - Fjord Travel Norway"](https://www.fjordtravel.no/destination-norway/rail-trips-dovre/). *Fjord Travel Norway*. Retrieved 14 July 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBjerkeHolom200475_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBjerkeHolom200475_2-1) [Bjerke & Holom 2004](#CITEREFBjerkeHolom2004), p. 75.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBjerkeHolom200474–75_3-0)** [Bjerke & Holom 2004](#CITEREFBjerkeHolom2004), pp. 74–75.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBjerkeHolom200490_4-0)** [Bjerke & Holom 2004](#CITEREFBjerkeHolom2004), p. 90.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Bryant, Miranda (14 August 2023). ["Storm Hans: railway bridge collapses in southern Norway"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230814160604/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/14/storm-hans-railway-bridge-collapses-in-southern-norway). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Archived from [the original](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/14/storm-hans-railway-bridge-collapses-in-southern-norway) on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** NRK (2024-04-12). ["Dovrebanen åpner igjen 20. mai"](https://www.nrk.no/trondelag/dovrebanen-apner-igjen-20.-mai-1.16841270). *NRK* (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2024-04-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Dovrebanen åpnet for fullt etter gjenåpning av Randklev bru"](https://www.tu.no/artikler/dovrebanen-apnet-for-fullt-etter-gjenapning-av-randklev-bru/547055). *Tu.no* (in Norwegian). [Teknisk Ukeblad](/source/Teknisk_Ukeblad). 20 May 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Stine Bækkelien, Even Lusæter, Bjørnar Morønning, Arne Sørenes (21 January 2025). ["Dovrebanen stengd på ubestemt tid – bru har flytta på seg"](https://www.nrk.no/innlandet/dovrebanen-stengd-pa-grunn-av-flaum-1.17215586) (in Norwegian Nynorsk). NRK. Retrieved 4 February 2025.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Amund Rotbakken-Gundersen, Knut Storvik (1 February 2025). ["Hevdar dette kan gå utover VM-festen i Trondheim: – Leit"](https://www.nrk.no/innlandet/dovrebanen-stengd-pa-grunn-av-flaum-1.17215586) (in Norwegian Nynorsk). NRK. Retrieved 4 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Om SJ Norge"](https://www.sj.no/nb/meny/om-sj-norge.html). *www.sj.no*. Retrieved 18 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Kjartan Rørslett (14 November 2022). ["Langtur med tog tar lengre tid no enn for 22 år sidan"](https://www.nrk.no/norge/langtur-med-tog-tar-lengre-tid-no-enn-for-22-ar-sidan-1.16174942) (in Norwegian Nynorsk). [NRK](/source/NRK). Retrieved 21 January 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Dovre Line cab ride catalogue: [https://railroadingwithjm.limanett.no/routes/dovrebanen.html](https://railroadingwithjm.limanett.no/routes/dovrebanen.html)

### Bibliography

- Bjerke, T.; Holom, F. (2004). *Banedata 2004*. Hamar/Oslo: Norsk Jernbanemuseum & Norsk Jernbaneklubb.

## External links

- [Railways portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Railways)

- [Dovre Line (Dovrebanen)](https://www.sj.no/en/strekning/dovrebanen-2/) [SJ Norge](/source/SJ_Norge) (in English)

- [Jernbaneverket's list of stations on the Dovre line](https://web.archive.org/web/20040816074654/http://www.jernbaneverket.no/english/forTravellers/index.jhtml?intSecId=1151413)

v t e Railway lines in Norway Mainline Alna Arendal Asker Bergen Bratsberg Brevik Dovre Drammen Eastern Østfold Flåm Follo Gardermoen Gjøvik Kirkenes–Bjørnevatn Kongsvinger Loenga–Alnabru Meråker Nordland Ofoten Østfold Randsfjorden Rauma Roa–Hønefoss Røros Skøyen–Filipstad Solør Sørlandet Spikkestad Stavne–Leangen Tinnoset Trunk Vestfold Urban Bergen Light Rail Briskeby Ekeberg Common Tunnel Fløibanen Frogner Furuset Gamlebyen Gråkallen Grorud Grünerløkka–Torshov Holmenkollen Kjelsås Kolsås Lambertseter Lilleaker Løren Østensjø Ring Røa Sinsen Skøyen Sognsvann Ullevål Hageby Vika Proposed Arctic Fornebu Grenland Hurum Northern Norway Polar Ringerike Heritage Krøderen Old Voss Rjukan Setesdal Thamshavn Urskog–Høland Merged Dunderland Hell–Sunnan Jæren Trondhjem–Støren Voss Closed Ålgård Elgeseter Flekkefjord Grimstad Hafslund Hardanger Hauerseter–Gardermoen Holmestrand–Hvittingfoss Horten Ila Kampen Korsvoll Kragerø Lade Lier Lillesand–Flaksvand Namsos Nesttun–Os Numedal Oslo Port Rodeløkka Røykenvik Sagene Setesdal Simensbråten Singsaker Skreia Solbergfoss Sperillen Sulitjelma Tønsberg–Eidsfoss Valdres Vålerenga Vestbanen Vestmarka Vippetangen Types Electric High-speed Narrow-gauge Private

Authority control databases International VIAF Artists KulturNav

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dovre Line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovre_Line) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovre_Line?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.