{{Short description|Railway line in Norway}} {{Infobox rail line |name = Dovre Line |native_name = Dovrebanen |native_name_lang = no |image = Dovrebanen nordover ved Kvam.JPG |caption = Dovrebanen at [[Kvam Station]] |type = [[Rail transport|Railway]] |system = |status = |start = [[Eidsvoll Station|Eidsvoll]] |end = [[Trondheim Central Station|Trondheim S]] |stations = 25 |open = 1921, the original Dovre Line |close = |owner = [[Bane NOR]] |operator = [[SJ Norge]]<br />[[Vy]]<br />[[CargoNet]] |character = |stock = [[NSB Class 73|Class 73]], [[NSB El 14|El 14]], [[NSB El 16|El 16]], [[NSB El 18|El 18]] |linelength = {{convert|553|km|abbr=on}} |tracklength = |tracks = [[Single track (rail)|Single]] or double |gauge = {{track gauge|sg}} |electrification = {{15 kV AC}} |speed = Oslo-Eidsvoll: Max. {{convert|200|km/h|mph}}<br>Oslo-Trondheim average: {{convert|80|km/h|mph}} |elevation = |map = {{Dovrebanen|inline=1}} |map_state = collapsed }}
The '''Dovre Line''' ({{langx|no|Dovrebanen}}) is the name of three Norwegian railway lines to the historic city of [[Trondheim (city)|Trondheim]].
==Definition== *Dovre Line is the {{convert|484|km|adj=on}} main line between [[Eidsvoll Station]] and [[Trondheim Station]], used by [[Norwegian National Rail Administration|Jernbaneverket]] since 2008. *Dovre Line is also the current name of the {{convert|548|km|adj=on}} main line of the [[Rail transport in Norway|Norwegian railway system (Jernbaneverket)]] between [[Oslo]] and Trondheim,<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.fjordtravel.no/destination-norway/rail-trips-dovre/| title=Norway rail trips: The Dovre line - Fjord Travel Norway| work=Fjord Travel Norway| access-date=14 July 2017| language=en-US}}</ref> used when referring to the long-distance passenger trains. *Dovre Line was the name of the {{convert|209|km|adj=on}} main line between [[Dombås]] and Trondheim until 2008.{{sfn|Bjerke|Holom|2004|p=75}}
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]] and Dombås was opened in 1921, the originally {{convert|49|km|adj=on}} long narrow gauge section between [[Støren]] 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 {{convert|158.1|km|adj=on}} long Dombås - Støren section.{{sfn|Bjerke|Holom|2004|pp=74-75}}
==Sections of the most inclusive use of ''Dovre Line'' (Dovrebanen)== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Section !! Km !! Original Name !! Opened !! Remark !! Illustration |- | Oslo - Eidsvoll || 64 || [[Gardermoen Line|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 || || [[File:Hjerkinn station 1970.jpg|thumb|left|Hjerkinn station at the Dovre Line, 1970]] |- | Støren - Trondheim || 51 || Trondhjem-Størebanen || 1864 || Narrow gauge until 1919, dual until 1921{{sfn|Bjerke|Holom|2004|p=90}} |}
==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]], 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]] to [[Trondheim (city)|Trondheim]] is 548 km today. It is a more heavily traveled line than the older [[Røros Line]] and electrification was completed 1 November 1970.{{sfn|Bjerke|Holom|2004|p=75}} Between 1935 and 1958, the Dovre Line was served by some of Norway's largest [[steam locomotive]]s, the 2-8-4 [[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 (town)|Lillehammer]] and over the mountainous stretches of [[Dovre Municipality]], before merging with the Røros Line again at [[Støren]]. There is one branch line, the [[Rauma Line]] which leaves the Dovre Line at [[Dombås]].
To avoid the fairly regular river flooding on the railway line along the river [[Gaula (Trøndelag)|Gaula]], the [[Gulfoss Tunnel]] was completed in 1918 in the [[Hovin, Trøndelag|Hovin]] area of [[Melhus Municipality]] in what is now [[Trøndelag]] county.
On 14 August 2023, the line was severed when the [[Randklev Bridge]], which crosses the Lågen River in Ringebu, slid into the river. The river was swallowed by floodwater, a result of [[2022–23 European windstorm season#Storm_Hans|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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bryant |first=Miranda |date=14 August 2023 |title=Storm Hans: railway bridge collapses in southern Norway |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/14/storm-hans-railway-bridge-collapses-in-southern-norway |access-date=15 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814160604/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/14/storm-hans-railway-bridge-collapses-in-southern-norway |archive-date=14 August 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The bridge was repaired, and reopened 20 May 2024.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2024-04-12 |date=2024-04-12 |language=nb-NO |surname=NRK |title=Dovrebanen åpner igjen 20. mai |url=https://www.nrk.no/trondelag/dovrebanen-apner-igjen-20.-mai-1.16841270 |work=NRK}}<!-- auto-translated from Danish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dovrebanen åpnet for fullt etter gjenåpning av Randklev bru |url=https://www.tu.no/artikler/dovrebanen-apnet-for-fullt-etter-gjenapning-av-randklev-bru/547055 |website=Tu.no |publisher=[[Teknisk Ukeblad]] |language=no |date=20 May 2024}}</ref>
The line was cut off again on 21 January 2025, due to the bridge south of [[Otta Station]] being closed off due to heavy ice accumulation around its foundations that weakened them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/innlandet/dovrebanen-stengd-pa-grunn-av-flaum-1.17215586|lang=nn|publisher=NRK|author=Stine Bækkelien, Even Lusæter, Bjørnar Morønning, Arne Sørenes|title=Dovrebanen stengd på ubestemt tid – bru har flytta på seg|date=21 January 2025|accessdate=4 February 2025}}</ref> As of early February 2025 the line is not scheduled to resume services until mid-April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/innlandet/dovrebanen-stengd-pa-grunn-av-flaum-1.17215586|title=Hevdar dette kan gå utover VM-festen i Trondheim: – Leit|lang=nn|date=1 February 2025|accessdate=4 February 2025|publisher=NRK|author=Amund Rotbakken-Gundersen, Knut Storvik}}</ref>
== Service == The [[Vy|Norwegian State Railways]] used to be the sole operator of passenger services on the Dovre Line. Since June 2020, the service is operated by [[SJ Norge]] under the brand "SJ Nord".<ref>{{cite web |title=Om SJ Norge|url=https://www.sj.no/nb/meny/om-sj-norge.html|website=www.sj.no|access-date=18 September 2019}}</ref> In each direction they are four express trains between Oslo and Trondheim, of which two daily departures with the [[tilting train|tilting]] [[NSB Class 73|Class 73]] units, offering travel times down to 6 hours 37 minutes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/langtur-med-tog-tar-lengre-tid-no-enn-for-22-ar-sidan-1.16174942|title=Langtur med tog tar lengre tid no enn for 22 år sidan|lang=nn|date=14 November 2022|accessdate=21 January 2025|author=Kjartan Rørslett|publisher=[[NRK]]}}</ref> 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 trains of Norway|night train]] with sleeper cars. In addition there is a morning service from Dombås to Oslo. At Dombås there is correspondence with [[Møre 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]].
== 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]] the next day. The worst Norwegian railway disaster in peacetime also happened on the Dovre Line on 22 February 1975 when two trains [[tretten train disaster|collided]] one kilometer north of [[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:<ref>Dovre Line cab ride catalogue: https://railroadingwithjm.limanett.no/routes/dovrebanen.html</ref>
==References== ===Footnotes=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== * {{cite book| last1=Bjerke| first1=T.| last2=Holom| first2=F.| year=2004| title=Banedata 2004| location=Hamar/Oslo| publisher=Norsk Jernbanemuseum & Norsk Jernbaneklubb}}
== External links == {{Portal|Railways}} * [https://www.sj.no/en/strekning/dovrebanen-2/ Dovre Line (Dovrebanen)] [[SJ Norge]] {{in lang|en}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20040816074654/http://www.jernbaneverket.no/english/forTravellers/index.jhtml?intSecId=1151413 Jernbaneverket's list of stations on the Dovre line]
{{Railways in Norway}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Dovre Line| ]] [[Category:Railway lines in Innlandet]] [[Category:Railway lines in Trøndelag]] [[Category:Railway lines in Akershus]] [[Category:Railway lines opened in 1921]] [[Category:Electric railways in Norway]] [[Category:1921 establishments in Norway]]