Norway/Vänern Line
Norway/Vänern Line is a Y-shaped railway line in Sweden. The main section runs from Gothenburg Central Station to Kil Station, mostly along the west shore of Vänern. There is a branch from Erikstad to the Norway–Sweden border at Kornsjø, from which it continues as the Østfold Line to Oslo.
The lengths of the line are from Gothenburg to Erikstad, from Gothenburg to Kornsjø and from Gothenburg to Kil. The line is single track, except for the section from Gothenburg to Öxnered, which is double track.
History
The railways were finished in 1879. A shortcut at Erikstad was built for the Norway branch in 1995. The section from Gothenburg to Öxnered was rebuilt as a new double-track railway in the period 2005–2012.The current name was introduced in 1990. From the construction until then, the name was Bergslagen Line, between Gothenburg, through Kil, to Falun, later Gävle. The line to Norway then started at Mellerud and was called Dalsland Line.
Traffic
As of 2018, the following passenger rail services exist on the line:- SJ operates the route Karlstad–Gothenburg once every two hours, joining the Norway/Vänern Line in Kil. The trains used are Regina EMUs of the type X52E. SJ also operates a twice-daily Halden–Gothenburg service.
- TÅGAB operates locomotive-hauled trains on Kil–Gothenburg as part of its longer routes Falun–Karlstad–Gothenburg and Stockholm–Karlstad–Gothenburg.
- Vy operates the route Oslo–Halden–Gothenburg, using the Norway/Vänern Line between Kornsjø and Gothenburg, three times per day with Stadler FLIRT multiple units. The trains run as normal regional trains inside Norway with several stops.
- An hourly regional train service exists on the route Vänersborg–Öxnered–Trollhättan–Gothenburg, with a complementing Säffle–Gothenburg rush-hour service. Operation is contracted by Västtrafik to.
- The Gothenburg commuter rail operates twice-hourly between Älvängen and Gothenburg. Operation is, as with Västtågen, contracted by Västtrafik to SJ Götalandståg.