Much of Oslo's 6 line, 118.7 km "T-Bane" is above ground. The system is actually
a conglomeration of suburban railways and tramways (Østensjøbanen and
Lambertseterbanen). They joined in 1928 via a central city tunnel. The
Holmenkollbanen, perhaps the most famous
because of it's
wooden rolling stock, opened in 1898. It
was the first and oldest of the lines that were to later become the
tunnelbane.
All the western lines were opened as true metros with metro cars, overhead
power supplies and level crossings.
The lines are referred to as east and west lines, perhaps because of their
directions. There are also
three types of rolling stock. East trains,
serving lines 2, 3 and 5, can only run on a third rail. Type 1300 stock serve
line 4, which runs on both third rail and pantograph. T2000, the newest rolling
stock, operates only on Line 1. No extensions are in progress, and the only improvements to the system are a gradual conversion of the east lines from overhead power to third rail.
Oslo's metro meets the strictest safety standards.
Oslo trams have recently been beset by a
rash
of closures, both threatened and real.
There are currently 11 lines totaling an impressive
152.5 km. The system
opened in
1894.
Photos courtesy Håkon Kinck Gaarder
Surreal cab ride through the snow at superspeed
In May 2004, an automated
monorail from Lysaker
in the central city to a new development called
Fornebu
was announced. Light rail was proposed but was rejected. The monorail
will be part in subway and is expected to take two years to build.
Construction was set to begin in 200 but has yet to begin.
