Oslo - Follo Line — North South Rail Link

The Follobanen (Follo Line), Norway’s largest rail project, will create a direct high-speed rail link between the capitol city of Oslo and a regional transportation hub in the Follo District, 14 miles to the south, cutting travel time from 22 minutes to 11 minutes. The project, which includes two separate tunnels running side-by side for most of the route, is the largest rail project in Norway, intended to support a 30% population increase in the Oslo region.

While much of the project is in a rural setting, construction near Oslo Central Staiton is complex and requires interfaces with several preexisting tunnel projects. Completion is expected in 2021. Project cost is $2.35 Billion.

Route map of the Follo Line, between Oslo and Ski

[Jernbaneverket]

View of Oslo Central Station yard and platforms, seen from Ekeberg

The Olympic ski jump is visible in the upper left. [© Trond Strandsberg]

Follo Line alignment near Oslo

[Jernbaneverket]

CAD model of the Follo Line tunnels near Oslo central station, heading south toward Ski

[Jernbaneverket]

The Follo line is being built as two separate single-track tunnels 25 meters apart (similar to the Red Line Northwest Extension)

[Jernbaneverket]

Twin-bore tunnels of the Oslo-Ski Follobanen are being bored through hard rock with 4 TBM's, working from each end toward the center to expedite the work. [© Jernbaneverket / Anne Kathrine Kalager, Project Director]

[© Jernbaneverket / Anne Kathrine Kalager, Project Director

Montage showing complexity of existing tunnel infrastrucfture new Oslo Central Station. [© Jernbaneverket / Anne Kathrine Kalager, Project Director]

Birdseye view of the Follo Line portals just south of Oslo Central Station

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