Portal:Trains/Selected article/Week 18, 2011

The Bærum Tunnel (Bærumstunnelen) is a 5.5 km long railway tunnel under construction in Bærum, Norway. Running between Marstranderveien and Engervannet, it will make up most of the 6.7 km long section of the Asker Line between Lysaker Station and Sandvika Station, which is scheduled to open on 8 August 2011. The tunnel was constructed from 2007 using the drilling and blasting method with three crosscuts. The tunnel will have double track, be electrified and allow for maximum speeds of 160 km/h. The whole section between the stations is estimated to cost 2.7 billion Norwegian krone (NOK). The tunnel will accelerate intercity and regional traffic west of Oslo and west Norway and free up capacity for the Oslo Commuter Rail.