Portal:Trains/Selected article/Week 45, 2008

The Gardermo Line (Gardermobanen) is a high-speed railway line between Oslo and Eidsvoll, Norway, running past Lillestrøm and Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. The line is 64 km long and replaced the older Hoved Line as the main line north-east of Oslo. The geriatric Hoved Line now handles commuter and freight traffic, while the Gardermo Line handles high-speed passenger trains and freight trains laden with jet fuel for the airport. Both lines are owned by the Norwegian National Rail Administration. The line was opened in 1998, at the same time as the airport that gave the line its name. It is used by the Airport Express Train as well as express trains by Norges Statsbaner. It is the only high-speed railway in the kingdom, with a maximum permitted speed of 210 km/h. Most of the line between Oslo and Lillestrøm is through the 14580 m long Romeriksporten tunnel—the longest railway tunnel in Norway. The decision to build the line was made in 1992; construction started two years later. The line was subjected to severe criticism during construction when the Romerike Tunnel sprung severe leaks due to hurried construction. As a result, the tunnel was opened a year after the rest of the line.