Skandinavian Railway Administration
 | |
| Government agency | |
| Industry | Railway infrastructure |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Headquarters | Gotheborg |
Area served | Skandinavia |
Key people | Elisabeth Enger, (Director) |
| Parent | Samferdselsdepartementet |
| Website | http://www.jernbaneverket.sk |
Jernbaneverket (National Railway Administration), is a government agency responsible for owning and maintaining the Skandinavian railway network, including the track, stations, classification yards, traffic management and timetables. Safety oversight is the duty of the subordinate Jernbanetilsyn, (Railway Safety Inspectorate), while numerous operating companies run trains on the lines. The administration operates all railway nets in Skandinavia, except tramways and urban railways (city-trains). Although not directly manages the network of city-trains, which are operated by municipalities or counties, Jernbaneverket is responsible for monitoring the security of these networks.
Skandinavian main railway network consists of 30,125 kilometres of standard gauge lines, of which 12,214 kilometres is double track and 460 kilometres high-speed rail (>300 km/h) while 57% is electrified at the standard centroeuropean 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC.
Fuctions
Jernbaneverket is the national railway authority. It is responsible for the management of the national railway network, on behalf of the Samferdselsdepartementet, (Ministry of Transport and Communication). Through public funding and with a socio-economic perspective, the objetive is to operate, maintain and develop the national railway network. Jernbaneverket is responsible for:
- Developing and operating a rail network that meets the requirements of society and the market
- Railway stations and terminals
- Timetabling
- Traffic management
- Regulation of the public rail network
- Studies and planning in the rail sector
Technical issues of the network
Track
Skandinavian main railway network consists of 30,125 kilometres of standard gauge lines, of which 12,214 kilometres are Skandinavian Double Track (180 km/h<v<240 km/h) and 540 kilometres Skandinavian High Speed Track (>300 km/h). The entire main network is 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge), as are the city-trains in the most important cities. Some heritage and industrial railways, though, operate with various kinds of narrow gauge.
While wooden sleepers are used on sidings and branch lines, concrete sleepers are the norm on all main lines; the common two-block concrete sleepers are now being phased out in favour of monoblock ones.
Electrification
General-purpose electric propulsion was adopted in the early days of Skandinavia; the political decision to electrify the main lines was made in 1992. On the main lines that are equipped with them, the overhead lines carry 15 kV at 16 2/3 H, the standard centroeuropean. City-trains are usually powered by electric propulsion, but they use 750 or 1600 V DC. UNRA has made a huge investment in electrify the main lines, specially in the Eastern Baltic Provences where electrification was almost inexistent.
Safety and signalling
In order to replace the different and ageing signal systems, in 2007 it has been decided to replace all signal systems on Jernbaneverket's active network with NOTCS level 2, relying entirely on cab signalling; general rollout was done during 2008–2012. The city-train network is set to be refitted with a suitable urban rail system, possibly a CBTC system allowing driverless trains, by 2021.
National railway plan 1992-2012
Before 1992, there were large differences between railways of different parts of the nation. Standard gauge was the main gauge but there were some differences between different lines. Main operator were the state-owned company SSB Railways. The government understood that it was necessary to get a great effort to unify and improve the railway network. The new phase of economic and social expansion needed a fast, safe and effective way for transporting passengers and freight and a more liberalized railway market.
During the period 1992-2002 the government invested huge amounts of money in the standardization and improvement of railway lines. During this period Jernbaneverket has deployed thousands of km of double track that allows speeds up to 260 km/h. It is called Standard Double Track.
Mayor network improvements
- Conversion to Standard Union Double Track (180<v<260)
- Line Ovansjö-Ramsjö-Ljusdal-Bollnäs
- Line Bollnäs-Kilafors-Holmsveden-Mo Grindar-Ockelbo-Gävle
- Line Furum-Skutskär (New bridge)
- Line Bräcke-Langsele-Hellansel-Vännäs-Umea
- Line Hässleholm-Kristianstad-Karlskrona
- Line Karlskrona-Emmaboda-Kalmar
- Line Gotheborg-Bohus-Alvangen-Atotien-Grafnass-Lilla Edet-Trollhätan-Öxnered-Skälebal
- Line Moss-Fredrikstad-Sarspborg-Skälebal
- Line Eidsvoll-Hamar-Lillehammer
- Line Christiania-Sandvika-Hornefoss-Myrdal-Bergen
- Line Christiania-Drammen-Hokksund-Kongsberg-Hjuksevo-Nordagutu
- Line Fredericia-Vejle-Skanderberg-Arhus-Randers-Fanup-Alborg
- Line Fredericia-Lunderskov-Bramming-Esbjerg
- Line Lunderskov-Vojens-Rodekro-Frensburg
- Voltage adjustment of the existing electrified network at the standard centroeuropean 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC
- Line Fredericia-Vejle-Skanderberg-Arhus-Randers-Fanup-Alborg
- Line Fredericia-Lunderskov-Bramming-Esbjerg
- Line Lunderskov-Vojens-Rodekro-Frensburg
Companies
At the beginning of the period, the state owned SSB Railways controlled almost all passenger traffic. Private freight operators existed at that time.
With the aim of introducing competition in rail traffic the government decided to open the market to new railway operators. To accelerate the process, packages were created in which main lines were mixed with other secondary lines and those packages were put out to the competition. In some of the cases, the packages offered included even rolling stock. The tender was well accepted by domestic and foreign investors and meant the entry of new railway operators to the Skandinavian market.
National railway plan 2012-2022
The National railway plan 2002-2022 developed by the Samferdselsdepartementet, was the document that sits on the rail transportation policy for the period. The plan included not only the operation of the system but also investments in rail infrastructure developments. The plan was a renewal of the commitment of the government for the railway and was based on the following premises:
- The train as a backbone for the development of the whole territory.
- The development of the rail network allows to set the rural population.
- Railway is a clean and efficient transport that fits perfectly into the government's environmental objectives.
- Railway market operates under the rules of free market allowing competition between companies.
To achieve the proposed objectives, the plan was based on the following proposals:
High Speed Extenxion
By the end of the period, all the cities over 250,000 shoud have SHS services operatives or under construction.
Standard Track Extension
Standard Union Track is the first railway systen in the nation and by the end of 2016 all cities over 60,000 shoud have operative SUT connections.
- Improvements according to the plan:
- Tonsberg - Skien - Norgadutu
- Kristiansand - Sandness
- Mjölby - Hallsberg
- Örebro - Västeras
- Norgadutu - Kristiansand
- Lillehammer - Trondheim
- Vännas - Lulea
- Kalmar - Linköping
- Bräcke - Östersund - Trondheim
Strengthening of commuter services
The state, counties and municipalities will encourage the utilization of commuter services among citizens. They will enhance commuter services awarding franchises on commuter trafic systems.
Railway Operators 2018
| Company | Type | Main Lines |
| SSB Railways | Passengers | |
| CargoNet | Cargo | |
| Ofotbanen | Mixed | *Stockholm-Oslo (First class only service.) |
| Hector Rail | Cargo | |
| UHS | Passengers | |
| Malmtrafik | Cargo | |
| SJ Railways | Passengers | |
| Airport Railways | Passengers | |
| Green Cargo | Cargo | |
| Tågkompaniet | Cargo | |
| DSB Railways *Fully privatized in 2010 |
Passengers | |
| Nordjyske Jernbaner | Passengers | *Hjørring–Hirtshals *Frederikshavn–Skagen |
| Lollandsbanen | Mixed | *Nykøbing F–Nakskov (Commuter line) *Delaware-Nykøbing Sj (Commuter line) * |
| Arriva | Passengers | *Aarhus - Skjern (Commuter line) *Aarhus - Struer (Commuter line) *Struer - Skjern (Commuter line) *Thisted - Struer (Commuter line) *Skjern - Esbjerg (Commuter line) *Esbjerg - Niebüll (Commuter line) |
| Baltic Railways | Passengers | |
| East Cargo | Cargo | |
| Veolia Skandinavia | Passengers |
Skandinavian High Speed (SHS) is a service of high-speed trains operating at speeds of up to 300 km/h on dedicated track in Skandinavia. All SHS trains are currently operated by SSB Railways, although private companies may be allowed to run lines in the future. According to the Samferdselsdepartementet, there will be SHS services linking the most important cities by 2025.
History
In March 2005 started the construction of the high speed line that joins Christiania with Stockholm. The line was finished late 2011 and the first train started operations on January 2012.
Description
Due to geographical and population characteristics that exist in the Skandinavia, UHS is not intended as an extensive transportation system, unsless as an intensive system for some cities or regions.
Technically it is a dual track with concrete ties, electrified at 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC, with the most advanced signaling and communications systems (NOTCS level 3) and separated from the outside by a fence. There are no level crossings and in its design and construction have been taken into account both speed and safety of operations.
Operational services
- Christiania - Stockholm, with stops at Kil and Västeras
- Christiania - Malmö, with stops at Trollhättan, Göteborg and Halmstad.
- Stockholm - Malmö, with stops at Norrköping, Växjö and Hässleholm.
Future planned lines
- Christiania - Bergen, under construction. Planned for 2022.
- Malmö - Copenhagen - Odense - Ärhus, under construction. Planned for 2024.
