Test-driving the new train on the Trønderbanen Line
The first bimodal train on Norwegian tracks is now being tested. Next year, there will be new, climate-friendly train sets operating on the Trønderbanen Line, with space for almost twice as many passengers.
- This is great news for those of us who love trains and care about climate-friendly travel, says Øystein Risan, CEO of Norske Tog.
Norske Tog, which owns and manages rolling stock in Norway, is now testing the first of a total of 14 bimodal train sets, together with the operator SJ Norge. Bimodal Type 76 trains are hybrid trains that can be run as electric train sets on electrified lines and as diesel train sets on non-electrified lines.
From next year, the 14 new train sets will be put into service on the Trønderbanen Line and the Trondheim-Røros section. They will replace diesel trains that are more than 30 years old.
- At SJ Norge, we are looking forward to being able to offer our passengers the opportunity to travel on the new bimodal trains. The train sets are state-of-the-art and have plenty of space for travellers and luggage alike. For those travelling by train in Trøndelag, this signifies a major improvement in terms of comfort, says Sverre Høven, CEO of SJ Norge.
Climate gains
Bimodal Type 76 trains are hybrid trains that can be run as electric train sets on electrified lines and as diesel train sets on non-electrified lines.
- There are still quite a few train lines in Norway that have not been electrified and, for these lines, bimodal trains constitute important first steps towards zero emission trains, says Øystein Risan.
The bimodal train sets can help reduce the carbon emissions per passenger by up to 30 per cent. This is a key contribution towards reducing carbon emissions within the transport sector.
- These are climate-friendly train sets that will provide a better journey for both passengers and the environment, says Sverre Høven.
Doubling the capacity
The new bimodal train set looks similar to the electric Flirt trains that operate on the Vossebanen Line, the commuter trains used in Bergen and eastern Norway, that are also made by the Swiss manufacturer Stadler.
The train sets are 112.7 metres long, more than twice as long as the current diesel trains. The new train sets will also have nearly double the capacity. While the current Type 92 trains have space for 136 passengers, the new bimodal trains will have space for 241 passengers.
The new trains also have wide entrance doors and large windows and are therefore well adapted in terms of universal design.
More electric
During the test phase, the train set will operate predominantly between Skien – Drammen and Skien-Nordagutu until Christmas. From next year, test runs will also commence on the Trønderbanen Line and others.
- There are many advantages associated with the new bimodal trains. Firstly, there is the flexibility of being able to operate on both electrified and non-electrified lines. Additionally, these trains use traction batteries to increase acceleration during diesel operation, which reduces the diesel consumption. The resulting climate gains are therefore substantial, says Øystein Risan.
The battery packs will also be used to drive in and out of workshops without starting the diesel engines.
- As and when the lines are electrified, the trains will be able to run electrically to a greater extent. Over time, the bimodal trains could even be modified for purely electrical operation or battery operation. This will reduce emissions to zero, which of course is the goal. says Risan.
For more information, please contact:
Øystein Risan, CEO, Norske Tog
Tel. +47 916 51 134
Sverre Høven, CEO, SJ Norge
Tel. +47 930 27 753
