norwegian light rail system bergen norway stage project station stretch city center stations comprising kilometre stretch opened second kilometre stretch opened june construction stretch bergen airport planned open plans project involve extensions plans rail transit existed 1970s following closing bergen rapid transit design discarded 1990s light rail line proposed decision start construction stage built municipality financing state toll road ring based ownership maintenance extensions vehicles responsibility wholly owned subsidiary operation governed public service obligation contracts issued county public transport authority line operated partner history background public transport bergen operated limited inner parts city reach suburbs city council decided close arguing future lay private cars diesel buses 1960s removal restriction car sales created traffic roads handle consequently buses cars began increasingly stuck rush hour municipality started looking situation building ring road city alternative means public transport prior shortening main railway bergen line important commuter rail service feeding suburban residents city center section heavily railway country travel time minutes trains day continued line proposed doubling electrification completed year annual passengers opening commuter trains kept months trip ran january 1970s plans existed extensive rapid transit system underground section city center inspired successful oslo metro opened similar plans developed proposed network close current long term plans light rail system consisted branches city center airport car trains operate minute suggestion discussed city council decision taken alternative expansion railway bergen proposed fast commuter trains supplemented buses 1980s 1990s toll ring constructed bergen finance massive investment included north south center road airport west bridges constructed large parking built city center despite congestion continued better 2000s 1970s proposals build bus lanes traffic signal disregarded municipal bus company proposal establish called lightning tunnel city center turn return route bergen year conservation nature proposed extensive system environmental closely resembles current proposals city center run northwards southwards airport southern section branches hop westwards later successor proposed building bus rapid transit political process plans launched city administration closely resembled slight changes initial plans involved line city center airport political compromise ensured number road investments time light rail system financed toll ring lack funds necessary build line instead way airport initial decision taken march parliament norway financing secured city council voted light rail cent financed state remainder county municipality toll ring arguments light rail mainly related environment urban development reduction road congestion light rail estimated increase use public transport reducing local global pollution roads capacity growth increase public transport need taken light rail routes buses higher operating costs public transport higher investment costs roads stations high density commercial residential centers established opponents project argued unfair public transport funded car drivers toll roads protests people northern western areas city risen paying system receive benefits issue speed line stops kilometers giving average speed mph people living south longer travel time city center direct buses intermediate stops naming stations caused local debate draft names municipal administration sent borough councils names changed florida hop considered municipal administration violation place act general rule use place station located naming institutions facilities nearby permitted immediate vicinity named football venue declared borderline case rules permitted area vicinity station construction initial works commenced august demolished room temporary bus terminal allow closed construction contracts building line awarded contract laying tracks awarded construction started january pass fourth bridge built cars oldest upgraded light rail line places road needed dug remove pipes cables november appeal ruled power company pay million nok moving power lines charge costs project june tracks laid companies bid initial public service obligation operate line partner tide april public transport agency announced joint venture won tender competition partner received applications jobs drivers jobs traffic controllers sold shares partner company changed establishment light rail service public transport bergen underwent changes established administer public transport system manage routes market public transport operated private companies based public service obligations time new electronic system introduced delays instead available line opened june planned operate minute august minute august compensate parallel bus routes ceased june collided low speed causing forced repaired caused summer schedule reduced minute november line started running minutes rush hour june line officially opened queen norway route line kilometre runs city center northernmost line transit mall heart city center interchange buses serving city center line runs south stop serving railway station serving bus station southwards line runs grass right way florida serving campus line passes coming island platform system area track type surface allows emergency vehicles drive safely makes surface look unsafe cars line passes depot reaching stop door line follows stop serves football venue mouth kilometer shaped gradient curve radius meters southern portal line changes conventional railway track ballast allowing operate mph stops later serving large complex student southwards kilometer followed stop line continues inlet hop right way bergen motorway terminus extension finished completion line southwards construction began january right way parallel existing road track completed october test run conducted december line opened public june light rail construction bergen airport experienced rapid housing construction corresponding increase public transport large corporate center bergen largest employers area built sufficient roads public transport worst road congestion urban area building light rail line supplement airport offer cheaper service locals employees airport incentive build sufficient available land allows large depot constructed line opened insufficient space house additional line airport scheduled open plans plans expansion northwards city center involve building system replace local buses operating light rail line express service chosen line bypass tunnel stops important stop mid way terminus probably shopping center set aside areas station major bus terminal allow connections northern parts bergen suburbs north areas important political argument line spread investments parts city line financed car users city planned expansion runs city center southwards east serving heads west intersecting line runs tunnel serving areas line use parts right way city center feature station hospital largest work place planned extension time time travel higher direct bus line highway city center project group members proposed instead rebuilding double track new double track light rail tunnel built city center allow light rail line replace station bergen commuter rail service better access city center people politicians including majority stated long run want light rail line extended northwards westwards operation building line responsibility agency physical infrastructure owned limited company wholly owned company responsible maintenance right way vehicles extensions light rail operations based contracts granted public tender competitions held county agency public transport including buses boats ferries possibility year extension line operated responsibility maintenance seven years purchase contract line operated minute stops minute peak times minutes night travel time minutes price single ticket nok tickets valid free transfer buses bergen rolling stock ordered additional option arrived december testing months leading opening opening place long meters wide weighing tonnes long tons short tons articulated sections length meters higher capacity necessary stations built extended slightly elevated driver cab end motors provide total allows maximum speed mph limited mph city streets mph depots acceleration capable operating gradient current collected volts direct current sufficiently powerful haul unit case capacity passengers sit abreast entire step free including cars platforms seats designed travel times minutes slide plug doors double total width millimeter single millimeter door stop buttons available doors chosen speed times seats minimum width allows wheelchair access length car stations announced visually wireless internet access stations announced short distinctive melody station melodies composed voice recorded infrastructure system standard gauge meter cars platforms built allow meter long line terminal balloon loops directional current supplied specified system operate service city center overhead wire designed minimize number poles suburban areas conventional system carrier wire power wire line double track allowing visual signaling speed adjustment grade stretches city streets track private right way track minimum curve radius metres tracks city streets laid rubber jacket reduce noise tunnels operate direction regulated lights automatic train protection system signaling uses german system traditional norwegian light signals line traffic signal send signal traffic light control driver starts door closing signal priority traffic lights depot yard norwegian state railways track connects light rail network depot finished room meter plus workshop space garage place sufficient area expansion tracks laid light rail line expanded new main depot planned area cheaper land depot converted pure facility stations stations built stage second stage stations visual profile system designed bergen based design groups copenhagen based stations stages street level facilities buying tickets dynamic displays arrive platforms step free access allowing accessibility municipal government permitted development stations wants new housing commercial property built development projects announced private developers stations primarily residential areas projects met resistance residents fear character neighborhoods altered
Bergen Light Rail