norwegian called kilometre long standard gauge railway line bergen norway applied entire route bergen oslo passenger trains distance kilometres highest mainline railway line crossing plateau metres sea level railway opened bergen narrow gauge line route continued mountain oslo route converted standard gauge line line single track electrified owned maintained served passenger trains norwegian state railways freight trains remains branch line closure western section bergen served bergen commuter rail shortened following opening history step documented idea building railway norway largest cities launched august forest supervisor suggested building railway connect person launched idea line days launch city council support suggestion railway director engineers went survey tour look suggested line time common proposals railways came local initiative local municipalities private investors pay investments state covering rest foreign debt political processes october engineers traversed possible routes bergen covering populated area cheaper build elevation railway committee created january limited mandate increased december time dispute july surveys performed person engineers report positive time launched idea branch line agreement reached right way onwards oslo january bergen city council started issuing stock begin norwegian nok million issued parliamentary election railway supporter elected spending years defending railway parliament chose issue new railway projects session instead complete plan railway construction country proposed committee report launched march line included higher session majority partially lack capital available local investors based claim chairman committee investment costs countered bergen willing construct tunnels railway sum addition willing act personal guarantee case death majority parliament shifted june parliament voted build construction built narrow gauge parts construction started december largest started march winter engineers plans given time men worked construction peak men employed worked hours day daily wage highest wage country large extent labor came sweden finished norway excess skilled labor construction import labor effect pumping money local economy built line accidents deaths workers construction work finished test services began scheduled spring official opening commenced july settled construction started working operation mountain time line completed norway recession parliament willing money railways country transport plan launched follow funding march parliament days debate chose votes build different routes proposed including later line end chosen connecting save costs preliminary line connect branch line final stage oslo line connect system line local financing ready year took years survey line properly construction start wait construction started building roads supplies construction sites completed construction exceptionally challenging high altitudes region roads climate saw meters snow winter temperatures far freezing tunnels totaling kilometres built longest metres costing nok million longest tunnel north alps took years build excavated manually solid laying track started groups having started end met small celebration spot image decided unlike line built standard gauge newly laid line bergen converted time opening especially challenging continuous traffic line departures day preparation curves straightened tunnels widened bridges strengthened night august track changed morning trains operate standard gauge services started july official opening train attempted cross line december got stuck heavy snow return turned railway close took half month clear snow powerful rid snow new attempt open line succeeded train went bergen line construction passage line line ship scheduled train route bergen departed june november train route bergen rolled days later railway officially opened king vii stated opening line norwegian engineering masterpiece generation steaming world war demanding time railway line track heavy use civilian military transportation equipment maintenance lacking february descending eastbound freight train loaded oil petrol lost braking power runaway train finally westbound passenger train east crash subsequent fire killed civilians unknown number german soldiers poor oil combined cold weather believed caused accident electrification norway country abundance saw huge amounts money burning imported coal plans electrification line old railway line bergen proposed electrified rebuilt double track having seen line open electric traction planning suggestion arose branch lines built electric traction main line raised proposing conversion locomotives running oil coal dust plan national electrification launched line priority breakout world war set plans 50s possible afford investments took electric traction use july new plan launched parliament kilometres railway line fourth following year launched away steam replace steam locomotives electric diesel traction electrification imminent introduced diesel traction predominantly stock travel time termini reduced hour summer class diesel multiple units service heavy cope winter served summer months line electrified stages february december december finally december point electrification moved mountain point changed locomotive train new locomotive service electric parts electrification cost nok million express trains main lines allocated newest locomotives delivered service finally older locomotives relegated freight service electric multiple units service class trains branded capable kilometres hour mph speed parts line operate quicker locomotive hauled trains reason doubt winter capability demanding occasionally stuck snow february multiple unit running pack snow refurbished carriages available multiple units removed line replaced traditional locomotive hauled trains mountain kilometres form bergen represented roundabout way clear possible reduce line kilometres construction tunnels metres feet metres feet metres feet idea approved parliament based private financing businessman construction started tunnels finished tracks finished laid train entered tunnel suggested package politicians create company borrow money build shortening line line railway based route length traveled financing covered equal distance saved ticket price remain years debt covered government opposed suggestion commenting financing private use funding government debt projects like line opened allowing trains line new upgrade consequence passenger trains late 1980s rerouted instead following line allows trains pass densely populated areas capacity change route actually increased length termini kilometres better track standard results travel time freight trains goes lowering peak winter large costs keeping line snow free large diesel electric stationed tens kilometers snow sheds built vulnerable parts especially kilometres station tear resources heavy snowfall regularly closed entire line solution proposed director involving construction kilometres tunnel stations approved plans including upgrade line east total nok million invested rebuilding kilometres line shortening kilometres time permitted speed increased kilometres hour mph kilometres hour mph tunnel opened june rest upgrades opened steps period highest point line reduced metres metres located inside tunnel opening base snow removal closed operation line express trains operated norwegian state railways freight trains bergen commuter rail services operated line total distance oslo bergen kilometres proper kilometres line tunnels totaling kilometres kilometres remains highest elevated station metres highest point metres commuter rail operates commuter rail service bergen hourly departures plus fourteen daily departures continue rolling stock class multiple units represents important public transport bergen rail direct line mountain considerably faster driving express service express trains operated primary passenger service passenger trains follow heading north express trains offer transport villages line bergen oslo travel norway largest cities day trains provided class multiple units remaining services locomotive hauled trains nights week night train service parts line service places road access operating covered freight freight trains operated hauled locomotives transport terminal oslo terminal freight trains use instead going shorter distance important speed freight trains operates daily trains oslo plus rail freight increased growth possible better infrastructure indicated want passing loops extending increase train length metres metres claiming double freight traffic adequate infrastructure heritage parts closed sections converted heritage railway old line operated steam trains summer museum old road cycle track branch converted tourist route railway spectacular scenery vertical descent metres kilometres route operation performed marketing performed stock railway hauling wagons painted green future closing warned lack funding lead closure long distance passenger trains norway including minister transport communications assured government policy close railway lines suggested closing railway line replacing motorway bergen oslo arguing railway bus transport cheaper easier truck transport aid business political parties rejected proposal pointing better environmental performance railway railway transports large volumes freight june accident caused fire station causing complete destruction platform caused temporary closure line june upgrades represents largest commuter trains building double track westernmost free capacity line line mountains original plans included construction new line line west oslo line reduce distance kilometres minutes travel time continual decision build railway line received funding plans discussed detailed plan combined improvements totaling investments nok billion travel time reduced half hours project scheduled built high speed rail suggestions high speed rail oslo bergen launched preliminary studied performed positive cost benefit building high speed rail oslo bergen suitable route approximately follow existing route new tunnel oslo oslo trondheim oslo assumed built earlier lower cost suggestions route launched involves high speed ring oslo following bergen continuing south oslo launched idea building common line oslo branching bergen long distance high speed railways included preliminary long term plan likely railways trondheim built easier build likely high speed railway bergen built period stations
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