Hardanger Line

Hardanger Line
NSB Class 64 train at Granvin
Overview
Native nameHardangerbanen
StatusAbandoned
OwnerNorwegian State Railways
Termini
Service
TypeRailway
SystemNorwegian railway
Operator(s)Norwegian State Railways
History
Opened1935
Closed1989
Technical
Line length27.5 km (17.1 mi)
Number of tracksSingle
CharacterPassenger and freight
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
Highest elevation248.4 m (815 ft) amsl
Hardanger Line
385.32 km
Voss Station
(1883)
56.5 m amsl
Vosso
(87 m)
Haugamoen
(1935)
388.74 km
Palmafoss
(1935)
86.0 m amsl
branch line to Voss sementvarefabrikk
Kinne
(1935)
392.26 km
Mønshaug
(1935)
161.3 m amsl
Bjørgum
Mala
(1981)
395.99 km
Dalsleitet
(1935)
397.14 km
Flatlandsmo
(1935)
248.4 m amsl
400.27 km
Skjervet
(1935)
231.7 m amsl
Skjervet I
(60 m)
Skjervet II
(123 m)
Skjervet III
(1101 m)
Skjervet IV
(27 m)
404.30 km
Såkvitno
(1935)
405.62 km
Nesheim
(1935)
26.9 m amsl
Selland
(1935)
Kollanes
(1935)
Granvinelva
and Rv7 (34 m)
Hurpo
(22 m)
Granvinelva
(36 m)
412.77 km
Granvin
(1935)
2.0 m amsl

The Hardanger Line (Norwegian: Hardangerbana or Hardangerbanen) was a 27.45-kilometre (17.06 mi) railway between Voss and Granvin in Hordaland, Norway. The line connected to the Bergen Line in Voss and ran to the Hardangerfjord and the district of Hardanger. Construction started in 1921, but the line did not open until 1 April 1935. Owned and operated by Norwegian State Railways (NSB), passenger transport was provided by three NSB Class 64 electric multiple units. They remained in use until 1985 when passenger transport was terminated. All transport ceased in 1988, and 21 kilometres (13 mi) of the line was demolished in 1991. The 3 kilometres (2 mi) from Voss to Palmafoss is still intact and is owned by the Norwegian National Rail Administration. The line featured six stations, fourteen halts and four tunnels and was one of Norway's steepest railways. It was NSB's first line to be electrified. The line was known as the Granvin Line (Granvinbanen) until February 1936. In 2016, Palmafoss established an emergency freight terminal and the tracks were re-established.