Numedal Line

Numedal Line
The Numedal Line at Pikerfoss
Overview
Native name	Numedalsbanen
Owner	Norwegian National Rail Administration
Termini	Kongsberg Station Rødberg
Service
Type	Railway
System	Norwegian railways
History
Opened	19 November 1927
Technical
Line length	92.8 km (57.7 mi)
Number of tracks	Single
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	No
Highest elevation	370.9 metres (1,217 ft)

The Numedal Line (Norwegian: Numedalsbanen) is a 92.8-kilometer (57.7 mi) long railway line that runs up the Numedal valley between Kongsberg and Rødberg in Buskerud county, Norway. Built and operated by the Norwegian State Railways, the non-electrified, standard gauge line passes through the municipalities of Kongsberg, Flesberg, Rollag and Nore og Uvdal. It is now owned by the Norwegian National Rail Administration.

The first plans for a line through Numedal were launched after the Sørland Line reached in Kongsberg in 1871. After it was decided that the Bergen Line would instead follow Hallingdal, the Numedal plans lay dead until it was decided that a railway was necessary to build two hydroelectric power stations near Rødberg. The plans were passed in 1918, the first trains started running in 1924 and the line was officially opened in 1927. At first all services were provided with steam locomotives, but from the 1930s diesel multiple units were used for passenger trains. The line was frequented with classes Cmd 16, 86, 87 and 91. The last regular train ran in 1988; since, there has been sporadic freight service and some heritage trains running from Kongsberg to Rollag. Draisine rental is available on the section from Veggli to Rødberg.

In 2013, Jernbaneverket reopened a 30 km stretch between Kongsberg and Flesberg, to support the forestry industry.^[1] Following a derailment in April 2014, the entire stretch was upgraded with new sleepers.