OS T2000 - Legacy

Legacy

The T2000 class was prone to technical problems, and was not as reliable as the older T1000 stock. It soon became evident that no more would be ordered. The Norwegian State Railways had been considering a modified version for use on the Flåm and Voss Lines, but those plans were also soon abandoned. Another possibility considered was to build modified T2000 cars for use on the Oslo Metro Ring Line; at the time it was planned that the Ring Line would share track with the mainline Gjøvik Line at Grefsen, so the Oslo Metro rolling stock using this section would need to be able to support 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC. However, a parallel section of dedicated metro track was built instead, at Grefsen.

Oslo Sporveier opted for the all-new MX3000 from Siemens as a replacement for the T1000 stock instead of the T2000. Although its design was found to be unsuitable, the T2000 was initially not planned to be replaced by the MX3000, as the line was to remain with overhead wires and none of the new MX3000 trains are equipped with pantographs. However, following Oslo's decision to host the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011, it was decided to upgrade the Holmenkollen Line to full metro standard, allowing longer than two-car trains. A proposal to downgrade the line to light rail standard and make it part of the Oslo Tramway was rejected.

In 2009, all twelve T2000 units were taken out of service, before the last of the much older T1300. Kollektivtransportproduksjon, the successor of Oslo Sporveier, stated that procuring spare parts was becoming nearly impossible and that the small size of the series forced high maintenance costs. The initial orders for MX3000 trains did not call for sufficient numbers to replace the T2000. Kollektivtransportproduksjon has estimated the cost of renovating the units so they can run for 15 more years at NOK 50 million. Alternatively, the city council has been recommended by Kollektivtransportproduksjon to purchase 15 new MX3000 three-car trains for NOK 250 million.

In 2010, Ruter decided to scrap all of the T2000 wagons, after only 16 years in operation, and ten of the wagons were sold for NOK 100,000 a piece to the recycling company Hellik Teigen at Hokksund. The two remaining wagons will be preserved and displayed at the Oslo Tramway Museum. Ruter stated that it would cost about NOK 50 million to keep them in operation. Nevertheless, Ruter was in 2011 forced by the owner Oslo Vognselskap to keep renting the wagons for 22 million NOK each year, even though they are not in operation. Oslo Vognselskap stated the reason behind this was the contract which lasted for 30 years.