Vestfold Line - History

History

The first stretch from Drammen to Larvik was opened on 13 October 1881 while the remaining stretch to Skien opened on 23 November 1882. At first the line was called the Grevskap Line (Grevskapsbanen) and the line was originally narrow gauge at 1067 mm, but rebuilt to standard gauge (1435 mm) in 1949. Between Eidanger and Skien though there was before this dual gauge, making it possible to use both narrow gauge cars and the standard gauge cars used from Brevik to Notodden and onwards to Rjukan. The line was electrified at 15 kV 16⅔ Hz AC in 1957.

Vestfoldbanen has had many branch lines. The first opened in 1881 from Skoppum to Horten, and named the Horten Line. In 1895 the line from Eidanger to Brevik, the Brevik Line, was opened. In 1901, Tønsberg–Eidsfoss Line between Tønsberg and Eidsfoss. The following year, in 1902, Holmestrand–Vittingfoss Line opened between Holmestrand and Vittingfoss. The latter two branch lines were abandoned in 1938. The Brevik Line was closed for passenger traffic in the 1960s, and completely abandoned in the 1980s with part of the tracks removed. The line Porsgrunn–Norcem Cement Factory is still used for freight trains.

In 2004 much of the service between Larvik and Skien was curtailed, leaving only peak-hour departures on that stretch. This part of the line is somewhat tortuous, and there have been plans for a tunnel, Eidanger Tunnel, to shorten this leg.