Plans
Because the Vestfold Line still follows the same right-of-way as it did in 1881, NSB is not able to operate trains at any higher speed, with the average operating speed being at 67 km/h. The Rail Administration is working on plans to gradually rebuild the Vestfold Line to double track and considerably higher speeds. At the same time the motorway E18 is being built to four lanes through the county, transferring passengers from train to car.
The upgrades will allow speeds up to 200 km/h between stations, double track between Drammen and Porsgrunn. The plans are to build lines in shorter stretches, allowing a steady increase in capacity. After completion, total travel time from Oslo to Tønsberg will be one hour (half an hour shorter than today), and travel time to Grenland will be reduced by about one hour. Some of the time reduction also comes from the construction of the Asker Line just west of Oslo.
The expansion of the line started in 1993, and in 1995 a four kilometers past Skoger was modernized. In 2001, 13 km through Sande was upgraded. 2002 saw the opening of a new crossing loop at Nykirke. This plan prioritizes parts north of Tønsberg as well as cutting times significantly between Larvik and Porsgrunn, where the line takes a long trip around, and will reduce travel time from 34 to 12 minutes. Current approved political plans include four new stretches to be completed before 2015:
- Barkåker–Tønsberg (7.7 km)
- Holm–Holmestrand (13.6 km)
- Farriseidet–Porsgrunn (Eidanger Tunnel, 23 km)
- Holmestrand–Nykirke
Between Larvik and Porsgrunn, 22 km of new double-track is being built, of which 14·5 km will be in tunnels.
Read more about this topic: Vestfold Line
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