Ekeberg Line

Ekeberg Line
SL79 tram at Kastellet
Overview
Native name	Ekebergbanen
Status	Operating
Owner	Sporveien
Locale	Oslo, Norway
Termini	Oslo Hospital Ljabru
Service
Type	Tramway
System	Oslo Tramway
Services
Operator(s)	Sporveien Trikken
Rolling stock	SL79 SL95
History
Opened	11 June 1917
Technical
Line length	6.6 km (4.1 mi)
Number of tracks	Double track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC overhead line
Operating speed	70 km/h (43 mph)
Highest elevation	117.8 m (386 ft)
Route map Legend elev. in m Bjørvika Line to City Center Oslo Hospital (Gamlebyen) Mosseveien loop ↑ tramway ↓ light rail Kongsveien Ekebergparken 58.4 Jomfrubråten Simensbråten Smedstua Ekebergparken (original) Simensbråten Line (closed 1967) Jomfrustien Sportsplassen 107.0 Kongsveien Holtet 114.6 Sørli Kastellveien Kastellet Kastellbakken Seterliveien Bråten 117.8 Sæter (1917) Nordstrandveien Ljabru (1941) 100.0 proposed extension elev. in m Hauketo Østfold Line This diagram: view talk edit

The Ekeberg Line (Norwegian: Ekebergbanen) is a 6.6-kilometre (4.1 mi) long light rail line of the Oslo Tramway which runs from Oslo Hospital to Ljabru in Oslo, Norway. Operated by lines 13 and 19, it serves the area of Nordstrand and the neighborhoods of Ekeberg, Jomfrubråten, Bekkelaget and Ljan. The line is operated by Oslo Sporvognsdrift using SL79 and SL95 trams on contract with Ruter. The line itself is owned by Sporveien. At Oslo Hospital, the line connects to the Bjørvika Line, which runs to the city center.

Proposals for a line in the area were first launched 1897, but not until 1914 were the necessary permits granted. The line was built and operated by Ekebergbanen. The line opened in 1917, and connected to the Gamleby Line to reach Stortorvet in the city center. The line differed from the street trams in that it ran in its own right of way and used 1,200 volt supply, unlike the 600 volts used in the streets. In the early 1930s, the line was rebuilt to double track and a branch, the Simensbråten Line, was built. The Ekeberg Line was extended to its current terminus in 1941. In 1948, the company was taken over by the municipal Oslo Sporveier and operations were integrated in 1965. The line was nearly closed in 1967 and 1973, but during the 1970s, the line received new rolling stock and a renovation. The Bjørvika Line replaced the Gamlebyen Line as the connection to the city center in 2020.

Future plans include an extension to Hauketo Station on the Østfold Line.