Namsos Line

Namsos Line
Namsos Line
	The line running along Namsen
Overview
Native name	Namsoslinjen
Status	Closed
Owner	Norwegian National Rail Administration
Termini	Grong Station; Namsos Station;
Service
Type	Railway
Operator(s)	CargoNet
History
Opened	1 November 1933
Closed	2002
Technical
Line length	50.60 km (31.44 mi)
Number of tracks	Single
Character	Freight
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	No
Operating speed	55 km/h (34 mph)
Highest elevation	50.9 m (167 ft) AMSL
Route map
	Legend

The Namsos Line (Norwegian: Namsosbanen) is a 51-kilometer-long (32 mi) railway line between the village of Medjå and the town of Namsos in Trøndelag county, Norway. The line branches off from the Nordland Line at Grong Station and runs through the municipalities of Grong, Overhalla, and Namsos. The line largely follows the river of Namsen (and it crosses the river twice). The section from Grong to Skogmo is maintained, although not used for ordinary traffic. The section from Skogmo to Namsos is closed, but the infrastructure remains.

Planning of the line started in the 1870s and it was originally thought as part of the Nordland Line. This resulted in a debate of whether the Nordland Line should run from Steinkjer via Beitstad and Namsos to Grong (the Beitstad Line) or via Snåsa to Grong, with a branch to Namsos. The latter was selected as it gave the shortest route for the Nordland Line, but gave a longer distance southwards from Namsos and went through a less densely populated area. The line was passed by Parliament in 1913, although construction did not start until 1921. In 1927, construction was halted, but resumed the following year, although the line was built with substandard permanent way. In November 1933 traffic started, and Namsos became the northernmost port in Norway with railway connection to southern Norway, until 1940 when the Nordland Line reached Mosjøen. Passenger traffic was terminated in 1977, and the line has been closed for ordinary traffic since 2002.