– I think that if Norway had a few tens of millions of inhabitants that we were going to transport on good routes, then we would also follow this track, Støre tells NTB.
He walked on Tuesday straight from a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and on board the bullet train, whizzing through the Chinese countryside between Beijing and Shanghai.
– Prime Minister Li informed me that his ambition is to create a train section that can exceed 600 km/h. I am a big supporter of trains, it is a suitable means of transport when there are many people who travel by it, says Støre.
Will do the right thing for Norway
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Støre describes the train trip to Shanghai as “a great experience”, but is not inspired to follow in China’s train tracks.
– I am inspired by seeing a country build the right projects for itself. What I am inspired by is trying to do the right things adapted to Norway. And then it’s about trains in the central areas, says the prime minister.
He points out that the government would rather focus on trains in the densely populated areas in its transport plan and build on what is already there.
Violent investment
Over the past two decades, China has built a network of over 40,000 kilometers of high-speed rail lines, which connect the major cities with trains at speeds of up to 380 km/h.
93 percent of cities with a population of over 500,000 are covered by the high-speed rail network, according to Newsweek.
The ambition is to build even more in the coming years.
The train Støre is on takes him from Beijing to Shanghai in just over 4 hours and 20 minutes, a journey that could previously take twice as long.
I don’t think it’s worth it between Bergen and Oslo
There is no market for something like this in Norway, believes the Prime Minister.
– It depends on you having a travel basis in passengers, which Norway does not have, he says.
– There are an enormous number of flights between, for example, Oslo and Bergen every day…
– I think most people have realized that the alternative of building this type of train between Oslo and Bergen does not make sense, neither for the climate nor for the economy, says Støre.
But he keeps the door slightly ajar for what might happen in the future.
– We have no plans for a train with 350 km per hour. But what the future may bring, where it is close to the population and possible, I will not rule that out, he says.
#Støre #lightning #trains #Norway
2024-09-13 09:30:05
High-Speed Trains in Norway: A Comprehensive Overview
As Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, recently experienced the thrill of China’s high-speed train network, the topic of high-speed trains in Norway has come to the forefront. While Norway’s rail network is well-established, the country has not yet invested in high-speed trains, unlike its Chinese counterpart. In this article, we’ll delve into the current state of Norway’s train network, the benefits of high-speed trains, and why the Prime Minister is hesitant to invest in this technology.
Norway’s Train Network
Norway’s train network is operated by three companies: VY Railways, GoAhead Norge, and SJ [[3]]. The network connects 18 major travel destinations, including Oslo, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Linkoping, and Malmo among others [[1]]. One of the most notable routes is the Bergen Line, also known as Bergensbanen, which runs between Oslo and Bergen, the two largest cities in Norway [[2]].
High-Speed Trains: A Suitable Means of Transport
Prime Minister Støre is a self-proclaimed supporter of trains, recognizing their suitability for transporting large numbers of people efficiently. However, he believes that Norway’s population is too small to justify the investment in high-speed trains [[Quote]]. China, on the other hand, has built an extensive network of over 40,000 kilometers of high-speed rail lines, connecting major cities at speeds of up to 380 km/h [[Newsweek]].
No Market for High-Speed Trains in Norway
According to the Prime Minister, there is no market for high-speed trains in Norway, particularly between Bergen and Oslo. He emphasizes that the country’s population is too small to warrant the investment in this technology [[Quote]]. Instead, the government would rather focus on improving train infrastructure in densely populated areas, building on what is already in place.
Benefits of High-Speed Trains
While Norway may not be ready for high-speed trains, they do offer numerous benefits, including:
Efficient transportation of large numbers of people
Reduced travel times
* Environmental benefits compared to other modes of transport
Conclusion
while Norway’s train network is well-established, the country is not yet ready to invest in high-speed trains. The Prime Minister’s experience on China’s high-speed train network has not inspired him to follow in their footsteps, citing the small population and lack of market demand as the main reasons. Instead, the government will focus on improving train infrastructure in densely populated areas, ensuring that Norway’s train network remains efficient and reliable.
References:
[1] https://www.scandictrains.com/norway-trains
[2] https://www.vy.no/en/traffic-and-routes/stations-and-network-maps/the-bergen-line
[3] https://www.acprail.com/train-tickets/vy/
Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/china-high-speed-rail-miracle-1924185
Fast train norway
High-Speed Trains in Norway: A Comprehensive Overview
High-speed trains have revolutionized transportation in many countries around the world, offering fast, efficient, and comfortable travel options for millions of people. In Norway, however, the concept of high-speed trains is still in its infancy. While Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, has expressed admiration for China’s high-speed rail network, he has made it clear that Norway will not be following in China’s footsteps anytime soon.
Current State of High-Speed Trains in Norway
Currently, the only high-speed rail line in Norway is the 64-kilometer Gardermobanen line, which connects Oslo Central Station to Eidsvoll <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speedrailin_Norway”>[1[1]. This line allows trains to reach speeds of up to 200 km/h (125 mph) [2[2]. While this is a start, Norway still lags far behind other European countries when it comes to high-speed rail infrastructure.
Plans for Future Development
Recently, there have been plans to extend the Vestlandsbanen line, which is designed for speeds of up to 250 km/h (155 mph) [3[3]. However, these plans are still in the early stages, and it remains to be seen whether they will come to fruition.
Why High-Speed Trains Are Not a Priority in Norway
According to Prime Minister Støre, Norway’s population density and travel habits make high-speed trains less viable. He points out that Norway’s population is too small to justify the investment in high-speed rail infrastructure, particularly between cities like Oslo and Bergen [4[4]. Additionally, the high number of flights between these cities makes a high-speed rail link less necessary.
Conclusion
While Norway has made some progress in terms of high-speed rail infrastructure, it still has a long way to go to catch up with other European countries. Given the country’s population density and travel habits, it seems unlikely that high-speed trains will become a priority in Norway anytime soon. However, as the country continues to grow and develop, it will be interesting to see whether attitudes towards high-speed rail infrastructure change in the future.
Related PAA (People Also Ask) Questions
What is the current state of high-speed trains in Norway?
Are there any plans to expand high-speed rail infrastructure in Norway?
Why is Norway not investing in high-speed trains?
What are the benefits of high-speed trains in Norway?
* How does Norway’s high-speed rail infrastructure compare to other European countries?