Sørlandsbanen

The Sørlandsbanen runs from Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) southwestwards through the counties of Viken, Vestfold, Agder, and Rogaland, terminating at Stavanger Station. The route passes through major towns such as Drammen, Kongsberg, Hokksund, Larvik, Skien, Arendal, Kristiansand, and Egersund. The line is single-track for most of its length, with passing loops and some double-track sections, particularly around Oslo and Kristiansand. It is electrified at 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC, and the maximum permitted speed is 160 km/h on certain stretches, though many sections allow only 100–130 km/h due to curvature and terrain.

Construction of the Sørlandsbanen began in the late 19th century, with the first section from Oslo to Drammen opening in 1872 as part of the Randsfjord Line. The line was extended in stages: to Kongsberg in 1871, to Hokksund in 1871, and to Larvik in 1881. The section from Larvik to Skien opened in 1882, and the line reached Arendal in 1908. The most challenging section, through the mountainous interior of Agder, was built in the 1920s and 1930s, with the final link between Moi and Sira opening on 1 May 1944, during the German occupation of Norway. The line was officially named Sørlandsbanen in 1927, and the last major upgrade was the opening of the Kristiansand–Sira section in 1944.

Passenger services on the Sørlandsbanen are operated by Go-Ahead Nordic under a contract with the Norwegian Ministry of Transport, which began in December 2019. The main service is the daily intercity train between Oslo and Stavanger, with a journey time of about 7 hours and 30 minutes. Regional trains also run between Kristiansand and Stavanger, and between Oslo and Kristiansand. Freight traffic is significant, with CargoNet and other operators running container and bulk trains, particularly between Oslo and Stavanger. The line is also used for seasonal tourist traffic, with special trains such as the 'Sørlandet' express. In recent years, there have been proposals to upgrade the line to high-speed standard, but these have not been funded.

One lesser-known fact is that the Sørlandsbanen was originally planned to run via the coast, but the final route was chosen inland to serve the interior towns. The line includes the longest railway tunnel in Norway at the time of its opening, the 5.8 km Kvineshei Tunnel, which was completed in 1943. Another notable feature is the 'Sørlandsbanen' song, written by Alf Prøysen, which celebrates the line. The line also has a unique level crossing at the town of Vennesla, where the road crosses the tracks at a sharp angle. Additionally, the line was used for the transport of the Norwegian Crown Regalia during the German occupation, when they were hidden in a mine near the line. The station at Kristiansand is built on reclaimed land, and the line crosses the Otra River on a steel truss bridge that was the longest of its kind in Norway when built in 1938.

Bane NOR

The Norwegian state-owned company responsible for railway infrastructure.

Go-Ahead Nordic

A Norwegian train operating company, a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group, that operates passenger services on the Sørlandsbanen.

CargoNet

A Norwegian freight railway company that operates container and bulk trains on the Sørlandsbanen.

Kvineshei Tunnel

A 5.8 km railway tunnel on the Sørlandsbanen, the longest in Norway when it opened in 1943.