Project
Extreme rail project - new railway track improves the train traffic in Norway
In 2024, Bane NOR, The Norwegian Railway Infrastructure Company, responsible for operating, maintaining and building the railways in Norway contracted NIRAS to undertake the design and technical consulting of the Søsterbekk passing track, located on the Ofoten Line (Ofotbanen) in the Narvik Municipality, Norway.
January 20, 2025
- SECTORS: Infrastruktur, Miljø
- COUNTRIES: Norway
- CLIENT: Bane NOR
- DURATION: 2024 -
The aim of the project is to facilitate more freight trains on the Ofoten Line as part of a larger initiative to improve freight capacity between Oslo and Narvik via Sweden.
The Ofoten Line, particularly Søsterbekk station, is a challenging railway line from both an engineering and environmental perspective due to its geography and altitude in the northern parts of Norway. Additionally, the Ofoten Line is challenging due to the steep inclines and descents along the route, as it travels from Narvik up over the high mountains and further into Sweden. NIRAS is responsible for the technical consulting and project support in the preparation of the main technical and detailed zoning plans.
“NIRAS demonstrates a strong understanding of the assignment and possesses the expertise required to execute this type of project. We are very pleased to have NIRAS onboard for the further work on this project,” says project manager Tor Gunnar Pedersen at Bane NOR.
“The Ofoten Line is the most extreme railway line in Norway, and the project at Søsterbekk is the northern most infrastructure project NIRAS has undertaken.”
Theis Rasmussen, Senior Vice President and Director at NIRAS in Norway.
Objective to increase freight share
The Ofoten Line is a heavily trafficked route, and the project's primary goal is to enable an increase in the share of freight traffic and facilitate a higher number of trains between Narvik and Sweden. The Ofoten Line constitutes just one percent of Norway’s railway network but carries over 60 percent of the freight volume in tonnes.
“This is an interdisciplinary and complex project where coordination between disciplines will be a critical factor. The project increases freight train capacity and enables more ore trains on the line, which is vital for the region’s industries. This makes it a very exciting project that we look forward to starting,” says Christian Nielsen, Project and Market Manager at NIRAS in Norway.
“When the contract began, we knew the window for conducting these surveys would be challenging, but all parties have collaborated and worked together to ensure successful execution."
Christian Nielsen, project manager at NIRAS Norway.
Ground surveys conducted at Søsterbekk
To ensure a solid basis for further planning of the project, it is important to conduct geotechnical and environmental ground surveys, which NIRAS has assisted Bane NOR in conducting this survey.
“When the contract began, we knew the window for conducting these surveys would be challenging, but all parties have collaborated and worked together to ensure successful execution. Early on, we conducted a risk assessment regarding implementation and actively worked to mitigate risks, enabling us to plan and carry out the drilling,” says Christian Nielsen, project manager at NIRAS Norway.
“For the project, it is extremely important to establish a solid foundation for planning, as this often constitutes a significant cost risk. Ground surveys are a critical part of this foundation, and it is very positive that the surveys have now been completed,” says project manager Tor Gunnar Pedersen at Bane NOR.
He further expressed great satisfaction with the good collaboration throughout the planning and execution of the surveys, involving Bane NOR, NIRAS Norway AS, Mesta AS, KK-Maskin, and Spordrift.
Ambitious environmental goals
With popular hiking trails and reindeer grazing areas nearby, and the potential need for hillside modifications, the project will require thorough and early focus on environmental aspects to minimise it’s impact. In this regard, Bane NOR with the assistance of NIRAS has ambitions to certify the project in line with the BREEAM Infrastructure certification.
Strong collaboration
The Søsterbekk railway project is among many significant railway infrastructure projects, which Bane NOR has assigned NIRAS in an advisory capacity since NIRAS began dedicating it’s efforts to Norwegian railway development in in 2017. The long term and trusted partnership between Bane NOR and NIRAS is a testament to outstanding performance, collaboration and understanding of client objectives and goals. In the portfolio of other projects which NIRAS has assisted on from Bane NOR, we can mention Kongsvingerbanen, Bergensbanen and KS1 Hestnestunnelen.
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