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'Dovrebanen' is the nickname for the main line of the Norwegian railway system between Oslo and Trondheim. Dovrebanen itself is only the stretch between Dombås and Støren, but it is more commonly used as a nickname for the entire line between Oslo and Trondheim. The line from Oslo to Eidsvoll is Norway's only high-speedline, Gardermobanen. The line between Eidsvoll and Dombås is from old times the Eidsvoll-Dombås line. The line from Støren to Trondheim is called Størenbanen. The entire line from Oslo to Trondheim is 553 km.
It is a more heavily traveled line than the older Rørosbanen and is electrified. Before electrification, Dovrebanen was served by some of Norway's largest steam locomotives, the 2-8-4 "Dovregubben" ("Dovre Giant").
Compared to Rørosbanen, Dovrebanen takes a more westerly course running through the town of Lillehammer and over the mountainous stretches of Dovre, before merging with Rørosbanen again at Støren. There is one branch line, Raumabanen which leaves Dovrebanen at Dombås.

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Accidents

External link

Accidents

The line was completed and officially opened on September 17, 1921. The inauguration ended on a tragic note when the train returning from the celebrations collided just after leaving Trondheim in the Nidareid train disaster the next day. The worst Norwegian railway disaster in peacetime also happened on Dovrebanen February 22, 1975 when two trains collided one kilometre north of Tretten station, killing 27 people and wounding 25. There were approximately 800 people on the two trains.

External link

★ Jernbaneverket's list of stations on the Dovre line
(note: most trains do not stop at the smaller stations)