Preparing for winter

Five measures for a smooth train winter

1. More frequent train maintenance

During the winter months, we bring trains into the workshop more often for maintenance. This reduces the risk of major, unexpected faults and prevents trains from being taken out of service due to damage.

On cold, snowy days, snow and ice can accumulate underneath trains and form ice blocks weighing several hundred kilos. These can damage cables and braking systems, and older trains may be forced out of operation.

2. Extra checks before the cold arrives

Every train undergoes an additional inspection during autumn. We fix minor faults and upgrade parts most exposed to snow and frost.

This means more maintenance is completed before winter, leaving us better prepared for harsh conditions.

3. Powerful snow-clearing machines

For trains to run, platforms and tracks must be cleared of snow. Heavy snowfall can be a challenge, but last year Bane NOR invested in new, powerful snowploughs that remove more snow than before.

4. Protecting trains on the coldest days

Many trains are old, and extreme frost is tough on ageing stock. On the coldest days, parts or entire trainsets risk being damaged and out of service for extended periods, which can affect operations for the rest of the year.

To protect the trains, we may cancel some departures during heavy snowfall or severe weather. All routes will remain in operation, but with fewer departures.

Although this can be inconvenient for customers on those days, we do it to ensure more stable operations in the long run.

5. Borrowing additional trains

To transport all passengers to their destinations, we need enough trains in service.

We often move trainsets from quieter routes to where demand is highest, for example transferring trains from the Bratsberg Line to the L2 Ski–Stabekk route.

This autumn, we’ve also borrowed five carriages from SJ Nord, enabling us to maintain stable operations and offer the best possible service on the Bergen Line throughout the winter.