Norway’s nationwide digital signalling programme has reached a new milestone with the upgrade of the 100th train to the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). The work forms part of a long-term project to equip more than 350 trains and rail vehicles with onboard digital train control systems.
The upgrades are being carried out at Alstom’s depots in Grorud near Oslo and Marienborg near Trondheim. The programme covers passenger trains, locomotives and track maintenance vehicles and is being implemented in cooperation with infrastructure manager Bane NOR, rolling stock owner Norske Tog and operators including Vy Group and SJ Norge.
Two fleets have already been fully converted: heavy maintenance vehicles and rescue locomotives operated by Bane NOR. The upgraded trains use next-generation odometry with satellite positioning, designed to operate reliably in Norway’s climatic conditions. The current conversion rate is around three to four passenger trains per month.
The nationwide ERTMS deployment is intended to replace conventional lineside signalling with a digital system that supports higher capacity, improved punctuality and long-term interoperability with the European rail network.
