Siemens Mobility and Sporveien have introduced a modern Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system on an initial three-kilometer section of the Oslo Metro, marking Norway’s first deployment of advanced signaling for metro operations. The €270 million project, awarded in 2021, involves replacing the entire legacy signaling system across the 86-kilometer network and integrating the new Fornebubanen extension. With Siemens Mobility’s Trainguard MT operating at Grade of Automation Level 2, the metro can now manage up to 36 trains per hour, compared to the previous 28, representing an operational capacity increase of about 30%.
The modernization includes 25 years of digital maintenance support and asset management through Railigent X to enhance system reliability and lifecycle performance. A relevant aspect of the project is the use of public LTE mobile networks for safety-critical train control communications, making Oslo the first metro in Europe to adopt this approach.
The upgrade supports the eight-kilometer Fornebubanen line with six stations and provides technical capacity for future growth, including the potential to operate up to 40 trains per hour. The initiative aligns with Norway’s broader rail digitalization strategy led by Bane NOR, which focuses on automated signaling and European Train Control System Level 2 upgrades across the national network.
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