Let’s compare Saint Paul Union Depot to Norway’s Oslo Central Station.

This image was taken from Google Maps, Street Views.

Let’s compare Saint Paul Union Depot to Norway’s Oslo Central Station. On October 7, 2020 Norwegian Railway’s Special Advisor Svein Horrisland sent me this message about Norway’s Oslo station. Oslo Central Station has far more passengers and more trains than Saint Paul Union Depot, while Norway has 200,000 fewer citizens than Minnesota. To achieve Minnesota’s urgent climate goals, Upper Midwest citizens must work to match or exceed the number of passengers and trains that Oslo Central Station has now.

Dear Mr. Buchanan;

Here are some answers to your questions. As mentioned in my last email your questions initiated some very interesting reflections in our organization!

Oslo Central Station today serves about 940 trains facilitating 76,000 travels on daily basis. These train travels contribute to reducing 49,000 car trips to/from Oslo per day, implying a reduction of 45,000 tonnes CO2 eqv. of emissions per year, by choosing train instead of car. The extent of emissions reduction through train travels facilitated by Oslo Central Station is equal to total annual emissions from operation and maintenance of the whole railway sector in Norway.

These calculations are based on actual number of passengers through Oslo Central Station per day, general knowledge on regional mobility patterns, travel distances, passenger car emissions and shares of electric, gas and diesel cars in this area.

When the Follo Line is completed, there will be two separate double track lines between Ski and Oslo S, and this allows for a complete reshuffle of the timetable towards the southeast. So, it does not give you the full picture to just give you the numbers of the additional trains compared with the current timetable.

• There will be 4 additional trains in the basic timetable, with a total of 9 trains for the new Follo Line (5 trains) and the existing Østfold Line (4 trains).
• In the rush hours, one additional train, with a total of 13 trains for the new Follo Line (7 trains) and the existing Østfold Line (6 trains).
• For the Østfold Line, there will be a huge improvement for commuters from all stations between Ski and Oslo in having four trains per hour in the basic timetable, instead of just two trains.

The potential for adding further trains is good, when other infrastructure projects are financed and built in the coming years. For instance, it will be possible with six trains per hour between Ski and Oslo on both the Østfold Line and the Follo Line in the basic timetable, and more rush hour trains on the Follo line.

I hope these answers satisfy your needs, and please do not hesitate to contact us for further questions.

Best regards;
Ove Skovdahl
Special Advisor M.Sc.C.Eng. M.M.

Tel: +47 900 55 368
Email: ove.skovdahl@jernbanedirektoratet.no

Norwegian Railway Directorate
Visit Adress: Posthuset, Biskop Gunnerusgt 14, Oslo
Mail Adresse: Postboks 16, 0101 Oslo
http://www.jernbanedirektoratet.no