Veolia Transport Rail awarded license for public train operation

Gråkallbanen in Trondheim. Photo: VTB

This means that Veolia Transport Rail AS (VTB) is the only private company with a license to run both trains and trams in Norway.

VTB has met the criteria to the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate, and in addition obtained a security certificate for the operation of trains on Ofotbanen in Nordland. Veolia Transport Rail AS, today operates Gråkallbanen in Trondheim and now the Lapland Train between the national border to Sweden, and Narvik in Norway.

Veolia Transport, division train in Sweden run the Lapland Train, that goes all the way from Malmö in the south, via Luleå and then west towards Norway and Narvik. The first train this season arrived Narvik station at 20.30, Saturday June 27.

“We are happy to have met the many criteria that are the basis and finally received all the formalities, just in time for the tourist season,” says CEO of VTB, Erlend Solem. “The Application of Norwegian Railway Inspectorate prior to the approval has been long, but it has helped to strengthen the quality of what we will deliver. This while the cooperation with the the Norwegian National Rail Administration, which owns the track, has been very satisfactory,” he adds.

About the Ofot line and the Lapland Train:

The Ofot line is Norway’s northernmost train line, and extends from Narvik to the national border to Sweden. It has been a central line in ore transport, and opened as early as 1902. On the Norwegian side the length is 43km and the highest point is 513 meters above sea level. The Lapland Train, is Northern Europe’s longest rail travel for the entire 2.147 kilometres and has two departures a week.

Source: Veolia-transport.no