Kolsåsbanen
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Kolsåsbanen is a subway line on the Oslo T-bane network which runs between downtown Oslo and Kolsås. With 18 km, it is one of the longest lines of the entire network. A long stretch of the line is located in Bærum. From August 20 the line connects with T-baneringen and has line number 6 (the trains continue through the loop and leave on the east side on Lambertseterbanen changing to number 4 during the journey). At present most of the line is closed for upgrading.
Originally, Kolsåsbanen was built as an extension of the tram line Lilleakerbanen. It was completed to Kolsås in 1930. In 1942 the stretch between Sørbyhaugen (now a closed station on Røabanen) and Jar was completed, and Kolsåsbanen became part of the network operated by Holmenkollbanen AS. Jar station is now a rare instance of a tram line sharing track with a subway line.
On July 1, 2003 budgetary disagreements between local politicians in Oslo, Bærum and Akershus led to the closure of the Bekkestua-Kolsås leg. It was temporarily reopened November 22, 2004 but the future status is unclear. Possible options have been upgrading the line to metro standard as was done with Sognsvannsbanen and Røabanen, or cutting the line to Jar, and have the tram run the stretch between Jar and Kolsås.
Early 2006, Akershus County Council gave the green light for a NOK 750m upgrade of the line. The detailed plans are still to be finalised but the intention is to upgrade the line to full "metro" standard all the way to Kolsås with a six-car train service in operation. Additionally, a light rail service will share the tracks between Jar and Bekkestua. The intention is to create a transport hub at Bekkestua enabling interchange with local bus services.
Most of the line was closed down on July 1, 2006 due to upgrades, which are expected to be completed to Åsjordet by the end of 2007. From July 31 there is only one operational station unique to Kolsåsbanen, Husebybakken, which has temporarily replaced Montebello [1].
Presently, the line is operated with overhead wire from Montebello and the line has a few level crossings. The fairly short length of the platforms only accommodate three-car trains.
