The electrification of the Trønder and Meråker lines in Norway is now entering its final phase and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Throughout the summer and autumn, several important milestones will be reached.
By the end of July, the electrical infrastructure will be almost complete, with all overhead lines installed and tensioned—except for a few buffer sections, which will be finished in August.
Bane NOR, the rail infrastructure manager, reports that work on the Meråker Line has faced challenges due to adverse weather and steep terrain. Earlier this spring, several landslides caused by heavy snowmelt forced a closure between Flornes and Gudå, temporarily halting progress.
Inspections on the section between Gudå and Kopperå were carried out on 1 and 2 July, with final checks on the entire installation scheduled from August to October. John Petter Reklev, Project Manager for the electrification of the Trønder and Meråker lines, explains:
“We are entering a critical phase where everything must be thoroughly tested and quality assured before the power can be switched on for the entire system. While this work isn’t highly visible to the public, it is a significant undertaking.”
From 1 September, SJ Norge will begin testing electric train operations between Trondheim S and Hell. This marks a major step in the transition from diesel to electric trains, and SJ has demonstrated strong commitment to supporting the testing phase.
John Petter Reklev adds, “The electrification of the Trønder and Meråker lines is a vital step towards a more modern and environmentally friendly railway infrastructure in Central Norway.”
Once complete, the electrification will enable the operation of modern, eco-friendly trains that offer greater comfort and increased capacity for both passengers and freight. It will also provide a seamless and sustainable journey across the border into Sweden. This project marks the first time since the electrification of the Dovre Line in 1970 that a railway line in Trøndelag is being upgraded to electric operation.
When the Trønder and Meråker lines are fully electrified, passengers and freight operators alike will benefit from significantly improved services. Modern passenger trains will provide better comfort, easier boarding and alighting, and nearly double the number of seats currently available. Freight operators will enjoy lower costs, faster journey times, and the option to run longer trains. Electric trains also produce significantly less noise than diesel trains and contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
On the Meråker Line, electrification will enhance freight services between Norway and Sweden, as the line is already electrified on the Swedish side up to the Norwegian border at Storlien. The Meråker Line will become a strategically important route for diversion traffic between Trøndelag and Eastern Norway. It will also serve as a key link connecting the Norwegian and wider Nordic rail networks. Moreover, the line will offer improved local passenger services towards the Swedish border and to popular destinations such as Meråker and Åre.
The entire project represents an investment of approximately NOK 2.4 billion (EUR 203 million) and involves electrifying a total of 120 km of track.
In addition to electrification, Bane NOR is implementing capacity improvements along the Trønder Line to strengthen regional public transport and better connect Trøndelag’s housing and employment markets. The line carries many commuters travelling between Trondheim and the Innherred region. Local trains in Trøndelag operate on both the Dovre and Nordland railways, running between Steinkjer in the north and Melhus in the south, via Trondheim.
Along the Trønder Line, the older diesel-powered Type 92 trains have gradually been replaced by bimodal Type 76 trains, which can operate using both electricity and diesel. These newer trains are more environmentally friendly and have significantly greater capacity—carrying up to 241 passengers compared to the 136 seats on the older models.
The Meråker Line is Central Norway’s fastest route to neighbouring Sweden. This cross-border railway, a Swedish-Norwegian collaboration, is locally known as the “Neighbour Train.” It links Trondheim with the Swedish ski resort of Åre, the regional centre Östersund, and the wider Swedish rail network. The line spans 70.7 km and dates back to 1881. Passenger numbers have been steadily rising in recent years.
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