Siemens is powering Oslo’s Metro digitalisation with a modern communications-based train control (CBTC) system.

This is the first Norwegian advanced signalling system for metro operations, boosting capacity by 30%. It is also Europe’s first use of the public LTE mobile network for safety-critical train control communications.

Public transport operator Sporveien commissioned the CBTC system for passenger service on an initial, 3km-long section of the Oslo Metro. The €270m signalling project, awarded to Siemens Mobility in 2021, encompasses the complete replacement of the legacy signalling system across the entire 86km-long network and integration of the new Fornebubanen line.

With Siemens’ Trainguard MT CBTC system, operating at Grade of Automation Level 2 (GoA2), Oslo Metro can now handle 36 trains per hour, up from 28 previously. This is a capacity boost of around 30%. Combined with 25 years of digital maintenance services and intelligent asset management through Siemens Mobility’s Railigent X, this modernisation should improve reliability and connectivity, supporting Oslo’s goal of becoming the world’s first emission-free city.

“Our partnership with Sporveien dates back nearly 130 years to the Holmenkollen line,” said Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility. “Today, we are proud to introduce Norway’s first CBTC system, bringing Oslo’s Metro into a new era. This milestone will increase capacity by around 30%, enabling more frequent departures and promoting sustainable mobility for travellers. The new system supports Oslo in its ambition to become the world’s first zero-emission city.”

This modernisation project includes a complete upgrade of Oslo’s Metro network, and seamlessly integrating the 8km Fornebubanen extension with six stations. An innovation in this project is the secure use of public LTE mobile networks for critical train control communications, making Oslo the first metro in Europe to adopt this cost-saving approach.

The system possesses the technical and theoretical capacity to operate up to 40 trains per hour. This capability is vital for accommodating the Fornebubanen line and ensuring reliable operations across the network. Should this potential be realised, it would represent an overall capacity increase of over 40% compared with the pre-modernisation capacity of 28 trains per hour.

Norway is setting a benchmark in rail digitalisation, aiming to control and monitor its 4200km mainline railway network and over 350 stations centrally. Bane Nor (www.banenor.no), the state-owned company responsible for railway infrastructure, is leading this €2bn digitalisation initiative with Siemens Mobility (www.mobility.siemens.com), focusing on automated signalling and upgrades to European Train Control System Level 2 technology.

Projects such as the Sporveien (www.sporveien.no) CBTC rollout are said to underline Norway’s dedication to innovation and sustainability, positioning the country as a leader in efficient and eco-friendly public transport.