Sørlandsbanen rail line closed after train severs overhead power cables

The Sørlandsbanen railway between Vennesla and Nelaug remains shut down Sunday after a passenger train bound for Oslo tore down overhead power lines, infrastructure manager Bane Nor confirmed.

Speaking to Dagbladet, Bane Nor duty officer Olav Nordli said repair crews had not yet reached the site to assess the damage. “It’s too early to say how long the line will stay closed, but it will likely remain shut for several hours,” he stated.

The stranded train, operated by Go-Ahead, is halted just outside Herefoss station with passengers still onboard. Go-Ahead spokesperson Oda Riska told Dagbladet that moving passengers from the train was not currently safe due to its position. “We’re waiting for clearance from Bane Nor to relocate the train to a secure location,” she said, noting the presence of strollers and a wheelchair among the passengers.

By early afternoon, Bane Nor crews had arrived on site with heavy equipment in an attempt to pull the train toward Herefoss station. “We’ll try to move it, but we don’t yet know when that will be possible,” Nordli said.

Riska acknowledged the disruption for passengers but emphasized safety as the priority. “We understand this is frustrating, but we must ensure conditions are safe before any movement,” she added.