Siemens Mobility and Sporveien have commissioned a new Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system for the Oslo Metro, marking the first time an advanced signaling system has been used for metro operations in Norway. The project, valued at €270 million and awarded to Siemens Mobility in 2021, involves replacing the entire legacy signaling infrastructure across Oslo’s 86-kilometer metro network and integrating the upcoming Fornebubanen line.
The CBTC solution deployed is Trainguard MT, which operates at Grade of Automation Level 2 (GoA2). This upgrade allows the Oslo Metro to handle up to 36 trains per hour, compared to the previous maximum of 28—a capacity increase of about 30%. Siemens Mobility will also provide digital maintenance services and asset management through its Railigent X platform for a period of 25 years. These services are designed to maximize reliability and connectivity as Oslo pursues its goal of becoming an emission-free city.
Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility, said: "Our partnership with Sporveien dates back nearly 130 years to the Holmenkollen Line. 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 travelers. The new system supports Oslo in its ambition to become the world’s first zero-emission city."
The modernization includes upgrading all lines on the existing network and seamlessly connecting them with an eight-kilometer extension—Fornebubanen—which adds six stations. One notable aspect of this project is that it uses public LTE mobile networks for critical train control communications. This makes Oslo's metro the first in Europe to adopt such technology for these purposes.
The technical capabilities of the new CBTC system could eventually allow up to 40 trains per hour if fully realized, which would mean an overall capacity boost exceeding 40% compared with pre-modernization levels.
Norway is advancing rail digitalization more broadly as well. The country plans centralized control over its mainline railway network covering roughly 4,200 kilometers and more than 350 stations. Bane NOR—the state-owned entity managing railway infrastructure—is leading this €2 billion initiative focused on automated signaling systems and upgrades toward European Train Control System Level 2 technology. These efforts highlight Norway's commitment to innovative public transport solutions aimed at greater efficiency and environmental sustainability.