Title: Struggles of Norwegian Commuters: A Tesla Solution and a Lack of Competence in Bane Nor
Subhead: After years of unreliable train journeys, one commuter decided enough was enough and switched to Tesla. Meanwhile, experts point to lack of competence at Bane Nor as the root cause of persistent train problems.
In the early hours of the first Christmas day, as all train tunnels in Norway lay silent, I stepped into my garage and gave my new Tesla an extra polish. I’m a commuter, but I’m no longer bound by Bane Nor’s whims.
When I moved to Larvik, I planned to commute by train, heading to Oslo a couple of days a week. I envisioned productive laptop sessions and enjoyable podcast listening. But reality quickly dashed those dreams.
My first train journey to Oslo ended with me waiting in a sealed carriage at Sandefjord station for over an hour, with no information. I missed an important meeting – the sole purpose of my trip. From then on, my train commute was marked by punctuality issues, late arrivals, and satisfied customers turned into frustrated passengers.
Frustrated, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I bought a Tesla 3 and became a content, if not slightly smug, car commuter. But I’m conscious that not everyone has the luxury of a spare car. Teachers, journalists, mechanics… first, soaring property prices push them out of Oslo, then Bane Nor derails what’s left of their livelihoods.
The Competence Gap at Bane Nor
It’s a sad fact: Ukraine’s trains are more reliable than Norway’s. Riksrevisjonen has repeatedly flagged weaknesses in Bane Nor’s management of infrastructure like tracks and signals. Yet, the top leadership positions go to individuals with little to no experience in the field.
Trygve Hegnar, in Finansavisen, phrases it bluntly: "Spark the dust off" Bane Nor’s management. The current CEO, Thor Gjermund Eriksen, lacks industry expertise. Instead, he brings political connections and media savvy – valuable traits, perhaps, for a boardroom, but not for running the country’s rail network.
Sentrale, an industry insider, told Nettavisen, "They’ve brought in a top leader who doesn’t know the industry, and the result is chaotic management." The union Tropig is now calling for external investigation of the first Christmas Day debacle, but Eriksen prefers self-gransking.
The Root Cause: A historial lack of maintenance
At the heart of Norway’s train problems lies a historical lack of maintenance, compounded by a botched jernbanereform under Erna Solberg’s government. While infrastructure is now managed by Bane Nor, the responsibility for maintaining it is unclear, leading to ongoing deterioration.
As toujours, the problem isn’t just the current leadership. It’s the system that allowed this situation to fester. It’s the political propensity for change over continuity, and the failure to prioritize basic upkeep of our rail network. Until we address these root causes, commuters like me will continue to pine for the reliable train journey that once was.
Disclaimer: The author’s views are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency of the Norwegian government.
