Cargolink

Last updated

Cargolink AS
Type Subsidiary
Industry Freight trains
Founded27 March 2008
Headquarters
Drammen
,
Norway
Area served
Norway
Parent Autolink
Website www.cargolink.no

Cargolink AS is a Norwegian railway company. Owned by the automotive distribution company Autolink, Cargolink has operated both autorack and container trains since November 2008. Cargolink has a fleet of ten diesel locomotives, five shunters, 100 autoracks and 60 container cars. Combined autorack and container trains are operated up to five times per week along the Sørland-, Bergen-, Rauma-, Røros- and Nordland Lines, as well as services through Sweden.

Contents

Autolink, the largest distributor of automobiles in Norway, has traditionally bought train services from CargoNet. In 2007, they signed a contract with Ofotbanen, and at the same time bought 40% of the company. However, Ofotbanen was in financial difficulties, causing a dispute between the two owners. The result was that Autolink formally established Cargolink in March 2008, without the knowledge of Ofotbanen, and terminated the contract with Ofotbanen in July. Cargolink received an operating licence in September and service started in November.

Operation

Cargolink has taken over five shunters from Ofotbanen Ofotbanen AS Z71.JPG
Cargolink has taken over five shunters from Ofotbanen

Cargolink has a fleet of five shunters at their port in Drammen, [1] in addition to three Di 6 diesel locomotives and three TRAXX electric locomotives for main haulage. While the shunters are owned by Cargolink, the diesel locomotives are leased from Dispolok of Germany [2] and the electric locomotives are leased from Hector Rail. It also has more than 100 closed autoracks for automobile transport, [3] and 60  container cars. 70 new autoracks are under delivery from Sweden. [4]

On contract from Autolink, Cargolink operates autorack trains throughout large portions of the Norwegian railway network, from the seaports in Drammen and Oslo. Services are provided along the Sørland Line to Stavanger, along the Bergen Line to Bergen, along the Dovre Line to Trondheim, along the Rauma Line to Åndalsnes, and along the Nordland Line to Mosjøen, Mo i Rana and Bodø. It also operates through Sweden to reach Narvik and Malmö [5] Each route has up to five weekly departures in both directions with combined autorack and container trains. [6] The company transports 55,000 cars annually on 600 trains, giving a revenue of 65 million kr. Autolink is responsible for about three-quarters of all new-car distribution in the country. [7] On the weekly return trips from Northern Norway, Cargolink uses the empty cars to transport aluminum from Elkem Mosjøen. [8]

History

Autolink has traditionally owned a large pool of autoracks. These have been operated by the Norwegian State Railways, and subsequently their subsidiary CargoNet. [9] On 31 January 2007, Autolink bought 40% of the private railway company Ofotbanen, and at the same time signed a haulage contract with them. This made Autolink Ofotbanen's largest customer, and second largest owner. [10] In March, Autolink ordered additional 70 new autoracks for NOK 175 million. [4]

Cargolink Di 6 at Dombas Station on the Dovre Line Cargolink MaK 6 at Dombas.jpg
Cargolink Di 6 at Dombås Station on the Dovre Line

Ofotbanen have since their establishment had financial difficulties. The contract with Autolink had helped, but in July 2008, Autolink canceled their contract with Ofotbanen. [11] Two weeks later, Autolink announced that they would establish their own railway company, which they had been working with since March. They stated that the deal with Ofotbanen was discontinued because the majority owner—Rail Management, in turn owned by Mons Bolin—would not allow additional private placements of capital, nor sell their shares to Autolink. [12] From 29 July, all automotive trains stopped running, and no cars were transported for ten days. The same day, all board members in Ofotbanen representing Autolink withdrew from their positions. [13]

The matter ended in court, with a case to determine whether Autolink should be allowed to take control of four train radios that were located in locomotives owned by Autolink, but operated by Ofotbanen. In a shareholder agreement between Autolink and Rail Management, the ownership of the train radios had been transferred to Autolink, but the agreement has clauses that specified that Autolink could not start a competing railway company. Stating that Autolink had been disloyal in regard to the contract, Ofoten District Court ruled on 17 July 2008 against Autolink's demand for an interim order to transfer the ownership of the radios to Autolink. [14] The court ruled that an interim decision could not be made due to the complexity of the contracts, and that a normal lawsuit would have to be carried out to determine the matter. There was agreement that Autolink, on 13 February 2008, had bought five shunters from Ofotbanen for NOK 12 million, of which NOK 9.5 million was paid by Autolink deleting debt. [15]

Cargolink autorack train on the Dovre Line Cargolink MaK 6 at Dombas 3.jpg
Cargolink autorack train on the Dovre Line

Ofotbanen lost their license from the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate on 7 October 2008. This was because Ofotbanen had not documented necessary accounts for 2007, nor provided evidence of necessary liquidity. [16] On 24 October, the company was declared bankrupt. [17] [18] Rail Management subsequently established the new company Ofotbanen Drift, and stated that the cause of the bankruptcy was that Autolink had not let them make a private placement of NOK 10 million. [19]

Establishment

Work on establishing the new company was initiated by Autolink in March 2008, with the company formally established on 27 March. [14] [20] It received an operating license from the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate on 18 September 2008. [21] Five shunters that were operated by Ofotbanen, but owned by Autolink, were transferred to Cargolink. In addition, ten Di 6 diesel locomotives have been leased from Vossloh, with options for later purchase. [1] Operations started on 2 November, with 22 engineers based in Drammen. [9] Since the company has an all-diesel fleet, management is working to reroute trains to Trondheim and Northern Norway along the Røros Line instead of the Dovre Line. CargoNet and Ofotbanen had been using the Dovre Line because it is electrified, giving lower operating costs despite its elevation, 350 m (1,150 ft) higher than the Røros Line. After initial trial runs with only three locomotives, full service was introduced later in November. [2]

Related Research Articles

Rail transport in Norway

The Norwegian railway system comprises 4,087 km of 1,435 mm track of which 2,622 km is electrified and 242 km double track. There are 696 tunnels and 2,760 bridges.

The Airport Express Train is a Norwegian high-speed airport railway service connecting Oslo Airport to Oslo Central Station in nineteen minutes. Run by Flytoget AS, it operates on the high-speed Gardermoen Line using sixteen GMB Class 71 electric trains. Normal service frequency is once every ten minutes, with five of the services each hour continuing westwards beyond Oslo Central. The extended services serve nine stops within Greater Oslo and take up to 60 minutes.

Vy (transport operator) Norwegian state-owned railway operator

Vygruppen, branded as Vy, formerly Norges Statsbaner AS and formerly branded internationally as the Norwegian State Railways, is a government-owned railway company which operates most passenger train services and many bus services in Norway. The company is owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Transport. Its sub-brands include Vy Buss coach services, CargoNet freight trains through and the Swedish train transport company Tågkompaniet. In 2009 NSB carried 52 million train passengers and 104 million bus passengers. On 24 April 2019, passenger train and bus services were rebranded by as Vy.

Bergen Line Railway line in Norway

The Bergen Line or the Bergen Railway, is a 371-kilometre (231 mi) long scenic standard gauge railway line between Bergen and Hønefoss, Norway. The name is often applied for the entire route from Bergen via Drammen to Oslo, where the passenger trains go, a distance of 496 kilometres (308 mi). It is the highest mainline railway line in Northern Europe, crossing the Hardangervidda plateau at 1,237 metres (4,058 ft) above sea level.

Røros Line Railway line through the districts of Hedmarken, Østerdalen and Gauldalen, Norway

The Røros Line is a 383-kilometer (238 mi) railway line which runs through the districts of Hedmarken, Østerdalen and Gauldalen in Innlandet and Trøndelag, Norway. The line branches off from the Dovre Line at Hamar Station and runs a more easterly route to Støren Station, where the two lines meet again. The Røros Line also intersects with the Solør Line at Elverum Station. The single track, standard gauge line lacks electrification and only has centralized traffic control south of Røros Station. The Norwegian State Railways (Vy) operate regional passenger trains. In addition the line is used by freight trains hauling lumber and wood chippings.

Ofoten Line

The Ofoten Line is a 43-kilometre (27 mi) railway line in Narvik, Norway. It runs from the Port of Narvik to Riksgränsen on the Norway–Sweden border, where the line continues as the Ore Line via Kiruna and Gällivare to Luleå. The Ofoten Line is single track, electrified at 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC and has seven stations. The line only connects to the rest of the Norwegian railway network via Sweden. The main traffic is up to 12 daily freight trains operated by Malmtrafik that haul iron ore from Sweden to Narvik. In addition, CargoNet operates container trains, branded as the Arctic Rail Express (ARE), and SJ operates passenger trains, including a night train to Stockholm.

NSB Class 73 Class of 22 Norwegian electric multiple units

NSB Class 73 is a class of 22 electric multiple units built by Adtranz for the Norwegian State Railways. The four-car trains were modifications of Class 71, which was again based on the Swedish X2. The A-series consists of 16 intercity trains; they were delivered in 1999 and 2000 and are used on the Bergen, Dovre and Sørland Lines. The intercity service was branded as Signatur until 2003. The B-series consists of six regional trains delivered in 2002 and used on the Østfold Line. The regional trains were originally part of the Agenda concept. The trains have a power output of 2,646 kilowatts (3,548 hp) and a maximum speed of 210 km/h (130 mph). They have an overall length of 108 meters (354 ft) and have a capacity for 208 seated passengers in the A-series and 250 in the B-series. The trains have a tilting mechanism allowing for faster travel through curves.

NSB Di 6 Norwegian State Railways class of twelve diesel-electric locomotives

NSB Di 6, later designated ME 26 and DE 2700, is a class of twelve diesel-electric locomotives built by Siemens for the Norwegian State Railways (NSB). The prime mover provides a power output of 2,650 kilowatts (3,550 hp), a starting traction effort of 400 kilonewtons (90,000 lbf) and a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph). They have a Co′Co′ wheel arrangement. The bidirectional locomotives were designed for use with both passenger and freight trains.

Norske Tog Class 93 Class of DMUs of Norway

Class 93 is a tilting two-carriage diesel multiple unit used by SJ Norge for passenger trains on non-electrified stretches of the Norwegian railway network. Used on the Nordland Line, the Røros Line and the Rauma Line, they were purchased to replace the aging Di3 locomotive-hauled trains. The Class 93 was produced by Bombardier, and is part of the Talent family. Fifteen units were delivered between 2000 and 2002.

NSB Di 3 Class of diesel-electric locomotives

NSB Di 3 is a class of 35 diesel-electric locomotives built by NOHAB for the Norwegian State Railways (NSB). The class was built between 1954 and 1969, and delivered in two series, Di 3a and Di 3b. They are based on the Electro-Motive Division F7 and are equipped with EMD 567 engines. They have a distinct bulldog nose and were numbered 602–633 (a-series) and 641–643 (b-series). The locomotives had a prime mover that gives a power output of 1,305 kilowatts (1,750 hp). The a-series has a Co′Co′ wheel arrangement, while the b-series has (A1A)(A1A). The b-series has higher top speed, but lower tractive effort.

Iron Ore Line

The Iron Ore Line is a 398-kilometre (247 mi) long railway line between Riksgränsen and Boden in Norrbotten County, Sweden, owned by Trafikverket. The line also contains two branches, from Kiruna to Svappavaara and from Gällivare to Koskullskulle. The term is often colloquially used to also include the Ofoten Line, from Riksgränsen to Narvik in Norway, and the northernmost part of the Main Line Through Upper Norrland from Boden to Luleå. The railway from Narvik to Luleå is 473 kilometres (294 mi) long.

Iore Electric locomotive class built by Adtranz

Iore, often stylized IORE, is a class of 34 electric locomotives built by Adtranz and its successor Bombardier Transportation for the Swedish mining company LKAB's railway division Malmtrafik. The class is a variation of Adtranz's Octeon modular product platform, thus related to Bombardier's later TRAXX platform. The locomotives haul iron ore freight trains on the Iron Ore Line and Ofoten Line in Sweden and Norway, respectively. The 8,600-tonne 68-car trains are hauled by two single-ended Co′Co′ locomotives, each with a power output of 5,400 kW (7,200 hp). Each operates with 600 kilonewtons tractive effort and has a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). Delivery of the first series of 18 locomotives was made from 2000 to 2004, and they replaced some of the aging Dm3 and El 15 units. In 2007, eight more vehicles were ordered, with production to be completed by 2011, by which time, another four double units were ordered. These units are scheduled to be delivered from 2013 to 2014.

The Åsta accident was a railway accident that occurred at 13:12:25 on 4 January 2000 at Åsta in Åmot, south of Rena in Østerdalen, Norway. A train from Trondheim collided with a local train from Hamar on the Røros Line, resulting in an explosive fire. 19 people were killed, while 67 survived the accident.

Trøndelag Commuter Rail Commuter train service in Norway

The Trøndelag Commuter Rail is a commuter train service operating in Trøndelag county, Norway. It was operated by Vy with Class 92 diesel multiple units, until 7 June 2020 when SJ Norge took over the contract until 2030. The service provides a commuter service connecting Trondheim to its suburbs, between towns in Innherred and as an airport rail link for Trondheim Airport, Værnes. Although passenger services have operated along the lines since 1864, the commuter train was created with an increase of service with existing rolling stock in 1993. In 2019, the system was used by 1.4 million passengers.

The Norwegian National Rail Administration was a government agency responsible for owning, maintaining, operating and developing the Norwegian railway network, including the track, stations, classification yards, traffic management and timetables. Safety oversight was the duty of the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate, while numerous operating companies run trains on the lines; the largest being the state owned passenger company Vy and the freight company CargoNet.

Oslo Airport Station Railway station in Ullensaker, Norway

Oslo Airport Station, also known as Gardermoen Station, is a railway station located in the airport terminal building of Oslo Airport, Gardermoen in Norway. Located on the Gardermoen Line, it is served by the Airport Express Trains, express trains to Trondheim and Oslo, regional trains to Lillehammer and Skien and commuter trains to Eidsvoll and Kongsberg.

Hamar Station

Hamar Station is a railway station of the Dovre Line and the Røros Line located in downtown Hamar, Norway. Located 126.26 kilometers (78.45 mi) from Oslo Central Station, it is served by long-distance and regional trains on the Dovre Line, as the terminus for regional trains on the Røros Line. All trains are operated by SJ Norge, except the regional trains between Lillehammer and Oslo, which are operated by Vy. A side platform and an island platform are in regular use. The station handled 1,062,300 passengers in 2008.

Ofotbanen Drift AS, trading as Ofotbanen, was a Norwegian passenger and freight railway company. The company operated a fleet of six locomotives, three multiple units, 22 passenger and 48 freight cars. The sole service was the passenger train Unionsexpressen between Oslo and Stockholm; it had previously offered freight haulage on contract.

LKAB Malmtrafik Swedish railway company

LKAB Malmtrafik, earlier Malmtrafik i Kiruna AB (MTAB), is a Swedish railway company which operates the iron ore freight trains on the Iron Ore Line and the Ofoten Line. MTAB is a wholly owned subsidiary of the mining company Luossavaara–Kiirunavaara (LKAB). In Norway, operations are handled by the subsidiary Malmtrafikk AS (MTAS). Malmtrafik hauls ore from LKAB's mines in Kiruna, Malmberget and Svappavaara to the ports of Luleå and Narvik, the latter located in Norway. The company owns 28 Iore locomotives and 750 hopper cars. Each train is 68 cars long and weighs 8,600 tonnes, allowing the company to transport 33 million tonnes per year.

Autolink AS is a Norwegian distributor of automobiles. With port facilities in Drammen, Oslo and Malmö, Autolink prepares and redistributes to dealerships three quarters of all automobiles in Norway. The company has outsourcing agreements with many of the largest automotive importers in the country. It also owns the railway company Cargolink and the shipping company Motorships.

References

  1. 1 2 Drammens Tidende (25 October 2008). "Byens første togselskap" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 12 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  2. 1 2 Drammens Tidende (17 December 2008). "Premiere for Cargolink" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  3. ↑ Autolink. "Transport" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.[ dead link ]
  4. 1 2 Westman, Monica (14 May 2007). "Stororder till järnvägsvagn för bilar". Ny Teknik (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2010-03-16. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  5. ↑ Autolink. "Nettverket" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.[ dead link ]
  6. ↑ Hagen, Anders A. (23 April 2009). "Utvider fra to til fem dager". Åndalsnes Avis (in Norwegian). Retrieved 15 May 2009.[ dead link ]
  7. ↑ Autolink. "Om Autolink" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ Svingheim, Njål (22 December 2008). "Klar til avgang" (in Norwegian). Norwegian National Rail Administration . Retrieved 24 January 2009.[ dead link ]
  9. 1 2 Drammens Tidende (12 December 2008). "Klar til avgang" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ Moe, Kjetil (19 February 2007). "Autolink inn i Ofotbanen AS". Ofotens Tidende (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  11. ↑ Moe, Kjetil (1 July 2008). "Usikker fremtid for biltogkjøringen". Ofotens Tidende (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  12. ↑ Hansen, Fritz (1 July 2008). "- OBAS går under". Fremover (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  13. ↑ Drammens Tidende (22 July 2008). "Autolink i bitter togkrig" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  14. 1 2 Martinsen, Gerd Elise (17 July 2008). "Ofotbanen fikk medhold" (in Norwegian). NRK Nordland . Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  15. ↑ Berg, Hilde (26 July 2008). "Må gå gjennom avtalene". Ofotens Tidende (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on August 1, 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  16. ↑ Norwegian Railway Inspectorate (7 October 2008). "Tilsynet varsler tilbakekall av lisens for Ofotbanen" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.[ dead link ]
  17. ↑ Brønnøysund Register Centre (28 October 2008). "Konkurs - åpning" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  18. ↑ Godø, Knut (24 October 2008). "Ofotbanen konkurs". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  19. ↑ Fremover (24 October 2008). "Starter på nytt" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  20. ↑ Brønnøysund Register Centre. "Cargolink AS" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  21. ↑ Norwegian Railway Inspectorate. "CargoLink AS" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.