Norway railway signaling system faces potential 20-year delay

A new investigation by the Norwegian Railway Directorate suggests that the rollout of the new digital signaling system, ERTMS, could be delayed by decades. While the original 2015 plan aimed for completion before 2031, various scenarios in the recent study indicate that full implementation could take until 2050 or even as late as 2055.

The project has already faced significant cost increases and delays. Bane Nor has noted that the current light-based signaling technology is outdated, making it difficult to source spare parts and necessary expertise, which frequently leads to service disruptions.

State Secretary Cecilie Knibe Kroglund clarified that the 2055 timeline is not a formal forecast or progress plan. The Norwegian Railway Directorate and Bane Nor are tasked with developing a new, unified plan for the signaling systems, which is expected to be delivered by March 15, 2027, to outline the timeline for different rail lines.