1 General Information

1.1 Introduction

Bane NOR is the infrastructure manager for the Norwegian rail network rail networkThe rail network managed by Bane NOR, which is the entire Norwegian rail network. and has prepared and published Network Statement 2025, the 22nd edition.

1.1.1 Bane NOR's organisation

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Bane NOR is organised into five divisions, each of which is responsible for its own business areas, as well as four group staff teams with specialist responsibility across the divisions:

Digitisation and Technology Division

Responsible for railway technical disciplines, the ERTMS program, ICT, and transformation

Development Division

Planning and implementation of projects associated with new infrastructure.

Operation and Maintenance Division

Infrastructure management, execution and follow-up of core-and project-based maintenance, power-supply for operating trains, machines.

Traffic Division

Traffic operations, operations and traffic safety, the ERTM programme, technical operations, ICT, acquisitions.

Property Division

Administration and development of property and nodes, as well as the operation and maintenance of stations, workshops, and other service facilities.

Corporate functions

The corporate functions have overarching responsibility for goals and strategies, frameworks, and governing documents within their areas of expertise across the divisions.

1.1.2 The railway sector in Norway

1.2 Purpose

The purpose of the Network Statement is to provide the railway undertaking and other applicants with the necessary information concerning access to and use of the Norwegian rail network rail networkThe rail network managed by Bane NOR, which is the entire Norwegian rail network., as well as other railway-related services provided to the railway undertaking.

The Network Statement consists of a main document, which describes the infrastructure in addition to the general conditions for operating services on the rail network. The Network Statement also includes annexes containing further detailed information.

The Network Statement also includes links to publications and other relevant websites.

1.3 Legal Aspects 

1.3.1 Legal framework

The requirement to prepare and publish a Network Statement is stipulated in Section 5-1 of the Regulations of 30 June, no. 2315 on railway business, additional technical areas, charges, allocation of infrastructure capacity, etc. (Railway Regulations). More detailed requirements for the contents of the Network Statement are stipulated in the Railway Regulations, Section 5-2.

Requirements relating to access to and use of the Norwegian rail network rail networkThe rail network managed by Bane NOR, which is the entire Norwegian rail network., including the use of other railway-related services follow from the Railway Regulations and the Regulations relating to the implementation of supplementary provisions to the Railway Regulations issued pursuant to Section 1-5(1) of the Railway Regulations.

1.3.2 Legal Status and Liability

1.3.2.1 General remarks

As far as Norwegian legislation is concerned, the Network Statement is purely for information. This means that information in the Network Statement does not constitute legally binding obligations for Bane NOR.

When the ATS refers to specific sections in the Network Statement, this is not a legally binding obligation for Bane NOR, unless the ATS specifically stipulates that it is a legally binding obligation for Bane NOR.

The Network Statement is issued in two languages – Norwegian and English. Document content is the same in both languages. If there is any conflict between the Norwegian version and the English version, the Norwegian text takes precedence.

Reference is made in a number of sections to Norwegian legislation and traffic rules issued by Bane NOR. Parts of the legislation, as well as the traffic rules, are only available in Norwegian.

1.3.2.2 Liability

The information provided by Bane NOR in the Network Statement must be correct. Bane NOR nevertheless assumes no liability as a consequence of errors.

Any errors that may be detected during the period of validity of the Network Statement will be corrected and announced on the Bane NOR website, as described in Chapter 1.5.2.

Bane NOR’s objective is to provide services in compliance with the service description provided in the Network Statement.

The Network Statement may include information on planned changes during the period following the expiry of the document’s validity period, see Chapter 1.5 below. Such information is not binding for Bane NOR.

The Network Statement refers to a certain extent to descriptions provided in other documents issued by Bane NOR. If Bane NOR is to make changes to documents which affect the rights or obligations of the railway undertaking, such changes must be sent to the railway undertaking for consultation before these changes are implemented.

1.3.3 Appeals procedure

The railway undertaking and any other applicants that feel they have been treated unfairly, subjected to discrimination or have otherwise had their interests violated in any other way, may submit an appeal to the Norwegian Railway Authority (Statens jernbanetilsyn) in accordance with the Railway Regulations, Section 11-3. This is particularly applicable to decisions made by the infrastructure manager, the railway undertaking or the party running service facilities with regard to:

a. the draft and final version of the Network Statement
b. criteria established in the Network Statement
c. the capacity allocation capacity allocationA collective term teferring to the infrastructure manager's planning and allocation of infrastructure capacity as well as access to serice facilities and the services in these. process and the result of this
d. the charging scheme
e. the level or structure of infrastructure charges which the applicant must or may have to pay
f. schemes for access in accordance with the Railway Regulations, Sections 2-1, 2-2, 2-4 and 2-5
g. access to services, collection of charges and payment for services in accordance with the Railway Regulations, Section 13-2 and the Railway Regulations, Chapter 4
h. traffic management
i. planning of renewals and planned and unplanned maintenance
j. compliance with the requirements set down in Sections 3-4 to 3-7 of the Norwegian Railway Regulations
k. concluded framework agreements

Pursuant to the Railway Regulations, Section 11-3 (2), the  must notify relevant parties of its decision on the matter within six weeks of having received all relevant information.

1.4 Structure of the Network Statement

RailNetEurope (RNE RNERailNetEurope is a joint European organization aimed at facilitating international traffic.) has compiled a common framework for the structure and content of the Network Statement (the Network Statement Common Structure). This Network Statement has been prepared in accordance with RNE’s Network Statement Common Structure.

1.5 Validity Period, Updating and Publishing

1.5.1 Validity period

Network Statement 2024 is applicable for:

• Access to and use of infrastructure, delimited by Timetable R24.
• Processing of capacity-intensive programmes for Timetable R24; this is also applicable if processing takes place before the start of Timetable R24.

The Network Statement is published 12 months prior to the timetable period to which it applies and is valid for one timetable period.

Timetable R24 commences on Sunday 10 December 2023 and ends on Saturday 14 December 2024.

These dates have been established in accordance with the provisions set out in the Railway Regulations.

1.5.2 Updating

Bane NOR will use a supplement to Network Statement 2024 to announce any amendments or additions occurring after the publication of this Network Statement. See Change Log.

Amendment of a public regulation referred to in the Network Statement will only be announced by means of a supplement to the Network Statement if:

• the amendment is not published in Norsk Lovtidend(opens in a new tab), and
• the amendment may lead to restrictions in the use of railway infrastructure according to the minimum access package, see the Railway Regulations, Section 4-1 – see Chapter 5.3.

1.5.3 Publication

Network Statement 2024 and annexes will be available in both hard copy format and electronically on the Bane NOR website, where it can be downloaded for free. The Network Statement will always be available in two languages, Norwegian and English. Document content is the same in both languages. If the two versions do not match, the Norwegian version will take precedence.

The Network Statement will be sent free of charge to railway undertakings that have concluded ATSs with Bane NOR.

The annual publication of the Network Statement is announced in Norsk Lysningsblad and EU official journals.

1.6 Contacts

1.6.1 Bane NOR

Bane NOR can provide railway undertakings with more detailed information on topics referred to in Network Statement 2024 upon request.

1.6.2 OSS, Norway

Infrastructure managers and supervisory authorities in the EU have jointly created a One Stop Shop, abbreviated as OSS OSSA one stop shop is a single point of contact where multiple services or solutions can be obtained., function that acts as a network of contacts within RNE RNERailNetEurope is a joint European organization aimed at facilitating international traffic.. A railway undertaking may get in touch with an OSS with a view to applying for infrastructure capacity in an international rail network rail networkThe rail network managed by Bane NOR, which is the entire Norwegian rail network., and the OSS will then start the entire international coordination process.

The OSS will work on the basis of contact with a railway undertaking and after a meeting with the managers involved:

1. Coordinate the handling of capacity-intensive applications for each requested international track line within RNE in such a manner as to ensure that the applications are included correctly in the annual capacity allocation capacity allocationA collective term teferring to the infrastructure manager's planning and allocation of infrastructure capacity as well as access to serice facilities and the services in these. process.
2. Safeguard the customer’s optimum infrastructure capacity for the entire international route. Coordination of this process will mainly be carried out by means of simulation with RNE’s PCS system.

1.6.3 OSS, International

1.7 Cooperation between European Infrastructure Managers and Allocation Bodies

1.7.1 Rail freight corridors

Regulation 913/2010/EU concerning the establishment of a European rail network rail networkThe rail network managed by Bane NOR, which is the entire Norwegian rail network. for competitive freight entered into force in Norwegian law on 17 February 2014. This Regulation requires the member states to establish international, market-oriented rail freight corridors in order to meet the following targets:

• To strengthen cooperation between infrastructure managers in important areas such as allocation of train paths, interoperability, interoperable systems and infrastructure development.
• To find the right balance between freight and passenger services along the freight corridors, provide sufficient capacity for freight in compliance with market needs, and ensure that common punctuality targets for freight trains are met.
• To promote intermodality between railways and other forms of transport by integrating terminals in the corridor management process

Bane NOR is participating in freight corridor 3 Scandinavian-Mediterranean Rail Freight Corridor (ScanMed RFC)(opens in a new tab) together with Banedanmark, DB Netz, RFI, the Swedish Transport Administration, ÖBB Infrastruktur and the Øresund Bridge.

Eleven international rail freight corridors (RFCs)(opens in a new tab) have been established in the EU’s rail network; see RNE's website for more information.  

1.7.2 RailNetEurope and other international forums

RailNetEurope (RNE RNERailNetEurope is a joint European organization aimed at facilitating international traffic.) was created in January 2004 at the initiative of a number of European infrastructure managers that wished to establish a common European organisation in order to facilitate international services. To achieve this objective, RNE offers its members, railway undertakings, applicants and other stakeholders solutions and support with regard to compliance with the European legal framework. This involves developing and harmonising international railway processes, templates, handbooks and guidelines. It also involves developing the necessary IT tools that are streamlined and harmonised.

1.7.2.1 RNE tools

Path Coordination System (PCS)

PCS is an international coordination system for applying for train paths for railway undertakingss and other applicants, IMs, allocation bodies and rail freight corridors (RFCs). The Internet-based application optimises coordination of international train paths by ensuring that queries and tenders are harmonised with all parties involved. PCS is the only tool for publishing allocated train paths and residual capacity residual capacityAvailable (free) track capacity in the Norwegian railway network that has not been allocated for train operations or track work in the established timetable., and for administering international track queries for the rail freight corridors (RFCs).

PCS can be accessed for free. If you would like a user account, please send your enquiry to RNE PCS Support.

Charging Information System (CIS)

CIS is an infrastructure charges information system for applicants, supplied by infrastructure managers and allocation bodies. This Internet-based application provides quick information and indications of costs related to the use of European railway infrastructure, as well as estimating the charges for using international train paths.

CIS can be accessed for free and users do not need to register.

1.7.2.2 OSS

One Stop Shop (OSS OSSA one stop shop is a single point of contact where multiple services or solutions can be obtained.) is a network of contact points representing infrastructure managers operating international services. They constitute a single point of contact for railway services for the entire international route, from the first queries linked with access to the infrastructure to international queries and performance assessment following the running of a train.

A list of OSS contacts in Europe is available on  RNE's website(opens in a new tab).

1.7.2.3 Other international forums 

In addition to what is mentioned in the abovementioned Chapters 1.7.1 and 1.7.2, Bane NOR also participates in the following international organisations and forums: