This week's report by an expert group stating that building a new network for high speed trains in Southern Norway would be feasible, has been met wiith opposition across party lines, also in the coalition government.
The cost of the new infrastructure needed, including a series of long tunnels and bridges, is estimated to cost around NOK 800 - 900 billion, or equal to an entire annual state budget.
Opponents to introducing high-speed trains in Norway, say this money would be better spent on improving existing railways and upgrading main roads across the nation, paticularly in the North, where there are no railroads in the first place.
One argument for introducing high-speed trains has been the benefit to the environment, through the reduction of motorised traffic on the roads. However, opponents say that the high emissions from tunnelling and bridge building would far outweigh these benefits.
The feasibility study mentions one way ahead for the railway, high-speed trains or not: Start by upgrading the existing Inter City lines in the South to a standard that would allow for high-speed trains in the future, including the building of twin tracks where the traffic is heaviest.
(Norway Post)
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