On Tuesday at 15.00, the Minister for Transport held an emergency meeting with the management of Bane Nor, the Norwegian Railway Inspectorate and the Norwegian Railway Directorate.
The topic of the meeting was the scandalous closure of the Follobanen. The prestigious project cost NOK 36.8 billion, and had to close just over a week after opening.
– Information has come to light that worries me, says Transport Minister Nygård after the meeting.
It has become clear at the meeting that there has been uncertainty about the chosen solution of return current and grounding, he states.
– I believe there is a need for us to have an external investigation or review of this.
The closure of the track came after overheating and smoke were discovered in a technical facility.
OPENING: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is clear that the reopening of the Follobanen cannot be any sooner than 1 February. Photo: Jonas Been Henriksen / TV 2
Støre: – Terribly regrettable
Bane Nor said before the meeting that they aim for the track to reopen before 1 February. Nygård gives the same estimate.
– It cannot be later than 1 February, says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) to TV 2 about the reopening of the Follobanen.
– It is just terribly regrettable. Now everything has to be about getting it started.
He is left with the question of how this could happen, and says you have to find the answer somewhere you can trust.
– In 2019, you thought that the Follobanen was a project without management and control. Do you still think so?
– No, but then there was also a series of constant cost increases. It is a huge challenge for Transport Norway. It’s something we’ve tackled. We’ve had to put a number of projects on hold, Støre replies.
He says Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård has done the right thing in asking for an external investigation.
– It doesn’t look good that it opens, it’s also wrong. We must find the source of those errors.
The Minister of Transport wants an investigation
Bane Nor: Will reopen before February
Before the meeting, Bane Nor’s managing director Gorm Frimannslund told TV 2 that they plan to open Follobanen again during the month.
– We plan to reopen the track by 1 February. That’s what we work for. Within this month. That is what we are working on now, he said.
After the emergency meeting, the director will not guarantee that Follobanen will reopen on the predicted date.
– I would not use the word guarantee, but it is more likely that we will manage to open within that time frame. Our timetables show that it is possible, says Frimannslund to TV 2
– A promise, then?
– Yes, we are very close.
When smoke came from this house, the super project stopped
– Startling
The prestigious project has cost NOK 36.8 billion, but had to close just over a week after the railway line was opened with pomp and splendor by the Prime Minister and the King three weeks ago.
In an interview with TV 2 after the emergency meeting, Nygård says that he got good answers to the questions that were asked.
– Is it objectionable that the ministry is not informed about it?
– In any case, it is somewhat startling that this information is emerging now, says Nygård.
– It sounds as you say objectionable?
– I believe that this type of risk should have been informed about at an earlier stage.
During Space Christmas, the transport minister did not want to use the word scandal about the situation. He believes that these are words that can be used if the track does not reopen within a reasonable time.
– A plan has now been put forward to reopen within a reasonable time. Now a plan has been put in place to reopen within a reasonable time. Given that it’s happening, I don’t think you can use the term scandal, says Nygård.
He describes the meeting as good, with open and honest communication, with open and honest information.
– Bane NOR has assured us that it has not posed any danger to the passengers. There has been security for them throughout the situation, adds Nygård.
RAILWAY MANAGER: Managing director Gorm Frimannslund of Bane Nor. Photo: Erik Edland, TV 2
Solberg: – First of all, embarrassing
Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg told TV 2 on Tuesday that she believes Minister Nygård is proceeding in the right way by calling a meeting and finding out what has gone wrong.
– First of all, I want to say that this is just embarrassing, said Solberg.
– But at the same time, I believe that what the minister is doing now is right. We should not prejudge all these things. We have to find out what has gone wrong, why it has gone wrong, and then we have to decide on it. And I think it looks like the transport minister is doing that, and I think that’s the right action to take, she said.
The right-wing leader’s more conciliatory comments came after the party’s partner Frp believed that the transport minister needed to assess his position after the scandal.
