100th Train Upgraded with ERTMS in Norway

Alstom has completed the upgrade of its 100th train with onboard European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) signalling in Norway, marking a key step in one of Europe’s most extensive national rail digitalisation programmes.

Progress in Norway’s digital rail transformation
Norway is undertaking a nationwide transition to ERTMS, replacing legacy signalling systems with a standardized, digital train control architecture. The programme ultimately covers more than 350 trains and is intended to deliver long-term improvements in capacity, punctuality, reliability, and cross-border interoperability.

The upgrade of the 100th train represents a significant operational milestone within this programme. The achievement was marked at Alstom’s Grorud depot in the greater Oslo area, bringing together key stakeholders involved in Norway’s rail modernisation.

Scope of Alstom’s ERTMS responsibilities
Alstom holds multiple contracts to equip the entire Norwegian railway fleet with onboard ERTMS solutions. This includes passenger trains, freight locomotives, and track maintenance machines. The work encompasses both hardware and software upgrades, tailored to a wide variety of rolling stock types and operational roles.

Production and retrofit activities are carried out in Norway at Alstom’s depots in Grorud, near Oslo, and Marienborg, near Trondheim. Local execution supports close coordination with operators and infrastructure managers while building domestic expertise in digital signalling systems.

Collaboration across the rail ecosystem
The ERTMS programme is being delivered in cooperation with major actors in the Norwegian rail sector, including Bane NOR, Norske Tog, Vy Group, SJ Norge, and freight operators.

Such coordination is essential in a system-wide signalling transition, where infrastructure, rolling stock, and operational procedures must evolve in parallel to maintain safe and continuous rail services.

Climate-ready and interoperable technology
The ERTMS upgrades incorporate next-generation odometry systems that use satellite positioning. These systems are engineered to operate reliably under Norway’s demanding climatic conditions, including low temperatures, snow, and variable terrain.

Two fleets have already completed the transition: heavy-duty track maintenance machines and rescue locomotives, both owned and operated by Bane NOR. Their early conversion supports safe infrastructure maintenance and emergency response throughout the transition period.

The programme is currently progressing at a rate of approximately three to four passenger trains per month. These assets are critical to maintaining both passenger and freight services during the phased rollout of ERTMS across the national network.

Onboard system architecture
Alstom’s Onvia Cab system is used as the onboard signalling platform. The system is designed to be interoperable and suitable for both new-build and existing trains, enabling standardized operation across different vehicle classes.

Alstom’s involvement in Norway builds on its experience delivering more than 300 onboard digital signalling projects in over 40 countries. This global reference base supports system maturity, lifecycle support, and alignment with evolving European interoperability requirements.

Application context
The completion of the 100th ERTMS-equipped train brings Norway closer to operating a fully digital railway. For network operators, the transition supports higher line capacity, more consistent operations, and simplified cross-border compatibility with other European rail systems.

As national ERTMS programmes move from pilot phases into large-scale deployment, milestones such as this illustrate the complexity and industrial coordination required to convert entire fleets while maintaining day-to-day rail services.