Älvsborg Line (Älvsborgsbanan)

Älvsborg Line (Älvsborgsbanan)

The Älvsborg Line or in Swedish: Älvsborgsbanan is a railway line between Uddevalla and Borås in Sweden. The 133-kilometre (83 mi) long crescent-shaped line connects to various lines, including the Bohus Line, the Norway's Vänern Line, the Kinnekulle Line, the Western Main Line, the Coast-to-Coast Line and the Viskadal Line.

Västtrafik runs regional train service on the whole line, usually with X12 trains. Due to its bad standard and slow speed, few freight trains use this line and instead travel via Gothenburg and the Western Main Line. Some freight trains are diverted to this line when the Western Main Line is closed for maintenance.

The Älvsborg Line has 15 passenger stations: Uddevalla, Öxnered, Vänersborg, Vargön, Grästorp, Vara, Vedum, Herrljunga, Ljung, Torpåkra, Mollaryd, Borgstena, Fristad, Knalleland, Borås

Älvsborg Line History

The railway between Uddevalla and Herrljunga was opened in 1867 and between Borås and Herrljunga in 1863. Both railways had originally a 1,217 mm (3 ft 11+29⁄32 in) gauge. They were rebuilt to standard gauge in 1898.

During 2021, the stretch between Herrljunga and Borås was renovated to a higher standard. That included replacing manual train dispatching (System M), with automatic train dispatching (System H). The top speed there has (as of 2024) not been raised but is still 110 km/h. The top speed is 160 km/h between Håkantorp and Herrljunga and 140 between Öxnered and Ryr, otherwise not above 110.

In 2023, the Älvsborg Line was blocked in Vänersborg when the movable bridge there was considered in too bad shape to be operated. Reopening is planned in 2025.