View source for Vy

{{Short description|Norwegian state-owned railway operator}}
{{for-multi|the former government agency|Norwegian State Railways (1883–1996)|other uses|Vy (disambiguation)}}
{{Refimprove|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Vygruppen AS
| logo_size = 175
| type = [[Public ownership|State-owned]]
| foundation = 1 December 1996
| location = [[Oslo]], [[Norway]]
| key_people = Gro Bakstad, [[CEO]]
| area_served = Norway and Sweden (Oslo-Gothenburg line)
| industry = [[Transport]]
| products = 
| revenue = [[Norwegian krone|NOK]] 11 billion (2009)
| operating_income = {{profit}} [[Norwegian krone|NOK]] 548 million (2009)
| net_income = {{profit}} [[Norwegian krone|NOK]] 497 million (2009)
| num_employees = 10,646 (2006)
| parent = [[Ministry of Transport (Norway)|Ministry of Transport and Communications]]
| subsid = [[Flytoget]]<ref name="flytoget">{{Cite web |author=Flytoget AS |title=Sammenslåingen av Vy og Flytoget er vedtatt |url=https://flytoget.no/nyheter-og-presse/nyhetsarkiv/25-04-01-sammenslaingen-av-vy-og-flytoget-endelig-vedtatt/ |lang=no |date=2025-04-01 |access-date=2025-05-04}}</ref><br>[[Vy Buss]]<br>[[Vy Gjøvikbanen]]<br>[[Vy Tåg]] (Sweden)<br>[[CargoNet]]
| homepage = {{url|https://www.vy.no/en|vy.no}} (Norway)<br />{{url|https://www.vy.se/en|vy.se}} (Sweden)
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Vygruppen''', branded as '''Vy''', formerly the '''Norwegian State Railways''' ({{langx|no|Norges Statsbaner}}, '''NSB'''), is a government-owned [[railway company]] which operates most [[passenger train]] services and many bus services in [[Norway]]. The company is owned by the [[Ministry of Transport (Norway)|Norwegian Ministry of Transport]]. Its sub-brands include [[Vy Buss]] coach services, [[CargoNet]] freight trains and the Swedish train transport company [[Tågkompaniet]].  In 2009, NSB carried 52 million train passengers and 104 million bus passengers.  On 24 April 2019, passenger train and bus services were rebranded as Vy.

The company was established as the [[Norwegian State Railways (1883–1996)]]. In 1996 the company was split into the new NSB, the infrastructure company, [[Jernbaneverket]] and the [[Norwegian Railway Inspectorate]]. In 2002, the freight operations were split to the subsidiary [[CargoNet]], and the maintenance department became [[Mantena (company)|Mantena]].<ref>{{cite web|url=    https://snl.no/Norges_Statsbaner_AS|title= Norges Statsbaner AS|publisher = Store norske leksikon|author=  Tor Wisting|access-date= October 1, 2016}}</ref> It was controversially renamed Vygruppen in 2019; the then-opposition parties vowed to reverse the name change.

==History==
[[File:Norges Statsbaner logo.svg|thumb|Former NSB logo (2005–2019)]]
On 1 December 1996, the largest structural change in Norwegian railway history in the 20th century occurred. The old Norwegian State Railways was split into three separate governmental agencies. The ownership, maintenance and construction of the track was transformed to the newly created government agency Norwegian National Rail Administration while a new Norwegian Railway Inspectorate was created to supervise all railway operations in the country. NSB was renamed '''NSB BA''' and created as a [[limited company]], wholly owned by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Also, NSB was made a [[Concern (business)|concern]], with [[NSB Biltrafikk]] (now Vy Buss) and NSB Eiendom (later [[ROM Eiendom]], in 2017 succeeded by [[Bane NOR]] Eiendom) made subsidiaries of NSB.

In 1998, the new [[Oslo Airport, Gardermoen]] opened, replacing the old [[Oslo Airport, Fornebu]] that had been too small since the 1980s. As part of the political compromise to build the new airport, NSB faced a dual mandate. On one hand, the imperative was to establish environmentally sustainable ground infrastructure, prompting the decision to construct a [[high-speed railway]] spanning {{convert|56|km|adj=on}} from Oslo Central Station to the airport, resulting in a 19-minute travel time. Concurrently, political stipulations dictated that the airport's development should not burden taxpayers financially; thus, the entire project was slated for financing through loans. The result was that the airport was to be financed, built and operated by the [[Avinor|Civil Aviation Administration]] subsidiary Oslo Lufthavn AS while the rail connection was to be financed, built and operated by the NSB subsidiary [[Flytoget|NSB Gardermobanen]]. But problems arose during the construction of the [[Gardermoen Line]] because of a leak in the [[Romerike Tunnel]], resulting in major [[cost overrun|budget overruns]] and a delay in the opening of the tunnel. Still, Norway's first high speed railway line opened on time on 8 October 1998 at the same time as the new airport, though the Romerike Tunnel was not opened until 22 October 1999, more than a year after its scheduled opening. The service is operated using 16 custom built [[GMB Class 71|Class 71]] electric multiple units, with a capacity for 168 passengers and maximum speed of {{convert|210|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.flytoget.no/Templates/Informasjon.aspx?id=116] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018071858/http://www.flytoget.no/Templates/Informasjon.aspx?id=116|date=October 18, 2006}}</ref>

NSB tried to modernize itself in the late 1990s through the acquisition of new rolling stock and a new [[brand name|brand]] image. The first stock to be delivered were 22 [[NSB El 18|El 18]] electric locomotives. These were meant to take over passenger train traffic in Southern Norway while the [[NSB El 16|El 16]]s and [[NSB El 14|El 14]]s were moved to the freight division and the [[NSB El 17|El 17]]s were scrapped, relegated to shunting or sold to the [[Flåm Line]]. The new locomotives were capable of speeds up to {{convert|200|km/h|round=5}}. For the diesel lines, NSB attempted to buy 12 [[NSB Di 6|Di 6]] from [[Siemens Mobility|Siemens]], but had to return them after they failed to operate sufficiently in the northern Norwegian cold. NSB also decided to re-brand itself with three district brands: [[NSB Signatur]] (express trains), [[NSB Agenda]] (regional trains) and [[NSB Puls]] (local trains). At the same time, NSB ordered new electric multiple units, first of all for the new Airport Express Train service, Class 71. This was followed up with 16 new Signatur trains of [[NSB Class 73|Class 73]] that were to be used on the express services on the [[Bergen Line]], the [[Dovre Line]] and the [[Sørlandet Line]] and equipped with [[tilting train|tilting]] technology. This was an attempt to create a high speed railway service using existing rail track, though the operating times between Oslo and the termini were only reduced by about 10 minutes. These trains were painted blue and grey, and were the first non-red trains to be operated by NSB in decades. At the same time, NSB announced the introduction of the Agenda concept, that was to replace the [[NSB InterCity Express]] services and the diesel services. While the Class 70s were simply repainted, the diesel services on the [[Nordland Line]], the [[Rauma Line]] and the [[Røros Line]] were upgrades with 15 new [[NSB Class 93|Class 93]] units in 2001, though criticized for lack of comfort, have increased the speed on the railways. NSB also discontinued night train services on the Rauma Line and Røros Line. Starting in 2002, NSB also received 36 new electrical local trains, [[NSB Class 72|Class 72]]. These were painted grey/green (for the use of the brand name ''Puls'') and were put in the [[Oslo Commuter Rail]] and [[Jæren Commuter Rail]]. NSB has now discontinued the use of brand names on its rail products.

By 2002, the [[Bondevik's Second Cabinet]] wanted to further [[deregulation|deregulate]] the Norwegian railway sector, and made NSB a [[aksjeselskap|limited company]] '''NSB AS''' on 1 July. NSB had been through a process of making the company more of a corporation, with the IT section made the subsidiary [[Arrive (company)|Arrive]] and the maintenance transformed to [[Mantena (company)|Mantena]]. NSB also purchased part of the Swedish [[Tågkompaniet]] while the old freight train section NSB Gods was transformed to [[CargoNet]]. 45% of the subsidiary was then sold to the [[Statens Järnvägar]] successor [[Green Cargo]]. In 2004, the government also split NSB Gardermobanen in two, deleting the companies debt, transferring the track it owned to Jernbaneverket and the train operations to a new, government-owned enterprise, the [[Flytoget|Airport Express Train]].

On 24 April 2019, NSB was renamed Vygruppen and rebranded as Vy (it is a Scandinavian word meaning vision, outlook, overview or prospect).<ref>[https://www.railjournal.com/regions/europe/nsb-and-nettbuss-merge-to-become-vy/ NSB and Nettbuss merge to become Vy] ''[[International Railway Journal]]'' 13 March 2019</ref><ref>[https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/europe/single-view/view/nsb-group-rebrands-as-vy.html NSB Group rebrands as Vy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024094010/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/europe/single-view/view/nsb-group-rebrands-as-vy.html |date=2020-10-24 }} ''[[Railway Gazette International]]'' 25 April 2019</ref> According to a survey by the [[Language Council of Norway]], the name change was only supported by 7% of Norwegians.<ref>"[https://www.aftenposten.no/kultur/i/2Gbw4x/Folk-flest-misliker-navnene-Vy_-Equinor-og-Oslo-Met Folk flest misliker navnene Vy, Equinor og Oslo Met]," ''[[Aftenposten]]'', 2 July 2019</ref>

==Services==
Vy operates with three main types of passenger rail transport: intercity trains, regional trains and commuter trains.

===Inter-city services===
Long-haul electric passenger trains services are offered on the [[Bergen Line]]. The four day trains are operated with traditional locomotive hauled trains (electric locomotives [[NSB El 18|El18]] and coaches [[Norwegian railway carriages|Class 7]]). A [[NSB Night Train|night train]] service with WLAB2 sleeping coaches is also offered on these lines. 

===Regional services===
Vy has two regional rail services. All regional trains are to receive the new livery of red and grey. NSB has previously used the brand name ''Agenda'' on its regional services.

Regional services use [[NSB Class 74|Class 74]] (R10 [[Skien (town)|Skien]]–[[Lillehammer]]) and [[NSB Class 73|Class 73b]] (R20 Oslo S – [[Halden]] – ([[Gothenburg]])). The service is provided hourly along the [[Trunk Line]], the [[Vestfold Line]] and the [[Østfold Line]]. The trains running between Lillehammer and Skien serve [[Oslo Airport, Gardermoen]], providing an alternative to the [[Flytoget|Airport Express Train]].
* [[Bergen (city)|Bergen]]-[[Oslo]] (Bergen Line)
* [[Fauske (town)|Fauske]]- [[Narvik (town)|Narvik]] (NSB-Bus)- [[Stockholm]] (Train) (Sweden)  
* [[Narvik (town)|Narvik]]-[[Tromsø (city)|Tromsø]] (NSB-Bus)

===Commuter services===
Around the cities of [[Bergen (city)|Bergen]], [[Oslo]] and [[Skien (town)|Skien]] Vy operates commuter train services using [[NSB Class 69|Class 69]], [[NSB Class 72|Class 72]], [[NSB Class 74|Class 74]] and [[NSB Class 75|Class 75]] electric multiple units and [[NSB Class 92|Class 92]] diesel multiple units. The services usually have hourly or semi-hourly frequency. NSB tried using the brand name ''Puls'' for the commuter trains, and have painted some of the trains green. The Puls brand has been discontinued.

The [[Oslo Commuter Rail]] provides the following services, with Class 69, Class 72 and Class 75:
* L1 ([[Spikkestad]])–[[Asker]]–Oslo–[[Lillestrøm (town)|Lillestrøm]] (Trunk Line )
* L12 [[Eidsvoll]]–Oslo–Drammen–[[Kongsberg (town)|Kongsberg]] (Trunk Line and Sørland Line)
* L13 Drammen–[[Skøyen]]–Oslo–[[Jessheim]]–[[Dal, Norway|Dal]] (Trunk Line and Drammen Line)
* L14 Asker–[[Lillestrøm (town)|Lillestrøm]]–[[Årnes]]–[[Kongsvinger (town)|Kongsvinger]] ([[Kongsvinger Line]])
* L2 Stabekk–Oslo–[[Ski (town)|Ski]] (Østfold Line)
* L21 [[Stabekk]]–Oslo–[[Moss (town)|Moss]] (Østfold Line)
* L22 Skøyen–Oslo–[[Mysen]]–([[Rakkestad (village)|Rakkestad]]) (Østfold Line)

Other commuter train services:
* The [[Bergen Commuter Rail]]: Bergen–[[Vossevangen|Voss]]–[[Myrdal]] (Bergen Line) with Class 69
* [[Porsgrunn (town)|Porsgrunn]]–[[Notodden (town)|Notodden]] ([[Bratsberg Line]]) with Y1 class railcar

In 2005, services on [[Gjøvik Line]] were transferred to [[Vy Gjøvikbanen|NSB Gjøvikbanen]] (now Vy Gjøvikbanen) after the NSB subsidiary had won a public [[Request for tender|tender bid]] for a ten-year [[Public Service Obligation|public service obligation]] contract with the Norwegian Ministry of Transportation and Communication. The [[Minister of Transport and Communications (Norway)|Norwegian Minister of Transportation and Communications]], [[Liv Signe Navarsete]] ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Centre Party]]), has announced that the [[Second cabinet Stoltenberg|present government]] (as of 2006) will discontinue the [[Second cabinet Bondevik|previous government's]] announcements to put more rail line operations on public tender.

==Rolling stock==
[[File:NSB (Norske tog) 75-39 i Vy-dekor, Sundhaugen, Drammen.jpg|thumb|[[Stadler FLIRT#Norway|Class 75]] local train in its current "Vy" livery]]
[[File:Moss_stasjon.jpg|thumb|[[NSB Class 73|Class 73]] long-distance train]]
[[File:NSB_Class_70_016.jpg|thumb|[[NSB Class 70|Class 70]] long-distance train]]
[[File:Class_93_Bodo_Norway_2009.JPG|thumb|[[NSB Class 93|Class 93]] local train]]
{{main|Norwegian State Railways rolling stock}}
The Norwegian passenger train division [[Norwegian State Railways rolling stock|has a fleet]] of 36 [[NSB Class 72|Class 72]] and 82 [[NSB Class 69|Class 69]] electric multiple units (EMU) and 14 [[NSB Class 92|Class 92]] diesel multiple units (DMU) for commuter services. The company has a further 22 [[NSB Class 73|Class 73]] and 16 [[NSB Class 70|Class 70]] EMUs and [[NSB Class 93|Class 93]] DMUs for regional and intercity trains, which are also provided by 22 [[NSB El 18|El 18]] and 5 [[NSB Di 4|Di 4]] locomotives which haul Class 5 and Class 7 passenger cars. Vy receives subsidies to operate unprofitable route from its owner, while services on the [[Gjøvik Line]] have been made subject to [[public service obligation]]s, which is operated by Vy's subsidiary [[Vy Gjøvikbanen]].

During the 1990s, NSB modernized their rolling stock, expanding their fleet of multiple units and retiring many of the traditional locomotive-hauled trains. Most of the locomotives were sold to the freight company CargoNet AS, but the models El18 and Di4 remain to haul passenger trains. Some of the new trains were plagued with troubles, in particular a brand new Class 73 derailed at low speed at [[Nelaug]] in 2000 because of an axle breaking due to [[metal fatigue]]. As of 2005, however, these trains have been performing satisfactorily.

In August 2008, NSB announced it had ordered 50 new five-car electric multiple units of the [[Stadler FLIRT|Class 74 and 75]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Berglund |first=Nina |title=NSB invests in new trains |publisher=[[Aftenposten]] |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2602721.ece |access-date=2008-08-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821063142/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2602721.ece |archive-date=2008-08-21 }}</ref> These will be used for local service in the [[Greater Oslo]] area (24 sets) and also regional service in southern Norway (26 sets). The delivery is scheduled for 2012 but delayed because of accident during testing, by that time much of the rail network is expected to be upgraded to [[double track]], enabling an increase in frequency.<ref>[http://www.dn.no/forsiden/naringsliv/article1469557.ece?WT.svl=article_image&jgo=c_current] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927170347/http://www.dn.no/forsiden/naringsliv/article1469557.ece?WT.svl=article_image&jgo=c_current|date=September 27, 2013}}</ref> The contract which is worth approximately 840 mill. [[Swiss franc]]s gives NSB an option to buy an additional 100 sets.<ref>{{cite web|last=Solholm |first=Rolleiv |title=New trains for Norwegian Railways |publisher=The Norway Post |url=http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=184627 |access-date=2008-08-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623085336/http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=184627 |archive-date=June 23, 2009 }}</ref> These trains have been specifically modified to operate in Norwegian climate and have a maximum speed of {{convert|200|km/h|abbr=on|round=5}}.

===Locomotives===
*2 [[NSB Di 2|Di 2]] class diesel [[shunter]]s
*9 [[NSB El 17|El 17]] class [[electric locomotive]]s, three used for shunting and six run on the [[Flåm Line]].
*22 [[NSB El 18|El 18]] class electric locomotives, used on all main electrified lines.

===Electric multiple units===
*80 [[NSB Class 69|Class 69]] class 2-car or 3-car commuter trains, used around [[Oslo]] and [[Bergen (city)|Bergen]].
*16 [[NSB Class 70|Class 70]] class 4-car intercity (medium distance) trains, used around Oslo.
*36 [[NSB Class 72|Class 72]] class 4-car commuter trains, used around Oslo.
*16 [[NSB Class 73|Class 73A]] class 4-car intercity trains, used for service in and out of Oslo.
*6 [[NSB Class 73|Class 73B]] class 4-car regional version of the Class 73 used on [[Østfold Line]].
*50 Class 74 intercity trains and Class 75 commuter trains, based on the [[Stadler FLIRT]] has been introduced. With the first for profit operation on May 2, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10057653 |title=Første Flirt med passasjerene - VG |publisher=Vg.no |access-date=2015-10-29}}</ref>

===Diesel railcar===
*3 [[Y1 (railcar)|Y1]] used until 2015 on the [[Bratsberg Line]] between [[Skien (town)|Skien]] and [[Notodden (town)|Notodden]].

===Carriages===
{{main|Norwegian railway carriages}}
*The non-motorized passenger carriages in operation are the B3-series (the oldest), B5-series and B7-series. The B5- and B7-series are in service on long distance express trains while the B3-series in green color are used in tourist trains on the Flåm Line (Myrdal-Flåm).

== Subsidiaries ==
* Complete ownership of [[Arrive (company)|Arrive]] (IT services)
* Complete ownership of [[Vy Buss]] (Bus operations)
* Complete ownership of [[Vy Gjøvikbanen]] (Operates train services on the Gjøvik Line)
* Complete ownership of [[Vy Tåg]] (Sweden)
* Complete ownership of [[CargoNet|CargoNet AS]]
* 55% of Trafikkservice, the other 45% owned by [[ISS A/S|ISS]] (Cleaning services)

=== Vy Tog ===
Vy's subsidiary ''Vy Tog AS'' was on 9 December 2019 awarded the contract for all passenger trains on the [[Bergen Line]] by the [[Norwegian Railway Directorate]], starting from December 2020.<ref name="jbdir-vytog-bergen">{{cite web |url=https://www.jernbanedirektoratet.no/en/railway-tenders/articles/traffic-package-3/ |title=Traffic Package 3 |publisher=[[Norwegian Railway Directorate]] |date=2020-03-12 |access-date=2023-02-26 |archive-date=2023-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226180649/https://www.jernbanedirektoratet.no/en/railway-tenders/articles/traffic-package-3/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> This includes long-distance trains F4 Oslo–Bergen, regional trains R40 Bergen–Voss–Myrdal and local trains L4 Bergen–Arna.

== Chief executives ==
*1996–2000: [[Osmund Ueland]]
*2000–2000: [[Randi Flesland]] (acting)
*2000–2001: [[Arne Wam]] (acting)
*2001–2011: [[Einar Enger]]
*2011–2019: Geir Isaksen
*2020–present: Gro Bakstad

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nsb.no/?lang=en Official website]
*[http://tog.webuda.com/ tog.webuda.com - Long-distance trains in Norway - Train configurations and seating maps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016225922/http://tog.webuda.com/ |date=2017-10-16 }}
{{commons category inline}}
{{Railway companies of Norway}}
{{Norgoventbox}}
{{Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications}}
{{National railway companies of Europe}}
{{Rail transport in Norway}}
{{Railways in Norway}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Government-owned companies of Norway]]
[[Category:Ministry of Transport (Norway)]]
[[Category:Norwegian brands]]
[[Category:Norwegian State Railways| ]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Railway companies of Norway]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Norway]]