Editing Jæren Line (section)

==Route==
[[File:Jæren Line map.svg|thumb|left|Map of the Jæren Line and the [[Ålgård Line]]]]

The Jæren Line constitutes the section of the Sørlandet Line between Stavanger and Egersund.<ref name=b194>Bjerke (1994): 194</ref> At the time of the line's opening, it was {{convert|76.3|km|sp=us}} long,<ref name=openlist>Norwegian National Rail Administration (2009b): 44</ref> but has since the 1950s been {{convert|73.1|km|sp=us}} long.<ref name=b195>Bjerke (1994): 195</ref> The railway is [[double track]] on the {{convert|14.5|km|sp=us|adj=on}} section from [[Stavanger Station]] to [[Sandnes Station]],<ref name=fourmin>{{cite news|url=http://www.tu.no/bygg/article126419.ece |title=Sparer fire minutter – koster 1,8 milliarder |last=Strøm |first=Knut |date=18 December 2007 |language=no |work=[[Teknisk Ukeblad]] |access-date=14 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602134207/http://www.tu.no/bygg/article126419.ece |archive-date=2 June 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[single track (rail)|single track]] from there to [[Egersund Station]].<ref name=helskap>{{cite web|url=http://www.jernbaneverket.no/no/Prosjekter/Prosjekter/Ferdige-prosjekter/Sandnes---Stavanger/Prosjektartikler/Forste-helhetlige-bane-siden-Gardermobanen/ |title=Første heilskaplege bane sidan Gardermobanen |publisher=[[Norwegian National Rail Administration]] |date=17 November 2009 |language=no |access-date=7 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825195417/http://www.jernbaneverket.no/no/Prosjekter/Prosjekter/Ferdige-prosjekter/Sandnes---Stavanger/Prosjektartikler/Forste-helhetlige-bane-siden-Gardermobanen/ |archive-date= 25 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The line is [[railway electrification in Norway|electrified]] at {{15 kV AC}}<ref>Norwegian National Rail Administration (2009b): 4</ref> and equipped with [[centralized traffic control]],<ref name=ctc>Norwegian National Rail Administration (2009b): 37</ref> [[automatic train stop]],<ref name=atc>Norwegian National Rail Administration (2009b): 40</ref> and [[GSM-R]].<ref name=gsmr>Norwegian National Rail Administration (2009b): 42</ref> The railway line is owned and maintained by the [[Norwegian National Rail Administration]], a government agency.<ref name=stat3>Norwegian National Rail Administration (2009b): 3</ref>

The zero marker for the line is located at [[Stavanger Station]], which is {{convert|598.70|km|sp=us}} from [[Oslo Central Station]] and located {{convert|5.3|m|sp=us}} [[above mean sea level]] (AMSL).<ref name=b201>Bjerke (1994): 201</ref> Previously there was a branch just south of the station which ran through a {{convert|334|m|sp=us|adj=on}} long tunnel before reaching the port.<ref name=b195 /> Southwards from Stavanger, the route largely runs along the waterfront, hugging [[Gandsfjorden]].<ref name=slik>{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenbladet.no/lokalt/1111201/%7Barticle.url%7D |title=Slik blir dobbeltsporet |last=Olsen |first=Knut Gjerset |date=13 November 2009 |language=no |access-date=8 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201025720/http://www.aftenbladet.no/lokalt/1111201/%7Barticle.url%7D |archive-date= 1 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first station after Stavanger is [[Paradis Station]] ({{convert|1.4|km|abbr=on}} from Stavanger Station).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jernbaneverket.no/no/Jernbanen/Stasjonssok/-P-/Paradis/ |title=Paradis |publisher=[[Norwegian National Rail Administration]] |language=no |access-date=7 November 2010}}</ref> The line runs past the closed [[Hillevåg Station]] and a closed spur to an industrial area at [[Mariero]] before reaching [[Mariero Station]] ({{convert|4.13|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jernbaneverket.no/no/Jernbanen/Stasjonssok/-M-/Mariero/ |title=Mariero |publisher=[[Norwegian National Rail Administration]] |language=no |access-date=7 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328210648/http://www.jernbaneverket.no/no/Jernbanen/Stasjonssok/-M-/Mariero/ |archive-date=28 March 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The line continues past the closed [[Lyngnes Station]], a closed spur to Sørbø Trelast and the closed [[Vaulen Station]].<ref name=b201 /> After passing the closed [[Hinna Station]] and the closed [[Jåttå Station]], which was exclusively used to serve matches and concerts at [[Viking Stadion]],<ref name=jatta>{{cite news |title=14 dager igjen: Her stopper Viking-toget |work=[[Stavanger Aftenblad]] |last=Andersen |first=Atle |date=17 April 2004 |page=30 |language=no}}</ref> the line immediately afterwards reaches [[Jåttåvågen Station]] ({{convert|7.2|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}), which also serves the stadium and the newly redeveloped area of [[Jåtten]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jernbaneverket.no/no/Jernbanen/Stasjonssok/-J-/Jattavagen/ |title=Jåttåvågen |publisher=[[Norwegian National Rail Administration]] |language=no |access-date=7 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328205425/http://www.jernbaneverket.no/no/Jernbanen/Stasjonssok/-J-/Jattavagen/ |archive-date=28 March 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The line continues past [[Gausel Station]] ({{convert|9|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jernbaneverket.no/no/Jernbanen/Stasjonssok/-G-/Gausel/ |title=Gausel |publisher=[[Norwegian National Rail Administration]] |language=no |access-date=7 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328210136/http://www.jernbaneverket.no/no/Jernbanen/Stasjonssok/-G-/Gausel/ |archive-date=28 March 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which in addition to serving a redeveloped area serves as a major transfer hub for buses towards [[Forus]] and [[Sola, Norway|Sola]].<ref name=slik /> Next the line passes the closed [[Forus Station]] before running through the {{convert|117|m|sp=us|adj=on}} long Lurahammer Tunnel and passing the closed [[Luravika Station]] and [[Lura Station]].<ref name=b201 />
Through the town center of Sandnes, the line runs as an [[elevated railway]],<ref name=hoybane>{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenbladet.no/lokalt/sandnes/1131996/%7Barticle.url%7D |title=Hypermoderne anlegg må vrakes |last=Klippen |first=Viktor |work=[[Stavanger Aftenblad]] |date=18 December 2009 |language=no |access-date=12 November 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222182842/http://www.aftenbladet.no/lokalt/sandnes/1131996/%7Barticle.url%7D|archive-date=22 February 2013 }}</ref> which previously also included a branch to the port in Sandnes.<ref name=b195 /> [[Sandnes Sentrum Station]] ({{convert|14.82|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}) is the main station serving the town. The line continues past [[Sandnes Station]] ({{convert|15.36|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}),<ref name=b201 /> which is the end of the double track.<ref name=slik />

After passing the closed [[Brualand Station]] and the open [[Ganddal Station]] ({{convert|18.49|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}), the closed [[Ålgård Line]] branches off. Ganddal Freight Terminal is the only freight terminal in Jæren. It has an annual capacity for 80,000 containers and can handle {{convert|600|m|sp=us|adj=on}} long trains.<ref name=ganddalopen>{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenbladet.no/lokalt/article582287.ece |title=Navarsete åpnet Ganddal godsterminal |last=Daniel |first=Isioma |work=[[Stavanger Aftenblad]] |date=21 January 2008 |language=no |access-date=12 November 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222224006/http://www.aftenbladet.no/lokalt/article582287.ece |archive-date=22 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The next station on the mainline are the closed [[Skjæveland Station]] and [[Orstad Station]], followed by the operating [[Øksnevadporten Station]] ({{convert|22.42|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}). South of there lays to spurs, to [[Øksnevad]], [[Kvarnaland]] and [[Block Watne]]. The line continues past the closed [[Engjelsvåg Station]] before reaching [[Klepp Station]] ({{convert|24.84|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}). The line continues past the closed [[Leland Station]] and the closed [[Tumarki Station]] before having a closed spur to [[Varheia]]. After passing the closed [[Vardheia Station]], the line reaches [[Bryne Station]] ({{convert|29.58|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}).<ref name=b201 />

Next the line passes a spur to [[Hetland]] and then passes four closed stations, [[Kjelsholen Station|Kjelsholen]], [[Hognestad Station|Hognestad]], [[Gjerdo Station|Gjerdo]] and [[Tårland Station|Tårland]].<ref name=b201 /> After reaching [[Nærbø Station]] ({{convert|37.68|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}), the line continues past the closed [[Kvia Station]] and the closed [[Dysjaland Station]] before reaching [[Varhaug Station]] ({{convert|43.11|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}). Located at {{convert|44.3|m|sp=us}} AMSL, it is the highest-elevated station on the line. After passing the closed [[Odland Station]], the line runs past the closed [[Stavnheim Station]] and reaches [[Vigrestad Station]] ({{convert|49.22|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}). The line continues past the closed [[Hogstad Station]] and the closed [[Stokkaland Station]] before reaching [[Brusand Station]] ({{convert|54.17|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}). Afterwards it crosses [[Vauleelva]] and then runs through the {{convert|199|m|sp=us|adj=on}} long Varden Tunnel before passing the closed [[Varden Station]] and reaching [[Ogna Station]] ({{convert|58.41|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}).<ref name=b200>Bjerke (1994): 200</ref>

At Ogna there is a distinct change to the landscape, as it changes from a flat to a hilly. Particularly between Bryne and Ogna, the line have a large curve radius, but between Ogna and Egersund this changes to much tighter curvature.<ref name=j3135>Norwegian National Rail Administration (2009a): 31–35</ref> After Ogna the line crosses [[Ognaelv]] and runs through the {{convert|222|m|sp=us|adj=on}} long Sirevåg Tunnel before reaching [[Sirevåg Station]] ({{convert|60.36|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}). The line then runs through two tunnels before passing the closed [[Vatnamot Station]] and reaching [[Hellvik Station]] ({{convert|66.79|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}). The line continues through six tunnels, the longest being {{convert|596|m|sp=us}}, before passing the closed [[Maurholen Station]]. It then passes through four more tunnels and two bridges before reaching [[Egersund Station]] ({{convert|74.71|m|abbr=on|disp=or}}).<ref name=b200 /> At Egersund, the line continues as the Sørlandet Line.<ref name=b194 /> Originally the Jæren Line ran to the old station in Egersund, which was kept until 1952 as a {{convert|1.29|km|sp=us|adj=on}} branch from Egersund Station. This included bridges over [[Eieelva]] and [[Lundeelva]].<ref name=b202>Bjerke (1994): 202</ref>