Trains on the rail line between Oslo and Gjøvik, which is used by thousands of commuters, ground to a halt again on Monday after a braking train set off sparks that ignited tinder dry shrubbery and grass along the tracks.
The fires were extinguished before any evacuations of residents along the tracks at Nittedal were necessary. Firefighters planned to keep watch on the areas through the night, to make sure they don’t fire up again.
The first fire was set off around the Nittedal station north of Oslo on the eastern side of the popular hills and forests known as Nordmarka. Another blaze started along the tracks in Maridalen, in forested area not easily accessible by roads.
More fires were sparked along the rail line during the weekend. Firefighters think sparks reignited in the hot dry weather that has once again settled over the Oslo area. A similar fire also began late last month farther north on the line, between Harestua and Grua. It remains unclear when train service would resume, as railway NSB scrambled to find replacement bus service for commuters not yet on summer holidays.
newsinenglish.no staff
