NSB Class 70
| Company type | Electric multiple unit train |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Norway |
Area served | Oslo region, Dovre Line, Vestfold Line |
| Products | Passenger trains |
Class 70 () represents a four-car electric multiple unit utilized by Vy for medium-distance travel in the vicinity of Oslo. It operates along the Dovre Line connecting Oslo with Lillehammer and Dombås, as well as on the Vestfold Line, linking Lillehammer to Larvik and Skien.
History
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, NSB redirected its strategy from long-haul to medium-distance services centered around Oslo to enhance competitiveness. This shift resulted in the introduction of the NSB InterCity Express initiative, characterized by consistent hourly departures, improved onboard amenities, increased speeds, and stops limited to principal urban centers. The service was implemented on the Østfold, Vestfold, and Dovre Lines, taking advantage of new infrastructure developments such as the Ski–Moss section and the Gardermoen Line. Certain Class 70 trains are designated for early commuters, featuring quiet zones where mobile phone use and loud discussions are prohibited.
The acquisition process commenced in 1986, culminating in a contract awarded to EB Strømmens Verksted in 1988 for nine trainsets. Initial trials took place in May 1992 on the Roa–Hønefoss Line. NSB subsequently increased their order by three units ahead of the 1994 Winter Olympics and added four more in 1996, bringing the total to sixteen units.
Although the Class 70 faced technical difficulties and constraints related to train length—where ideal configurations would be six cars but fixed formations were limited to either four or eight cars—the trains remained integral to regional operations. Between 2000 and 2002, NSB rebranded these units under the Agenda label before fully incorporating them into wider regional service networks. Following the arrival of the Class 73, Class 70 units primarily serve the Skien–Lillehammer corridor, while Class 73 trains cover the Østfold Line.
In 2010, Class 70 trains became pioneers in Norway by offering complimentary wireless Internet access onboard along the Lillehammer–Oslo–Skien route.
Specifications
Manufactured by Strømmen with major components supplied by Duewag and ABB, these units feature aluminum bodies similar to those used in B7 passenger coaches. This design facilitates multiple-unit operation with Class 69 trains and other models. Initially, seating capacity varied between 226 and 243 passengers but was later standardized to between 230 and 235 seats following modifications during the Agenda conversion.