The 2024 Finneidfjord train derailment was a train accident on the Nordland Line that took place on 24 October 2024. The accident took place between Bjerka Station and Finneidfjord and led to the death of the train driver and the injury of four passengers. The train was carrying 46 passengers, plus 3 staff members, adding up to a total of 49 souls on board.
Both European route E6 and Nordland Line were closed as a result of the accident. Train carrying 55 people derails on Norway's north coast, killing at least 1 person and injuring 4 Associated Press, published 24th of October 2024, retrieved 8th of April 2025; Archived version <= here; Associated Press wrongly reported (from Copenhagen in Denmark) that the derailed train was carrying 55 passengers, likely based on first estimations that were never corrected, but were copied by a vast array of other foreign media, outside Norway. With the E6 being the only continuous road and the Nordland Line the only railway line in northern Norway, the country was essentially cut in two.Norge ble delt i to etter ulykken: Dette er konsekvensene Norway remains cut in two after accident; These are the consequences, NRK, published on 30 October 2024, in Norwegian, retrieved 13 November 2024; Archived version: <= here (Archive.Today) and <= here (Wayback Machine) The removal of the train was completed on 5 November 2024, with the E6 being reopened the following day. Nordland Line was reopened on 30 November 2024.
Background There have been several landslides in the area since 1984. During the construction of the Finneidfjord tunnel, a large beach zone landslide occurred on 20 June 1996 at Tuvsletta in Sørfjorden in Hemnes municipality, just south-west of the tunnel. Archived version <= here; "Open wounds for 20 years" (NRK went back to Finneidfjord in 2016)
In the following days, traffic along European route E6 had to be routed via the Norwegian national road 73 in Grane and Hattfjelldal, the Blue Highway through Storuman municipality in Sweden and European route E12 westwards to Mo i Rana.
After 1996, 31 landslide incidents have been recorded in the area from Bjerka to Finneidfjord. What triggered the train derailment was the 32nd registration. According to Bane NOR, there have been 863 mudslides and rock falls on Norwegian railways since 2014, with the Nordland Line being the worst.Norway: fatal derailment on key route raises questions about landslide threat , Railtech.com, published 30th of October 2024, behind paywall, retrieved 9th of April 2025; Archived version <= here (free access) Archived version <= here
Almost at the same location as the 2024 derailment, a minor accident occurred with passenger train no. 474 on 3 October 2016. At that time, the southbound evening train from Bodø drove into a 1 m3 boulder. When the train hit the boulder, it derailed with one single bogie. Di 4 locomotive, used by Norges Statsbaner (NSB) Jernbane.net This type of locomotive, widely used on Nordland railway line, has 3 axles in front and 3 axles on back side, so derailing with only 1 axle is a lot less likely than derailing with front bogie Retrieved 9th of April 2025; Archived version <= here This train was carrying 14 passengers and two people were injured. Archived version <= here Archived version <= here
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority wrote in May 2017 that the area had been checked and protected against landslides and rockfall by Bane NOR. The next check was to be carried out in 2023. Archived version <= here, but not exactly same as original, due to constant news updating under same weblink, by NRK Archived versions <= here (page where report was published) and <= here (.pdf-file, with report itself, from Wayback Machine)
The train Passenger train no. 471 consisted of:
Locomotive Di 4.653 (derailed and overturned) B5-7 26041 (derailed) BC5 26045 (derailed) B5 26037 (partially derailed) FR5 21722 B5 26022
The train was staffed by the locomotive driver, the conductor and the café host; 46 passengers were on board. Archived versions <= here and <= here, after constant updating by VG, with different title (Politiet stenger E6 i frykt for at togsettet kan rase = Police closed E6 for fear that train can slide down), but under same weblink
Incident On 24 October 2024, a northbound passenger train from Trondheim to Bodø derailed following a rock slide which left large boulders on the track between Bjerka station and Finneidfjord, south of Mo i Rana Station, 472 km north of Trondhjem.Archived versions <= here (Wayback Machine, looks fine) and <= here, but far from useful, because of paywall The train left Trondheim at 07:49 CEST and passed Bjerka around 14:07. Archived version <= here This is one of many foreign media copying incorrect number of passengers published by Associated Press The locomotive and one wagon slid down a slope; (behind paywall, since VG has archived this article) Archived version <= here (Archive Today, free access, as long as server is working) and <= here (Wayback Machine, free access, working fine); Car driver and his fiancé tell VG newspaper what happened when they saw the derailed train coming down towards them on the road: He slammed the breaks and raced the car backwards, as she started calling emergency services The front part of the train ended up dangling down, alongside the embankment. The locomotive's nose landed on the edge of the E6 and debris were scattered across the road.
The Norwegian police received a report about the derailment at 14:15. Emergency services and an AgustaWestland AW101 rescue helicopter worked to evacuate the passengers, all of which were evacuated by 16:30.
That day, the train driver was found dead; 60-year-old Rolf Henry Ankersen from Mosjøen. Archived version <= here Locomotive engineer killed in train derailment News in English, published 24th of October 2024, retrieved again 13th of April 2025; Archived version <= here Four passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Helgeland Hospital Trust went into red alert, but soon returned to normal operations. Reception centers were set up for evacuees and relatives in Scandic Meyergården hotell in Mo i Rana and in Mosjøen. Hemnes municipality and Bane NOR set up a crisis team and the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority sent a team to the accident site on 25 October. behind paywall, after 15% of text; Archived version <= here (free access); Rolf Ringdal, leader of locomotive driver's union, told Dagbladet that his members had warned Bane NOR and SJ Norge before that the Nordland Railway had a big risk of rockfall and that something needs to be done.
Aftermath
Detour for road traffic
The accident severed Norway's main arterial road, the E6, cutting Norway in two. One detour, using FV17, involved a ferry ship crossing between Levang and Nesna,Én ferge holder landet åpent - E6 blir stengt i flere dager One ferry keeps country open - E6 closed for many days, NRK, published on 25 October 2024, in Norwegian, retrieved 31 October 2024; Archived version <= here with very long waiting times. The other detour ran along FV73 and European route E12, through Sweden.E6 i Hemnes åpner over helgen - kjør via Sverige E6 in Hemnes area will open after weekend - Drive through Sweden, Statens Vegvesen, published 30 October 2024, in Norwegian, retrieved 31 October 2024; Archived version <= here Both detours were lengthy and costly. On top of the closing of E6, both detours have also been closed at times, due to bad weather Venter svært kraftige vindkast i nord: - Det blir absolutt heftig Expecting (Awaiting) very powerful wind gusts in the north: - It will be absolutely fierce, NRK, in Norwegian, first published 29th of October 2024 in the morning, retrieved 15th of April 2025; Using archived version (before storm), because original article was updated under same weblink as storm passed by, cancelled ferries started sailing again and closed roads were reopened; Archived version for evening (after storm) <= here and traffic accidents.Uvær stenger begge omkjøringsveiene til E6 i Hemnes Extreme weather closes both detour roads for E6 in Hemnes area, Statens Vegvesen, published 29 October 2024, in Norwegian, retrieved 14 November 2024; Archived version <= here
A car with three Norwegians crashed into the back of a stopped truck on the detour road Blå Vägen, European route E12, between Bredviken and Kåtaviken, in Sweden, on 31 October 2024. One of the occupants died in hospital a few days later. Man död efter lastbilskrocken på E12 Man dead after truck accident on E12, Sveriges Radio, P4 Västerbotten, in Swedish, published 3 November 2024, retrieved 4 November 2024; Archived version <= here (text only, without 39 seconds soundtrack)
Boat ride A local couple transported people from Kivika across the fjord in their own boat, Archived version: performing over 200 trips prior to 26 October. A digital fundraising campaign was started to support the couple, behind paywall; Archived version <=here, shows a bit more, but also bumps into paywall though the service was taken over by the municipality on 28 October. behind paywall; Archived version <=here, shows a bit more, but also bumps into paywall behind paywall
Consequences of Norway being cut in two Norway's main road was closed and Norway was once again cut in two as a result of this accident. Postal service Posten announced on Wednesday 30 October 2024 that letters and packages were delayed, due to many closed railways and roads.Nordlandsbanen blir stengt ut uken... ...og Posten forsinket VG, published on 30 October 2024, in Norwegian, (behind paywall, since VG moved article to their archive, 100 days after publishing) retrieved on 31 October 2024; Archived version <= here (free access, best quality of 4 snapshots at Wayback Machine) NRK published an article about at least 5 disturbances due to the closure of E6: 1) Widerøe's airplanes got delayed, because the airport in Mo i Rana could no longer supply enough fuel for non-stop flights, so extra stop over landings were needed; 2) Coop's grocery shops were struggling to get food stocks delivered in time; 3) A meat factory in Bjerka had to lay off staff, or find alternative rooms for their seasonal workers who would normally be sleeping in Finneidfjord; 4) Letters and parcels sent by mail were one or 2 days late; and 5) Truck drivers got into trouble, because the long detours they had to make were not matching with the legal requirement to respect their maximum driving time and take enough breaks and nightly rest. This contributed much to the delivery problems.
Removal of the train The E6 and Nordland Line were closed at the scene of the accident, remaining closed for several days during the investigation, clean-up and repair of the damage. Geologists were unsure whether the train would slip further towards the E6 due to the incline of the slope and the amount of rainfall at the time. Archived version <=here, also updated and slightly different from original article: (E6 holdes stengt etter togavsporing: – Må være sikker = E6 is kept closed after train derailment - One must be sure/safe)
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority arrived on the day of the incident and left the site on 26 October. Oppdatering om Nordlandsbanen Update about Nordland railway line, Bane NOR, press statement, updated 26th of October 2024, in Norwegian; Using archived version, because original text was lost, due to permanent updating of press statement at same URL/weblink, retrieved 11th of April 2025 On 25 October, representatives from Bane NOR started planning to remove the train, beginning the removal the following day. Using cranes and a work train, FR5 21722 and B5 26022 were taken to Bjerka on 26 October.