Nockebybanan


Nockebybanan is a light rail line between Nockeby and Alvik in the western suburbs of Stockholm, Sweden. The long line is part of the Storstockholms Lokaltrafik public transport network, and connects with the Stockholm Metro and Tvärbanan light rail at Alvik. Nockebybanan, also known as line 12, is operated by Arriva.

History

The first part of the current line to Alléparken was opened in 1914, following the construction of a pontoon bridge across Tranebergssund. The line was then gradually extended westwards, reaching the current terminus at Nockeby in 1929. To the east, the line ran to Tegelbacken in central Stockholm.
The pontoon bridge was replaced in 1934 with the new Tranebergsbron. Planning for a Metro system started around this time, and in 1944 the Ängbybanan route was built from Alvik to Åkeshov, operated initially with trams but designed as a grade-separated route for later conversion. Conversion happened in 1952, forming the western section of the present-day Green Line. Consequently, the Nockebybanan was cut off from running into the city and became a feeder route for the Metro at Alvik.
Nockebybanan and Lidingöbanan were the only tram lines in the Stockholm region not to be withdrawn in conjunction with the switch to right-hand traffic in 1967. Since the line does not run on the street, and was simple and self-contained, and bi-directional rolling stock was available from the pre-metro tram lines, it was easier to convert to right-hand running than the rest of the network. Trams now run on the right from Nockeby to the penultimate station at Alléparken, where they cross over and run on the left into Alvik, permitting cross-platform interchange with the Metro.
By the 1990s, the line and rolling stock was in a poor state of repair and was widely expected to be dismantled and replaced with bus services. In 1975, the line had been re-numbered from 12 to 120, matching the numbering scheme used by local buses. However, a concerted local campaign saved the line and from June 1997 to June 1998 the line was closed and renovated, and new Flexity Swift trams were introduced from 1999.
A running race in the surrounding neighbourhoods, Tolvanloppet takes both name and distance from the line number.

Lines

Nockebybanan has a single line with ten stops, running from Nockeby to Alvik in Bromma borough. At Alvik, passengers can change to the Stockholm Metro green line, or to Tvärbanan. The tramway is separated from roads, but has some level crossings. The journey time from Alvik to Nockeby is 14 minutes, with service intervals varying between 6 minutes in the morning and evening peaks, and 20 minutes during the evening and weekend. Typical weekday traffic is around 10,000 passengers.
The line is served by 30 meter long Flexity Swift trams. The depot and traffic control center at Alvik are shared with Tvärbanan. As of 2018, new CAF Urbos trams were ordered for the Tvärbanan extension to Solna. But after Tvärbanan modernisation all A35 were put on whole Tvärbanan, 28% are A35 and 72% are A32.
Trams access the depot at Alvik via tracks to the west of the station. These are shared with the metro, and therefore are electrified with both overhead lines for trams and third rail for the Metro.