Hitachi Rail and Bane NOR have commissioned a new L90-5 electronic interlocking system at Hove, near Lillehammer on the Dovre Line, marking another step in Norway’s programme to modernise its rail infrastructure.
Installed at the Hove stabling facility, the system digitises the management of points, signals and level crossings. By replacing legacy control with a fully electronic solution, it supports more reliable train movements, improved operational efficiency and a stronger foundation for day-to-day performance.
The scheme was delivered drawing on Hitachi Rail expertise from Norway, Germany and Romania, and was completed on time in line with Norwegian network standards.
The L90-5 installation comprises one interlocking module and a local operator workstation, alongside control of 42 point machines, three level crossings, 15 main signals, 28 dwarf signals and 59 detection points.
Astrid van de Weijer, Project Manager Hove and General Program Manager SignAn at Hitachi Rail, said the project demonstrates how international collaboration and technological capability can reshape rail operations. She highlighted the role of digitalisation in modernising infrastructure and supporting more sustainable mobility.
Norway’s rail network is under increasing pressure to deliver greater capacity, higher safety standards and improved environmental performance. Electronic interlocking systems such as L90-5 play a central role in meeting those demands. By enabling more precise and automated control of infrastructure assets, they help optimise maintenance planning, reduce operational disruption and improve resilience.
For Bane NOR, the commissioning at Hove supports capacity for passenger services while enabling more efficient depot and stabling operations. For Hitachi Rail, it reinforces its position in delivering complex digital signalling solutions that underpin safer, more punctual and lower-carbon rail transport.
As railways across Europe accelerate digital transformation, projects like Hove illustrate how targeted upgrades at key operational sites can deliver measurable gains in reliability and efficiency, while laying the groundwork for broader network modernisation.
