Staten tar rekordutbytte i Bane Nor

Bane Nor, the Norwegian railway company, has generated record profits, leading the state to extract a significant amount of revenue from the company. Bane Nor is responsible for the ownership, operation, and infrastructure of the Norwegian railway network. In 2024 and 2025, the company reported a combined annual profit of 420 million kroner.

The Norwegian government plans to extract 150 million kroner from Bane Nor in the 2027 budget. This is the highest amount of profit extracted from the company since 2023, when the government took out 53 million kroner.

According to press officer Frøydis Tornøe, the state can extract profit from Bane Nor as long as the conditions set by the Statsføretakslova (State-Owned Enterprises Act) are met and the company has sufficient independent capital to distribute. The 150 million kroner figure is based on a preliminary forecast for the 2026 profit result.

Bane Nor Property has had a positive profit result for the fiscal years 2024 and 2025, amounting to around 420 million kroner. With forecasts as of August 2026, it will be reasonable to extract profit up to 150 million kroner.

The railway network is expected to require 132.6 billion kroner for renewal over the next 12 years, representing 22.7% of the total renewal value of the railway, up from 22.5% the previous year. Frustration has been growing over the years due to billions being invested without improving performance. According to Aftenposten, the companies operating the railway services have hired nearly 1,000 additional employees and spent 6.5 billion kroner on consultants, while delays and decay have worsened.

E24 asked the transport department about the reasons for the extraction and how the funds will be used, and whether some of the funds are earmarked for the renewal of the railway network. The extraction will be considered when the 2026 annual reports for Bane Nor SF and Bane Nor Eiendom AS are submitted in 2027. The funds extracted through the profit will be treated as income for the state and used to finance the state's total expenditures in 2027, according to Tornøe.

In the government's budget proposal, 32.4 billion kroner is allocated to the railway in 2027, with 13.6% going towards the operation, maintenance, and renewal of the railway network, as reported by the department in a press release. Investments for ongoing railway projects must continue, and the plan is to increase the investment allocation accordingly, stated Transport Minister Kamzy Gunaratnam.