AS Ekebergbanen was a private company that built and operated the Ekeberg Line in Oslo, Norway. It was founded 27 March 1914, and the line opened 11 June 1917 from Stortorvet to Sæter. The company also built a line to Simensbråten that was closed 29 October 1967. Ekebergbanen also operated buses in Oslo. History The company was founded on 24 March 1914, and started construction of the line immediately, but the delivery of technical equipment and rolling stock was delayed because of the First World War. The company's formal establishment was therefore made on 1 June 1917, when the line between Stortorvet and Sæter was opened. In 1918, AS Ekebergbanen sent an application to build a funicular from Gamlebyen (then called Oslo) to Ekebergplatået. The stations were mostly built with tiny wooden sheds in new baroque architectural style by the Norwegian architect Erik Glosimodt. On the station Holtet, a larger station building was constructed, also drawn by Erik Glosimodt. This was to be the "main base" for Ekebergbanen, equipped with power stations with and a tram depot with place for twelve cars on six tracks. The depot is still used by the Oslo Tramway. In 1924, the company started to operate diesel buses, especially a route from Oslo city centre to Sværsvann named "Østmarkruten". This bus route was in 1953 overtaken by Oslo Sporveier and renumbered to line 71. On 30 September 1931, a branch line from Jomfrubråten to Simensbråten was opened, officially named Simensbråten Line. The service on this branch line was during the peak hours extended to Stortorvet. The Simensbråten Line was closed on 29 October 1967. The Ekeberg Line was extended from Sæter to Ljabru on 17 September 1941, which originally was single-tracked. While waiting for the Gullfisk-trams, Ekebergbanen borrowed trams from Bærumsbanen until 1974. On 1 July 1948, Oslo Sporveier bought the major share of the company's stocks. 17 years later—on the same day—the administration and operation of the two lines were transferred to Oslo Sporveier. The company formally merged with Oslo Sporveier on 1 July 1992, and was declared defunct the year after. Tram lines The Ekeberg Line is a long continuation of the Gamleby Line, from which it connects at Oslo Hospital. The entire line is built as a light rail with its own right-of-way. It runs up Ekeberg on the east side of Kongsveien, passing Sjømannsskolen and Jomfrubråten. This is where the Simensbråten