National Workshop Needs Plan: Unstad Assists the Norwegian Railway Directorate with Design and Structure

How can we ensure that Norwegian train maintenance keeps up with future demands for capacity, flexibility, and preparedness? This is exactly the question the Norwegian Railway Directorate has been tasked with investigating through the project National Workshop Needs Plan—an initiative that will lay the foundation for a more holistic and strategic development of the country’s railway workshop infrastructure.

Unstad AS is proud to contribute to this assignment with an interdisciplinary delivery consisting of both technical insight and visual communication. Our project team includes Aleksander Nordhagen Vik, senior consultant responsible for collecting and analyzing technical data, and Jakob Giske Skjong, junior industrial designer in charge of illustrations, pictograms, and graphic layout.

A Project that Encompasses the Entire Rail Sector

The plan will cover passenger traffic, freight transport, and maintenance machines, and must therefore be thoroughly grounded—both professionally and visually. The assignment involves developing:

• A main report with national overview and analysis of workshop capacity

• Around 30 fact sheets presenting technical specifications, facilities, and limitations of workshops across the country

• Intuitive illustrations showing the structure, accessibility, and equipment of each workshop

• A visual identity and infographics that support the content and message of the report

This is more than just a report—it is a foundational document for planning, preparedness, and coordination across stakeholders in the rail sector, including Bane NOR Eiendom, Norske Tog, and train operators.

From Section Drawings to Strategic Insight

As part of the project, Unstad is designing clear and easily understandable workshop illustrations—including section drawings that show the location of pits, lifting columns, and roof platforms—as well as map illustrations indicating the geographic location and accessibility of workshops.

The fact sheets will combine technical information with visual support and are designed to be easy to update and reuse in the future. Emphasis is placed on ensuring that both the report and its appendices are effective in both digital and printed formats.

Close Collaboration and Clear Progress

The work is carried out in close cooperation with the Norwegian Railway Directorate and relevant stakeholders, with clear routines in place for collaboration and quality assurance. The project follows a structured timeline from February to June 2025, with delivery scheduled well ahead of the August deadline.

“Our ambition is to make complex matters understandable, and to deliver a decision-making tool that both professionals and decision-makers can navigate. It’s an exciting challenge,” says Jakob Giske Skjong.

An Example of Unstad’s Interdisciplinary Approach

The project for the Norwegian Railway Directorate is a strong example of how Unstad combines consulting, data-driven analysis, and industrial design to create integrated solutions for public infrastructure.

We look forward to completing the delivery in collaboration with the Directorate—and to seeing the results contribute to more efficient resource use, better workshop coverage, and improved preparedness in Norway’s rail sector.

Project Period: February – September2025

Deliverables: Fact sheets, illustrations, maps, and main report

Client: Norwegian Railway Directorate

Team Unstad: Aleksander Nordhagen Vik & Jakob Giske Skjong