Klæburuten

Klæburuten was a privately owned Norwegian bus operator based in Trondheim and historically associated with Klæbu. Its origins date to 1923, when Arnt Krokum began operating a scheduled bus service between Klæbu and Trondheim as a sole proprietorship named Krokum Bilruter. The business grew from a small rural route using converted trucks into a diversified passenger-transport company providing local, regional, airport and charter services. The company was reorganized as a limited company in 1948 and adopted the name Klæburuten AS. Its network expanded through the acquisition and consolidation of other local transport operations, including trucking and milk- and cargo-route businesses. Klæburuten also took over the Brøttem–Heimdal–Trondheim route in 1940. Seasonal operating patterns were important during the early decades because winter conditions made some rural roads unreliable. Airport transportation became one of the company's defining activities. Klæburuten began operating airport coach services in the late 1940s, initially in connection with Norwegian Air Lines' seaplane operations at Hommelvik. After the relevant airline operations moved to Trondheim Airport, Værnes in 1952, Klæburuten received a fixed service contract with SAS and continued to operate airport coaches there for the remainder of its independent existence. It also provided airport transport for Braathens SAFE. The company expanded into Trondheim's urban market during the postwar period. In 1950 it received a concession for a circular route in Tiller, and by the 1960s it operated several routes connecting Trondheim with Klæbu, Brøttem, Ler, Bratsberg, Tiller and Nedre Lerfoss. Its main depot and head office opened at Sorgenfri in Trondheim in 1954, providing office, workshop, garage and fueling facilities. Klæburuten's scheduled urban traffic grew substantially, from approximately 60,000 revenue passengers in 1955 to about 1.24 million in 1972. A major structural change occurred in the 1970s as Trondheim consolidated municipal transport operations. In 1974, Klæburuten transferred its routes within Trondheim's city limits to Trondheim Trafikkselskap, together with 11 buses and 16 drivers, while retaining services within Klæbu and routes between Klæbu and Trondheim. The company then continued as a smaller regional, airport and coach operator. By 1978 it operated 27 buses and four trucks with 44 employees, and it later developed a substantial tourist-coach business. Klæburuten remained family owned for most of its history. After the death of managing director and owner Olav Krokum in 1960, his widow Margrethe Krokum assumed ownership and management. Arnold Raaen became owner and managing director in 1985. Following Raaen's death in 2006, Inger Johanne Keiseraas took over. By the late 2000s, the company operated scheduled buses, tourist coaches and airport coaches, with frequent services between Trondheim and Klæbu and airport departures approximately every 15 minutes from central hotels. The introduction of competitive public-service-obligation tendering in Sør-Trøndelag made continued independence difficult. Klæburuten was considered too small to compete effectively for the forthcoming bus contracts, and the owners therefore agreed to sell the business to Nettbuss Trøndelag in July 2010. The operations were merged into Nettbuss Trøndelag on 1 January 2011, ending Klæburuten as an independent operating company and brand.

Klæburuten began in 1923 when Arnt Krokum established Krokum Bilruter and started a bus connection from Klæbu to Trondheim. The initial vehicle was a Ford truck fitted with wooden benches for passengers. It was replaced the following year by a converted Dodge truck with improved seating, and service frequency rose from three trips per week to daily operation in 1925 and twice-daily operation in 1927. The growing route required additional vehicles, including a Kissel and later Reo buses. The business developed from a farm-based operation into a more formal transport enterprise. A first garage and workshop were built at Sanda, followed by a larger facility at Lysklettflåtten. After Arnt Krokum died in 1934, his son Olav assumed control of the bus business in 1935. Olav added vehicles and introduced routes linking Eklesbakken, Bratsberg, Espåsen and Jonsvannet. In 1940, the company also took over the Brøttem–Heimdal–Trondheim route. The Second World War created severe operating difficulties. Fuel and spare parts were scarce, so wood-gas generators were installed on buses. Because new vehicles were difficult to obtain, the company used older buses, including Hasselmann and Opel Blitz vehicles. In 1948, Krokum's bus activities were combined with the trucking businesses of Ole Grav and Ingvald Aune. The reorganized limited company adopted the name Klæburuten AS. Maintenance activities were moved to rented premises in Trondheim, while many buses continued to overnight in Klæbu. Klæburuten entered the airport-coach market in the late 1940s. It first served Norwegian Air Lines' seaplane operations at Hommelvik. When airline operations transferred to Værnes in 1952, Klæburuten obtained a fixed contract with SAS and purchased a used Scania-Vabis B62 for the service. It later also operated airport coaches for Braathens SAFE. Airport transportation remained a core part of the company's business until the final merger. In 1950, Klæburuten received a concession for a Tiller circular route and began international bus-tour charter activity. Its Trondheim-area scheduled network grew during the 1950s and 1960s, serving destinations including Klæbu, Brøttem, Ler, Bratsberg, Tiller and Nedre Lerfoss. The company opened its main depot and head office at Sorgenfri in 1954. By 1972 it had 32 buses, 50 employees and approximately 1.24 million scheduled-service revenue passengers. Municipal transport consolidation changed the company's role. Trondheim Trafikkselskap was established in 1971, and in 1974 it absorbed Klæburuten's routes within Trondheim, along with 11 buses and 16 drivers. Klæburuten retained its Klæbu routes and interurban services to Trondheim. It continued to operate as a regional and contract carrier, expanding its tourist-coach and airport-coach activities. In 1978 it had 27 buses, four trucks and 44 employees. The company remained under family control. Margrethe Krokum became owner and managing director after Olav's death in 1960. Arnold Raaen assumed ownership and management in 1985, followed by Inger Johanne Keiseraas after Raaen's death in 2006. In 2007 the fleet reportedly included 11 scheduled buses, 10 tourist coaches and 21 airport coaches, as well as a preserved Scania-Vabis B76 from 1968. In its final years, Klæburuten ran frequent Klæbu–Trondheim services and airport coaches from central Trondheim hotels. The company was sold to Nettbuss Trøndelag in July 2010. The sale reflected the changing regulatory environment: bus services in Sør-Trøndelag were increasingly awarded through public-service-obligation tenders, and Klæburuten was considered too small to bid independently. On 1 January 2011, Klæburuten was merged into Nettbuss Trøndelag.

1. 2011Merger ends independent operation

   Klæburuten is merged into Nettbuss Trøndelag on 1 January.

   Source
2. 2010Acquired by Nettbuss Trøndelag

   Nettbuss Trøndelag purchases the family-owned operator.

   Source
3. 1974Trondheim routes transferred

   Klæburuten transfers its city routes, 11 buses and 16 drivers to Trondheim Trafikkselskap while retaining Klæbu and interurban services.

   Source
4. 1954Sorgenfri depot opens

   The company opens a combined head office, workshop, garage and fueling facility at Sorgenfri in Trondheim.

   Source
5. 1952Værnes airport coach service begins

   After airline operations move to Trondheim Airport, Værnes, Klæburuten begins a fixed airport-coach service for SAS.

   Source
6. 1948Reorganization as Klæburuten AS

   Krokum's bus operations are combined with local trucking businesses and reorganized as Klæburuten AS.

   Source
7. 1935Olav Krokum takes over operations

   Following Arnt Krokum's death, his son Olav assumes control and expands the route network.

   Source
8. 1923Krokum Bilruter begins service

   Arnt Krokum starts a bus route between Klæbu and Trondheim using a converted Ford truck.

   Source

A family-owned regional bus operator combining rural and urban scheduled transport with airport coaches and tourism services.

• Scheduled local and regional busesPublic bus transport1923

  Klæburuten's original and continuing core business was scheduled road transport between Klæbu and Trondheim, together with routes serving surrounding communities such as Brøttem, Ler, Bratsberg, Tiller and Nedre Lerfoss. The network combined rural feeder services with interurban links into Trondheim.

• Værnes airport coachAirport transport1952

  The airport-coach business connected central Trondheim with Trondheim Airport, Værnes. It originated in the late 1940s and became a long-running contracted service associated with SAS and Braathens SAFE. In the company's final years, departures were scheduled at roughly 15-minute intervals and served major downtown hotels.

• Tourist and charter coachesCoach charter1950

  Klæburuten operated a growing fleet of tourist coaches and conducted international bus tours from the 1950s onward. Charter transport became an increasingly important complement to scheduled bus services and airport operations.

• 2010Sale to Nettbuss TrøndelagM&A

  Sør-Trøndelag was moving scheduled bus services toward public-service-obligation tendering, and Klæburuten was considered too small to participate independently.

  What changed. The owners sold Klæburuten to Nettbuss Trøndelag in July 2010.

  Aftermath. The company was merged into Nettbuss Trøndelag on 1 January 2011 and ceased operating independently.

  Source
• 1974Transfer of Trondheim city routesStrategy

  Municipal authorities were consolidating Trondheim's bus and tram operators under Trondheim Trafikkselskap.

  What changed. Klæburuten transferred its routes within Trondheim, together with 11 buses and 16 drivers, while retaining its Klæbu and Klæbu–Trondheim services.

  Aftermath. The company became more focused on regional, airport and tourist-coach operations.

  Transfer payment. 1.1 million Norwegian kroner (1974)

  Source

• 2011Klæburuten merged into Nettbuss Trøndelag

  The acquisition was completed through an outright merger on 1 January 2011, ending Klæburuten's independent corporate operation.

  M&ALeadership change
  Source
• 2010Klæburuten was sold to Nettbuss Trøndelag

  Nettbuss Trøndelag acquired Klæburuten in July 2010 as the company faced difficulty participating independently in forthcoming public-service bus tenders in Sør-Trøndelag.

  M&A
  Source

1. Klæburuten