2027 budget and intercity rail to Hamar

Innlandet news from the past 48 hours: the Norwegian government presented its draft budget for 2027 on Wednesday, which allocates around 1.5 billion NOK in additional free revenue for the county's municipalities. The extension of the intercity railway line to Hamar could be more expensive and later than planned, while the future Mjøssykehuset has reached a new milestone with the launch of its first major tender.

2027 budget: Innlandet news in figures

The government presented its draft budget for 2027 on Wednesday morning. According to NRK Innlandet, the county's municipalities will receive around 1.5 billion NOK more in free revenue next year. The gaps between municipalities are significant: Etnedal is expected to see the largest increase, at 12.2%, while Engerdal gets the smallest, at 2.7%. NRK Innlandet has published a detailed list of the items that gain or lose support.

The draft also provides 711 million NOK in state investment loans for the new Mjøssykehuset in 2027. The hospital project is thus kept among the major investment operations included in the budget. This amount is on top of the funds already committed for the Moelv facility.

Intercity to Hamar: timeline and costs uncertain

The development of the Sørli-Åkersvika section, part of the intercity extension to Hamar, could cost more than what the Storting has voted so far. In its draft budget, the government states that "progress and cost forecasts are highly uncertain" (NRK Innlandet). Bane Nor is studying alternative solutions to carry the project through. The latest forecast for the opening of the double track to Hamar is set for December 2032, a five-year delay compared to the initial 2027 target.

"An open wound in the municipality," says the mayor of Stange, Truls Gihle, to NRK Innlandet. According to the government, an increased budget envelope will probably need to be proposed. The consequences for the schedule and costs will be clarified as Bane Nor moves forward with the alternatives.

Mjøssykehuset: first major contract launched

Sykehusbygg HF has begun recruiting consultants for the new Mjøssjukehuset, on behalf of Helse Sør-Øst RHF. The future hospital in Moelv is set to bring together emergency admissions, somatic care, mental health and addiction treatment on a single site. Construction is estimated at around five and a half years, with a planned start in 2028 (NRK Innlandet).

NHO Innlandet sees major spin-offs from this project for Moelv, particularly in terms of urban development, business creation and housing construction. "Outside the hospital, we will see urban development in Moelv," says Jon Kristiansen, regional head of NHO Innlandet, quoted by NRK. He mentions developments in patient hospitality, housing, health technology, parking operations and various supplier services.

Raufoss: financial crisis and media silence

The football club Raufoss, in serious financial difficulty, has been knocked out of the cup after a heavy 1-5 defeat against Start in the third round on Tuesday, despite taking the lead from a penalty. (NRK Innlandet). In September, it was reported that the club needed 2 million NOK to avoid bankruptcy in the coming days.

The club's communication is also under fire. Following the publication of a piece by NRK, the management removed the statement that it only spoke to one local newspaper. "It is very problematic for a football club to refuse to speak to the media and only talk to one local newspaper. It shows a lack of understanding of the role of the media and of the club's responsibility to answer questions," says Reidun Kjelling Nybø, secretary general of the Norwegian Publishers' Association (NRK Innlandet). The chair of the board, Mathias Engebakken, replies that the priority is to do everything to avoid the bankruptcy of Raufoss Toppfotball.

📌 Local briefs

Storhamar legend Eirik Skadsdammen died on Wednesday afternoon following a cardiac arrest suffered during a hunting trip. He had played more than 900 games over 18 seasons with Storhamar, scored 262 goals and delivered 291 assists, and worn the national team jersey 11 times, including at the 2008 World Championship (NRK Innlandet, Hamar Arbeiderblad).

The Lillehammer motorway interchange on the new E6 will open from Friday (GD Gudbrandsdølen). The same paper looks back at initiatives aimed at stopping the leakage of electrical energy out of Gudbrandsdalen. In Brumunddal, the production kitchen Tømmerli employs 14 qualified cooks and sends out around 1,000 portions a day, but regulations limit the use of local products, explains its manager Vidar Sveadalen (NRK Innlandet).

Sources: NRK Innlandet, Hamar Arbeiderblad, GD Gudbrandsdølen, The Local Norway — Period: 07 October 2026 and 08 October 2026