NTS ASA, formerly Namsos Trafikkselskap, is a public transport company in Trøndelag, Norway.
Namsos Trafikkselskap (NTS) was a privately-owned Norwegian bus and transport company based in the town of Namsos in Trøndelag county. For much of the 20th century, it was a major player in regional public transport, primarily operating bus routes.
The company no longer exists under that name due to industry consolidation.
Key Information
- Founded: 1921
- Ceased to exist as NTS: 2002 (after a merger)
- Core Business: Bus transportation
- Operating Area: Primarily in the Namdalen region, including the municipalities of Namsos, Overhalla, Høylandet, Grong, and Namsskogan. It also had routes connecting to Steinkjer and other parts of Trøndelag.
- Famous Route: The long-distance route Trondheim – Namsos – Mosjøen, which was a vital transport link along the coast and inland.
History and Significance
- Early Days (1920s): Like many transport companies, NTS started when road transport began to challenge coastal steamers and railways. It connected the central town of Namsos with surrounding rural districts, farms, and smaller villages.
- Growth and Expansion: Over the decades, NTS grew by acquiring smaller, local bus operators, gradually building a network that covered much of the inner part of the Namdalen valley.
- The “Namdal Billigrute” Era: For many years, NTS operated the “Namdal Billigrute” (The Namdal Cheap Route), a well-known and important bus service that provided an affordable and essential connection for people living in the region, especially before car ownership became widespread.
- End of an Era and Merger (2002): The Norwegian transport sector underwent significant deregulation and consolidation in the 1990s and 2000s. To compete with larger national companies, many regional operators merged.
- In 2002, Namsos Trafikkselskap merged with two other major Trøndelag companies, Trondheim Trafikkselskap (TT) and Nordre Fylkesrederi (NF), to form the new, larger company Nettbuss Trøndelag.
- Legacy: The Nettbuss Trøndelag company, which inherited NTS’s operations, continues to be a dominant bus operator in the region. In later years, much of the operation in Namdalen has been carried out under the public transport authority AtB (Austråttbussen), which plans and contracts the bus routes.
What Happened to the Name?
The name “Namsos Trafikkselskap” disappeared from the buses and timetables after the 2002 merger. If you see a bus in Namsos today, it will most likely be branded for:
- AtB (The public transport authority for Trøndelag)
- Nettbuss (The operating company, now owned by the Norwegian state railway, Vy)
- Or another contractor hired by AtB.
Summary
In short, Namsos Trafikkselskap was a foundational regional transport company that served the Namdalen region for over 80 years. Its history reflects the story of Norwegian public transport: from small local beginnings, through growth and consolidation, and finally merging into the larger, coordinated public transport systems we see today. Its legacy lives on in the bus network that still connects the communities of Namdalen.
Website: http://www.ntsasa.no