It was originally named the North Line (Nordbanen) and ran between Grefsen and Røykenvik.

The Gjøvik Line was one of the first lines of the Norwegian railway system which was to be contracted on public service obligation, but it was the state owned Norges Statsbaner which won, operating it through its subsidiary Vy Gjøvikbanen.

It serves some of the northern neighborhoods of Oslo, and has a few stations in the woods of Nordmarka.

Formerly, most trains between Oslo and Bergen used this route, but nowadays most passenger trains run on the route through Drammen, which is slightly longer but which runs through more densely populated areas.

Most of the service on the Gjøvik Line is provided by electric multiple units.