Lengthy-distance trains in Norway are a real journey discount in a rustic not identified for its funds journey alternatives. Touring between the large cities by practice is normally cheaper than flying, whereas it offers the additional benefit of scenic views for a lot of the journey.
The draw back is that Norway’s rail infrastructure is ageing and nonetheless single-track in lots of locations, which means journey instances might be gradual. However with advance planning, taking the gradual possibility is usually a completely fulfilling method to see the perfect of Norway on a funds.
On intercity routes, night time trains save on lodging prices too. You possibly can select between reserving a tiny cabin at a further price or take your probabilities in making an attempt to sleep in a daily seat. On some routes, it’s attainable to take a bathe at a resort close to the arrival station at a further price.
The world-famous Oslo to Bergen line
Many vacationers have the Oslo to Bergen line on their bucket checklist because it typically makes lists of the world’s most lovely railway journeys.
Mesmerizing scenic views preserve passengers occupied for a lot of the six-hour journey because the practice climbs and crosses the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, snowy even on the top of summer season.
Not each vacationer is touring all the route. Some cease at Hardangervidda to in a single day in a cabin, some switch on to the Flåm railway, whereas others go to common ski resort Gelio.
Occasions and tickets: vy.no
Flåmsbanen: Myrdal to Flåm
Myrdal is a tiny station at 867 meters (2,844 ft) above sea stage on the Oslo to Bergen line. There are not any roads right here and only some cabins, but the station is without doubt one of the busiest on the road. That’s as a result of it’s the place to begin of the Flåm line, considered one of Norway’s prime vacationer points of interest.
Constructed from 1924 to 1940, the 20.2 km (12.6 mile) lengthy line plunges down from the mountain plateau by way of the luxurious Flåm valley all the way down to the Aurlandsfjord. With eight stops, 20 tunnels and one bridge, the road is a real engineering marvel. However it’s the surroundings that draws vacationers in nice numbers.
Now completely a vacationer service, the practice stops for a couple of minutes at a pair stations to let passengers take images of the surroundings. This contains Kjosfossen station, function constructed merely to supply a view of the spectacular Kjosfossen waterfall.
Occasions and tickets: norwaysbest.com
Raumabanen: Dombås to Åndalsenes
This 114 km (71 mile) lengthy railway is considered one of Norway’s lesser-known traces, however one of the crucial spectacular.
Operating by way of the Romsdal valley, the road connects the Oslo to Trondheim line at Dombås with the fjord city of Åndalsnes. Alongside the way in which it crosses the beautiful Kylling Bru bridge, two horseshoe curves and offers views of rugged mountainous surroundings of the Romsdal Alps.
Occasions and tickets: sj.no
Dovrebanen: Oslo to Trondheim
A well-liked line with each vacationers and locals, the Dovre line hyperlinks two of Norway’s hottest cities and likewise serves the winter sports activities resorts Lillehammer and Oppdal.
Whereas not as notable because the Bergen or Flåm traces, the practice however brings passengers up shut with Norwegian nature from lakeside views to the mountain plateau of Dovre. Once in a while, you may even spot one of many few hundred musk ox that decision the mountains their dwelling.
Occasions and tickets: sj.no
Nordlandsbanen: Trondheim to Bodø
At 729 km (453 miles), the Nordland line is Norway’s longest railway. Connecting Trondheim and Bodø, two trains a day take virtually ten hours to finish the total journey, meandering by way of many native stations and crossing the Arctic circle.
The spotlight is the mountain crossing of Saltfjellet, which is really wild any time of 12 months and a white winter wonderland within the winter and spring.
For vacationers embracing gradual journey, the practice is a good selection to achieve the Lofoten Islands. From Bodø, a number of every day ferry departures serve completely different elements of the picturesque archipelago.
Occasions and tickets: sj.no
Worldwide journey by practice
A pair worldwide routes additionally enable practice passengers to reach in Norway by practice. Direct trains serve Oslo from Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden.
Trondheim might be reached from Östersund, and there are plans for a direct service from Stockholm as soon as work to totally electrify the road is full in a number of years.
It’s additionally attainable to journey to Narvik from the north of Sweden, though Narvik itself shouldn’t be linked to the remainder of the Norwegian rail system.