Oslo to Bergen train

Flåmsbana , Myrdal to Flam line

NORWAY TRAVEL INFORMATION Oslo or Bergen is almost certainly bound to be the arrival point if flying from the UK . If travelling by train from the UK to Norway , you ’ ll probably arrive in Oslo from Gothenburg in Sweden . Within Norway we recommend a mixture of domestic flights , train services , the Hurtigruten coastal ferry service , other ferry services on the fjords , and hirecar for exploring in more depth .

BY AIR

Flying between destinations within Norway is not only practical but it may be necessary due to the very long distances in between . If you want to combine Oslo or Bergen , for example , with the Lofoten Islands or Tromsø , then a domestic flight is necessary . Regional airlines include Norwegian , who have acquired Widerøe , and SAS . There are regular services between many larger and smaller Norwegian towns and cities . There are flights between Stockholm , Oslo and Copenhagen too .

BY RAIL

Travelling by train in Norway affords the visitor spectacular scenery . There are both mainline routes and smaller , scenic routes that are covered by train . Journeys can be long , but the trains are comfortable and the vistas from the windows are breath-taking .

THE POPULAR SCENIC ROUTES INCLUDE :

FLÅMSBANA

Flåm to Myrdal , just 20 kms in length , but one of the steepest standard gauge lines in the world , constructed between 1923 and 1940 , with 80 % of the journey running on a gradient of 5.5 %. There are 20 tunnels , with one taking a 180 degree turn inside the mountain . Myrdal is a stop on the Oslo to Bergen route , so the connection with the Flåmsbana is from there .

BERGEN RAILWAY

Oslo to Bergen , which runs across the Hardangervidda , Europe ’ s highest mountain plateau ( about 7 hours ). This connects with the Flåm Railway .

DOVRE RAILWAY

From Oslo to Trondheim – 485 kms , about 6.5 hours . Opened officially in 1921 but it took 70 years to complete . The route passes through the picturesque Gudbrandsdalen valley and crosses the Dovrefjell mountain plateau . This area is a national park and home to 300 wild musk ox . Stations along this route connect to the Rauma Line , the Nordland Line and the Røros Line .

RAUMA LINE

From Dombås to Åndalsnes , a branch line of the Dovre railway , 115 kms long and takes 1 hour and 25 minutes . The route passes through the Romsdalen valley and passes sites such as the Kylling Bridge and the Trollvegen wall , as well as going through the remote Reinheimen National Park . The track has 32 bridges and six tunnels .

RØROS LINE

From Hamar to Trondheim . The route is 431 kms long and takes about six hours . You can reach Hamar from Oslo in about 1 hour and 15 minutes . From May to September , there is also a direct train on this line from Oslo to Trondheim . The Røros Line runs along the Glomma river , through forests and the historic , mining town of Røros ( whose history dates from 1644 when copper was discovered in the mountains outside the town ). Today the town is a UNESCO World Heritage site . There are also many charming , historic station buildings along the way .

ARCTIC TRAIN

This tourist train takes you along 43 kms of the Ofot Line from Narvik to Bjørnefjell on the border with Sweden . The Ofot railway opened in 1902 and was built to transport the iron ore from northern Sweden to the ice-free port of Narvik .

JAEREN RAILWAY

This is known as the Seaview railway , 75 kms between Stavanger and Egersund . The route features long sandy beaches and miles of sand dunes , interrupted only by boulders and salmon rivers . Egersund is a natural harbour and has a small-town charm . Stavanger also connects to the Sørlandsbanen which services most of southern Norway , east to Oslo .

Traditional transport , credit Cecilie Hatloey Hasundhornet

NORDLAND LINE

Also known as the Polar Express , from Trondheim to Bodø – 729 kms , about 10 hours . This crosses 293 bridges and travels through 154 tunnels , into the Arctic Circle . The route crosses the Saltfjellet mountain range . There is a good chance of seeing reindeer and even sea eagles . The train also passes several sites of historic interest including many from World War II . In spring and early summer , the landscape outside the window will be full of blooming flowers and plants . If you don ’ t want to complete the journey in one day , there are several places to break the journey and explore : Verdal , Steinkjer , Lassemoen , Majavatn , Mosjøen ( at the geographic centre of Norway ), Mo i Rana , Lønsdal , Valnesfjord . From Bodø take the ferry or express ferry to the Lofoten islands , Salten or the Helgeland coast .

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SØRLANDET LINE

The route from Oslo to Stavanger takes eight hours . The train travels south to Kristiansand , through areas of forest , mountains and coast and then continues north-west to Egersund where it runs on the same route as the Jaeren railway . There is also a night train from Oslo to Stavanger with sleeping compartments . Stops en route might be at Kristiansand , Flekkefjord and Egersund . Or , change trains at Nelaug onto the Arendalsbanen Line which takes you to the charming coastal town of Arendal .

NARVIK TO STOCKHOLM

This journey of about 16 hours leaving Narvik at 15.10 and arriving at Stockholm central station at 9.25 the next