Scenic Railways

The four lines at a glance

1 — The Bergen Line

Opened in 1909 and still the highest mainline railway in northern Europe. From Oslo the train runs through farmland and forest to Geilo, then climbs onto the Hardangervidda plateau — a treeless, lake-scattered expanse where snow tunnels shelter the track and Finse station sits at 1,222 metres with no road access at all. Scott and Shackleton trained for Antarctica here; the Hoth scenes in The Empire Strikes Back were shot on the Hardangerjøkulen glacier above it.

Seat strategy: travelling west from Oslo, the right-hand side has a slight edge for the fjord descent into Voss. Reserved seats cost a small supplement and are worth it in summer. Fares: flexible tickets can exceed NOK 1,200; "minipris" fares released 90 days ahead start around NOK 299.

2 — The Flåm Railway

Twenty kilometres, 863 metres of climb, twenty tunnels and a 1:18 gradient. It exists as a branch of the Bergen Line, built to connect Aurlandsfjord to the mainline at Myrdal. Covered in full on our Flåm destination page. Best combined with the Nærøyfjord ferry to create a loop rather than an out-and-back.

3 — The Rauma Line

The most underrated of the four. In 114 kilometres it drops from the Dovre plateau into the Romsdal valley, passing the 1,000-metre Trollveggen rock face — the tallest vertical wall in Europe — and crossing the Kylling Bridge, a stone arch 59 metres above the Rauma river. Summer services slow down at the viewpoints and the driver provides commentary. Åndalsnes at the end is the trailhead for Romsdalseggen and the gateway to Trollstigen.

4 — The Nordland Line

Trondheim to Bodø, ten hours, crossing the Arctic Circle at Saltfjellet where a marker monument stands beside the track and the conductor announces it. There is no more efficient way to feel the scale of Norway. Night services run with sleeper cabins; in June the whole journey takes place in daylight. From Bodø, the ferry continues to Lofoten.

Booking, passes and practicalities

• Book early. Discounted minipris tickets appear 90 days before departure on the Vy and SJ Nord sites and sell out on scenic routes.
• Interrail and Eurail are valid on state services; the Flåm Railway gives a discount, not free travel, and seat reservations are separate.
• Luggage is free and unlimited within reason; there are no airline-style restrictions.
• Bicycles need a reservation on most long-distance trains and are limited in number.
• Food on board is adequate but expensive. Buy at the station.
• Winter services run reliably; the Bergen Line's snow clearance operation is a spectacle in itself.

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