Bergensbanen

Bergensbanen, translating literally to Bergen Line, is no doubt one of the most scenic train journeys one can take anywhere in the world. The 371-kilometre-long train journey connects the Norwegian capital of Oslo to the country's second-largest city of Bergen, taking about 6–7 hours in total.

The Bergensbanen is one of Norway's most scenic railway lines. Running from the capital, Oslo, it cuts across the Hardangervidda Plateau, all the way to the West Coast city of Bergen. For a good 100 km, the route runs through the northern part of the Hardangervidda above the tree line. This gives travellers a glimpse of a largely inaccessible high plateau that, in its central core, can otherwise only be reached on foot or by bike.

Historically, the railway line – which, both at its completion and in its ongoing maintenance, especially in winter, is quite complex – stemmed from an effort to connect the two most important trading cities, Bergen and Stockholm, of the then-united kingdoms of Norway and Sweden. Following Norway's independence from Sweden in 1905, the plans were changed to connect Norway's two most important cities instead. The railway line opened in 1909, making relatively fast travel between the two locations possible for the first time. In 1941, the branch line to the Sognefjord – the Flåm Railway – was opened, running from Myrdal (at 866 m) down to Flåm on the Aurlandsfjord, more than 800 m below. Until then, travellers arriving by ship via the Aurlandsfjord had to make the arduous journey up the Rallarvegen to the high plateau on foot or by horse.

While the Bergensbanen initially winds its way out of Oslo through a more densely populated region, you can see numerous small abandoned railway stations. In the upper Hallingdal valley, the route becomes increasingly remote, even though it passes through numerous settlements and towns. From Geilo, the line climbs up onto the high plateau of the Hardangervidda, where the most scenic section of the Bergensbanen begins. During the approximately 2-hour journey from Geilo to Voss, which includes the trip through the most pristine and remote region, travellers should focus in particular on the section from Haugastøl to Finse. Here, the view is largely unobstructed by tunnels and snow galleries, giving a true impression of the expanse and rugged nature of this subpolar region.

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For travel on regional trains operated by Vy (formerly NSB) along the Oslo–Bergen route, an advance (free) seat reservation is mandatory and is purchased alongside your ticket. If you decide to travel on the spur of the moment, you can ask the conductor if space is available, which is usually straightforward, though trains frequently sell out during the peak tourist season. Book tickets in advance online or by phone. When booking online, you can select your own seat using a carriage map showing availability.

Discounted MiniPris tickets become available up to 90 days before departure. Prices start at 249 kr and can rise relatively quickly depending on demand. Standard tickets are significantly more expensive, starting around 829 kr (prices as of April 2014). Standard tickets can be cancelled right up until departure, whereas MiniPris tickets are non-refundable. Upgrading to the Comfort section costs an extra 90 kr on top of the ticket price, and on night trains, you can book a sleeping compartment (sove).

Children aged 5 to 15 travel free of charge on a parent's standard ticket, but require their own ticket when travelling on a MiniPris fare, which can sometimes negate the price advantage. Children aged 0 to 4 travel free in all cases. If you are travelling with young children, it is recommended to reserve a seat in the family carriage (familievogn) during booking.

Bringing a bicycle on the Bergensbanen must be booked in advance. During the peak tourist season, you should do this well ahead of time, as bike spaces on some trains are strictly limited. A bicycle ticket on the Bergensbanen costs 179 kr.

Interrail passes and Scandinavia Railpass are valid on the Bergensbanen, but seat reservations (usually about 100 kr or €9) are mandatory year-round. They cannot be booked online; you must either call Entur Customer Service (☏ +47 61 27 90 88) or visit a staffed station. See vy.no for detailed information.

Interrail passes are not valid on the Flåmsbana (Flam Railway), branching out from Myrdal, but Interrail passholders do get a 30% discount, provided you have an active travel day. Tickets can be purchased on entur.no. As per the Interrail website, prices also vary by season: the train costs 245 kr in Oct–Dec, 260 kr in Jan–Apr and 315 from May–Sept.

If you want to travel the entire route, the journey begins either in Oslo at Oslo Sentral station or in Bergen. Both cities have international airports and are reachable by various ferry lines. See the Get in sections of both articles for detailed information on getting to the main stations.

For shorter sections of the journey, Geilo and Voss are also good starting points, especially if you want to travel only the route across the Hardangervidda Plateau.

The one-way trip between Geilo and Voss takes about 2 hours, while a one-way trip from Oslo to Bergen takes 6 to 7 hours, depending on the service. Both directions offer 4–5 daily connections; one is usually a night train.

The Bergensbanen has 21 stations along its route. Some are suburban stations within Oslo, others serve reasonably-sized towns (for Norwegian standards), while some truly drop you in the middle of the countryside.

• 59.91094910.7525361 Oslo Sentralstasjon (0 km)
• 59.89277810.5255562 Sandvika (14 km)
• 59.83369410.43453 Asker (24 km)
• 59.7410.2044444 Drammen (41 km)
• 59.7669449.9108335 Hokksund (58 km)
• 59.9695339.9985896 Vikersund (84 km)
• 60.16911910.2480987 Hønefoss (112 km)
• 60.4318159.4733918 Flå (174 km)
• 60.5768189.1136539 Nesbyen (208 km)
• 60.69918.971410 Gol (225 km)
• 60.6261768.56212611 Ål (250 km)
• 60.5347428.20661412 Geilo (275 km)
• 60.4963838.04491113 Ustaoset (286 km)
• 60.511367.869914 Haugastøl (297 km)
• 60.6016677.50388915 Finse (324 km)
• 60.6680567.252516 Hallingskeid (345 km)
• 60.735287.122817 Myrdal (358 km)
• 60.7255567.012518 Upsete (364 km)
• 60.6944446.84111119 Mjølfjell (376 km)
• 60.6291766.41035120 Voss (407 km)
• 60.5865045.81629521 Dale (447 km)
• 60.4200815.46625622 Arna (483 km)
• 60.39035.333423 Bergen (493 km)

The first section of the route the train takes is mostly winding out of the Oslo area on the Drammensbanen (which is shared with other routes). For the first few kilometres, the route winds its way along Oslofjord and passes through largely suburban areas until Akser. After Akser, the train enters 59.810.3666671 Liertunnelen , a 10.7-kilometre-long tunnel. This specific tunnel sees over 400 trains a day, making it one of the most utilised rail tunnels in Norway. After passing the city of Drammen, the railway then makes a near-180-degree turn and heads back north along the Drammenselva to Hønefoss via Vikersund. From Vikersund, you should be able to see Norway's fifth-largest lake, 60.03333310.1333332 Tyrifjorden , around 330 metres deep.

The route from Haugastøl to Myrdal is the most spectacular section of the Bergen Railway as it crosses the northern Hardangervidda. For the best views of the landscape, sit on the left-hand side when travelling towards Myrdal (or the right-hand side if you're travelling eastbound).

Leaving Haugastøl, the railway parts ways with Route 7 (which mostly runs alongside it up to this point) and ventures fully into the high plateau. Here, heavy snowfall and particularly snowdrifts can severely disrupt travel in winter. Summer travellers can see the extensive protective measures put in place, including wooden avalanche and snowdrift deflectors, as well as numerous snow sheds—partial or complete tunnels made of wood and aluminium enclosing the tracks. This section offers the best views of the mountain slopes and peaks (which are partially or fully snow-covered year-round), as well as the lakes and rivers crisscrossing the region. In summer, you can also easily spot the path of the Rallarvegen and the many cyclists riding it. Along this stretch, the cycle path runs right next to or at least within sight of the Bergen Railway.

After Finse, the route enters the 10-km-long 60.6230567.4052783 Finse Tunnel , meaning passengers miss out on the dramatic scenery around Fagernuten and Fagervatnet. About half of the 12-minute journey to Hallingskeid is spent inside the tunnel, and little can be seen on the subsequent stretch either due to the many snow sheds.

Even after Hallingskeid, several avalanche sheds block unobstructed views, yet you still get lovely and spectacular vistas—including of Nedre Grøndalsvatnet and Klevavatnet lying below the railway, accompanied by the Rallarvegen. Just before Myrdal, you can see the Reinungavatnet down below.

At the small station of Myrdal, travellers heading to Flåm, the Aurlandsfjord, or the Sognefjord region can transfer to the Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana), which overcomes a vertical drop of a good 860 m (2,820 ft) over a mere 20 km (12 mi) stretch down through the Flåm Valley.

After Voss (Vossevangen), the Bergensbanen drops significantly closer to sea level. Between Voss and Arna, the railway parallels the E16 highway alongside Seimsvatnet (though with more tunnelled sections than the road).

The final section of the Bergensbanen past Arna uses the 7.67-km-long 60.3975.4124 Ulrikstunnelen (Ulriken Tunnel) and is also one of the only sections of the route where the train reaches speeds of 160 km/h (99 mph). The tunnel was previously single-track when it opened in 1964, but was later duplicated in the late 2010s, with the twin tunnel opening in 2020.

Once out of the tunnel, within minutes, you will have reached the terminus station, Bergen.

All Vy services, including the Bergensbanen, have a dedicated café car. The specific English menu can be found on Vy's website. Beer, cider and wine are also sold in the café car.

If you're taking the night service, the café will be open all night, but be aware that the café closes 30 minutes before arrival into Oslo or Bergen.

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