# Oslo to Bergen Train: Norway's Highest Line Over the Roof of the World 496 km of track climb from the Oslo fjord to 1,237 metres of arctic tundra at Finse — the highest mainline railway in Northern Europe — before dropping back to sea level in Bergen. No road follows it this faithfully, and no flight shows you any of it. **Key facts** - Distance: 496 km, Oslo S to Bergen stasjon - Fastest journey: around 6 hours 45 minutes - Highest point: 1,237 m, inside the Finse Tunnel - Line opened: 27 November 1909 ## About the route Vy's Oslo–Bergen train runs on the Bergensbanen, opened in 1909 and still the highest mainline railway in Northern Europe. From Oslo S it climbs for roughly three hours to Finse — at 1,222 m the highest station on the network — before the track tops out at 1,237 m inside the Finse Tunnel and begins its long descent to the fjords around Bergen. 371 km of the route is the historic Bergen Line proper, between Hønefoss and Bergen; the rest runs from Oslo S to Hønefoss on the Randsfjord and Drammen lines. ## Route, stop by stop Oslo S (0 km, sea level) → Hønefoss (125 km) → Geilo (250 km, ~800 m) → Finse (296 km, 1,222 m, the summit) → Myrdal (326 km, 867 m, junction for the Flåm Railway) → Voss (365 km, 57 m) → Bergen stasjon (496 km, sea level) ## Hardangervidda: the plateau that trained an explorer and stood in for another planet Between Geilo and Myrdal the train crosses Hardangervidda, the largest mountain plateau in Northern Europe, home to Europe's largest wild reindeer herd. Finse, at the summit, has never had a road connection — the railway is still the only way in or out. - **Norway's own Antarctica**: around 1910–1912, Robert Falcon Scott's Terra Nova expedition trained on Hardangervidda's ice fields to prepare for the South Pole, made possible by the newly opened railway. Finse still carries the nickname "Norwegian Antarctica," with a 1914 stone memorial to Scott at the station. - **A galaxy far, far away**: in 1979, the crew of *Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back* filmed the ice planet Hoth on the Hardangerjøkulen glacier above Finse. The cast slept at the Finse 1222 hotel, which still keeps a photo wall from the shoot. - 182 tunnels on the Bergen Line; the longest, Finsetunnelen, runs 10.3 km. ## Norway's "Slow TV" In 2009, to mark the line's 100th anniversary, Norwegian broadcaster NRK aired "Bergensbanen minutt for minutt" — all 7 hours 16 minutes of the journey, uncut. Around 1.2 million Norwegians watched, and it kickstarted the global Slow TV genre. ## The Flåm Railway: worth the detour Change at Myrdal and the Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) drops 866 m to the fjord village of Flåm in about an hour — one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world, built by hand between 1923 and 1940 with 20 tunnels along 20 km of track. It runs on the same Vy network as the Bergensbanen. Every Flåm Railway train stops for about five minutes at Kjosfossen waterfall. In summer, a dancer dressed as Huldra — a forest spirit from Norwegian folklore — performs at the base of the falls as the train pulls in, then vanishes as it leaves. Many travellers extend the ride into a full round trip sold commercially as "Norway in a Nutshell": the Bergensbanen to Myrdal, the Flåm Railway down to the fjord, a fjord cruise on the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord past fjord villages like Gudvangen, then a bus back up to Voss. Every leg can also be booked separately. ## Onboard: seats and the night train **Day trains (Standard & Komfort):** 2+2 seating, fold-down tables, power sockets and free Wi-Fi at every seat; Komfort adds extra legroom and complimentary coffee or tea; a café bistro carriage runs the length of the journey. **PlusNight (the sleeper):** private compartments with made-up beds alongside standard reclining seats — board in the evening, wake up in Oslo or Bergen. Only a handful of departures a day; compartments sell out first. ## Stations - **Oslo S** — central departure hub with metro, tram and airport-express connections. - **Finse** — the highest station in the Nordics, no road access, trailhead for Hardangerjøkulen glacier hikes. - **Myrdal** — change here for the Flåm Railway, a small exposed platform at 867 m. - **Bergen stasjon** — a short walk from Bryggen's wharf, the fish market, and the Fløibanen funicular. ## Getting there: train, car or plane | Option | Door to door | Notes | |---|---|---| | Train | ~6h45–7h20 | Centre to centre, from ~€110, runs through nearly any weather | | Plane | ~3–3.5h with transfers | ~50 min air time, but airports sit outside city centres; fog/wind delays common at Bergen | | Car | ~7–8h | E16, ~500 km; mountain passes can close in winter storms | ## Booking tips 1. Book Minipris fares early — Vy typically releases advance fares around 90 days out. 2. Pack real layers — Finse can bring snow even in midsummer. 3. Any window seat works — the best views swap sides constantly across the plateau. 4. Add the Flåm detour at Myrdal — same ticket network, no extra transfer stress. 5. Trains beat roads in winter — snow sheds and tunnels keep the line running through storms that close the E16. 6. Download maps and entertainment offline — mobile signal is patchy across Hardangervidda. 7. Consider the night train — PlusNight gets you there while you sleep. 8. E-tickets are enough — no need to print anything. ## FAQ **How long does the train from Oslo to Bergen take?** Around 6 hours 45 minutes on the fastest direct services; most day trains take 6h45–7h20, and the overnight service takes a little over 7 hours. **How far is it from Oslo to Bergen by train?** 496 km — 371 km of that is the historic Bergen Line between Hønefoss and Bergen. **What is the highest point on the Bergen Line?** 1,237 m inside the Finse Tunnel; Finse Station itself sits at 1,222 m, the highest mainline station in Northern Europe. **Which stations do trains use?** Oslo S and Bergen stasjon. **Is there a night train?** Yes, Vy's PlusNight, with private sleeper compartments and standard seats. **What is the Flåm Railway and can I combine it with the Bergen Line?** Yes — change at Myrdal for the 20 km branch down to Flåm, one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world, on the same Vy network. **Is this the train from Norway's "Slow TV" broadcast?** Yes — NRK's 2009 "Bergensbanen minutt for minutt," 7h16m uncut, watched by around 1.2 million Norwegians. **Which side of the train has the best views?** No single scenic side — the route swaps views across the plateau. Any window seat is worth it. **Is the train faster than driving or flying?** Flying is fastest in the air (~50 min) but airports sit outside city centres; driving the E16 takes 7–8 hours and can be closed by winter storms. The train is usually the least stressful option. **How far in advance should I book?** Vy typically releases Minipris advance fares around 90 days before departure. --- Book tickets: https://highspeedtrains.com