What are trains in Norway like?

Norway has one of the most scenic railway networks of Europe. Every railway line is another adventure through beautiful forests, fjords and mounatains. You can read all about the different train types serving Sweden on this page, as well as how to book them.

  • Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all trains in Norway, including the Bergen Line, and give you a discount for the Flam Railway
  • Read all about making reservations for Norwegian trains: Norway Eurail Reservations

Happyrail offers multiple Rail Tour package deals to Norway and Sweden featuring the best railways and cities that these countries have to offer. These can be booked starting in Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, or other cities on request. They feature a day-to-day itinerary planned and booked by us, including all train tickets, hotels, seat reservations, airport transfers, daily guides and more.

Norwegian train types

  • Long-distance trains (inlcuding Bergen line)
  • Flamsbana
  • Sleeper trains
  • International trains to Sweden
  • Local trains

Long-distance trains

There are multiple departures each day on all long-distance routes. Different operators exist in Norway, all operating on one or several routes: Vy, SJ Norge, and Go-Ahead. Each operator operates similar train types but with slight differences in seat and tickets types, which are explained here.

  • Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all long-distance train operators in Norway. 
  • Reservations are mandatory on some long-distance routes, but we reccommend making them for all long-distance travel. Read all about making reservations on Norway: Eurail Reservations.

All long-distance trains feature power outlets, a dining car and free wifi. Wifi may not work during some periods of the journey as the train passes through remote areas. During this time it is also not possible to pay by card in the dining car. The dining car menu varies per operator and train type but always includes snacks, drinks and light meals. Most international cards are accepted.

  • Second class features comfortable 2+2 seating with power outlets and free wifi. The dining car is available for everyone for snacks, drinks and light meals. Shown below is standard class as  
  • First class, which depending on the route is called Ekstra, Pluss or Premium Pluss, comes in two forms: some train types have 2+2 seating with more comfortable and more adjustable seates with more legroom. In both train types first class includes a corner with free hot and cold drinks and snacks. Below: first class (Ekstra) as featured on Oslo-Stavanger and Oslo-Trondheim routes.
  • Other trains feature electronically adjustable seats in a 2+1 configuration. In both train types first class includes a corner with free hot and cold drinks and snacks. Below: first class (Premium Pluss) in luxurious electronically adjustable chairs, as featured on Bodo-Trondheim and some Oslo-Stavanger routes. Photo Credit: SJ Norge. 

Flamsbana

The Flamsbana, or Flam Railway, is one of Europe's most spectacular scenic railways. The steep railway climbs from the village of Flam in the fjords into the mountains to reach the village of Myrdal on the Bergen railway.

  • For a complete package holiday featruing the Flam Railway, a fjord cruise, hotel stays in Oslo and Stavanger as well as staying in the famous classic hotel in Vatnahlansen on the Flam railway itself, please see; Flam Railway and Bergensbanen Rail Tour.
    • You depart from any major station in Scandinavia. Available as a 7-day trip but can be changed according to your wishes.
  • The Flamsbana trains feature one class only, in retro coaches. A reservation is mandatory. Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail give you a 30% discount on Flam Railway tickets.

Sleeper trains

Sleeper trains run on major long-distance routes. Like long-distance trains, they are operated by three seperate companies depending on the route. However all three companies use similar trains with similar comfort

  • Oslo-Bergen (Vy)
  • Oslo-Stavanger (Go-Ahead Norge)
  • Oslo-Trondheim (SJ Norge)
  • Trondheim-Bodo (SJ Norge)

The Arctic Circle train running from Stockholm to Narvik (Norway) is operated by Swedish Railways SJ and is described on the page Swedish Sleeper trains

Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all sleeper trains in Norway. Reservations are mandatory. Read all about making reservations on Norway: Eurail Reservations.

  • Wifi, power outlets and a dining car (of the same type as on daytime long-distance trains) are available on all Norwegian sleeper trains.
  • Second class seating is available, and is identical to seating options on regular daytime long-distance trains (see above). Adjustable seats in a 2+2 configuration feature free wifi and power outlets. Be aware that the lights or not dimmed all the way, and that seats only have a limited amount of recline.
  • Premium Pluss seating, identical to daytime trains, is available on Oslo-Trondheim, Oslo-Stavanger and Trondheim-Bodo sleeper trains. These seats have a much greater amount of recline but do not fold completely flat.
  • PlussNatt are seats in an open-plan car with the ability fold completely flat. Bedding is provided. The fold-down seats face away from each other to create a semi-private compartment. These are only available on sleeper trains between Bergen and Oslo. Photo Credit: Vy Gruppe.
  • Couchette, or hard sleeper, called Rest in Norwegian, are private cabins that can be booked for up to 6 people. Bedding is included. Breakfast is not included like in soft sleeper cabins, but a discount is given for breakfast in hotel Grand Terminus in Bergen and Thon Opera in Oslo. Available on Bergen-Oslo sleeper trains only. Photo Credit: Vy Gruppe.
  • All sleeper train routes in Norway feature soft-sleeper cabins. These cabins are more comfortable but require a higher surcharge than 2nd class seats or a couchette cabin. A cabin can be booked for a maximum of 2 people. Bedding is included, and each cabin has a private sink. 
  • Breakfast is not included, but can be bought for a reduced price at partner hotels in the city where you are travelling to. Showers can be booked here alongside breakfast as well. Photo Credit: Vy Gruppe.

Local trains

Apart from long-distance trains, local trains also run on medium- and shirt-distance routes, as well as on commuter services in and around cities.

  • Eurail passes as bought via Happyrail are valid on all regional trains.
  • Commuter trains around Oslo take you quickly between various parts of the city.
  • International trains Göteborg-Oslo run as regional trains. 
  • Vossebanen (Voss railway) trains from Bergen, part of the Norway in a Nutshell journey, also run as regional trains.

Seats can be reserved for medium-distance journeys such as Göteborg-Oslo and Oslo-Lillehammer, with reservations obligatory on some routes. Seat reservations can be bought via the Eurail app after booking your pass via Happyrail. The Eurail app will also show which routes have mandatory reservations. For short-distance commuter trains it's not possible to make reservations.

  • Medium-distance trains like Göteborg-Oslo, Vossebanen from Bergen and other routes run with comfortable trains featuring second class only, with 2+2 seating, free wifi, power outlets, and a coffee machine. Certain routes have mandatory reservations; please consult the Eurail app after purchasing your pass, mandatory reservations will be shown when planning your journey. Picture credit: Vy Gruppe.
  • Commuter trains around large cities like Oslo, Trondheim, Stavanger and Bergen feature 2+3 seating, but also often with power outlets and free wifi available. Picture credit: Vy Gruppe.

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