Norway is a sparsely populated, long, thin country. There are excellent rail connections between the capital Oslo and the major cities in the country and in the neighbouring country (Sweden): Kristiansands, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim, Bodö, Stockholm (S) and Göteborg (S). Narvik in the north is on a railway line, but the only way to travel there by train from Oslo is via Sweden. The major operator in Norway is the NSB which is a state owned company. The railway services in Norway are cyclist-friendly. Map (pdf)
Getting there
Unfortunately the days when the Fred Olsen Line sailed regularly from Britain to Norway are over. Getting to Norway on the surface these days means changing several times.
Trains
Oslo
Mark Smith of Seat61.com suggests:
Eurostar to Brüssels, train to Cologne, CityNightLine to Copenhagen and then either overnight ship to Oslo from Copenhagen or train to Göteborg and then Oslo. (Leaving London in the late morning and arriving in Oslo at 20:45 the following day.)
or
Harwich-Esbjerg by DFDS ship and then train to Copenhagen. Spend a night in Copenhagen and then ship or train to Oslo (Leave London in the afternoon and spend two or three nights underway.)
There is another option which might be better for cyclists: Harwich-Esbjerg by DFDS ship and then train to Hirtshals. Spend a night there and take the ship to Larvik and then a train to Oslo.
Bergen, Stavanger
In addition Hirtshals offers links to Bergen and Stavanger with Fjord Line.
Intercity trains / long distance trains
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Services offered: Oslo-Bergen, Oslo-Kristiansand, Oslo-Trondheim. There are both daytime and sleeper trains.
There are times when reading the NSB website that the values of Scandinavian society are just mind-boggling in their compassion and common sense: On the overnight trains you can either travel in a sleeping compartment for 850 NOK per compartment or just have a seat. These seats come with a special “comfort” pack with a pillow, travel blanket, eye mask and ear plugs. You can take the pack home with you after your journey, but if not, the blankets are donated to worthy causes.
Regional trains (Intercity Trains)
Quite what the difference is between the the long distance and regional trains is not clear. it could well be a question of financing. These trains, for example, run during the day from Oslo to Göteborg and carry bikes in Sweden.
NSB Lokaltog (Commuter trains)
NSB operates commuter services in Arendal, Bergen, Oslo, Skien, Stavanger and Trondheim. Accompanied bicycles are carried without reservation.
Tickets
In addition to normally priced tickets available from ticket offices, automatic ticket dispensers and online, NSB offers minimum price “Minipris” tickets (199 NOK, 299 NOK, 399 NOK, 499 NOK) sold at least one day before travel, but in limited quantities. The exchange rate for the Norwegian Krone to the pound at the time of writing is ?1=8.75 NOK. Normal tickets can be cancelled before the train departs, but “Minipris” tickets are for a specific train and cannot be returned or refunded. Tickets can be bought on trains but with a surcharge except for the blind which again is typical of the Scandinavian respect for disabled people.
The savings with a “minipris” are considerable: The normal fare for the four and a half journey from Oslo to Kristiansand is 636 NOK whereas it is possible to buy a ticket for 199 NOK which yields a ?50 saving. Tickets can be bought online. There is the ominous line that if you have difficulties buying tickets with your credit or debit card you should ring Norway with English speaking operators: +47 815 00 888 or +47 23 15 15 15 if there are difficulties getting though using the first number. Press 9 for information in English.Considering the savings possible, it is worth ringing Norway.
Website
The website www.nsb.no is excellent. Click on “In English” at the top of the page to have the whole site in English. It is clear and simple to use. You can check timetables and buy tickets especially the Minipris tickets.
Putting bikes on trains
Your bicycle can accompany you on most trains in Norway. However there are some trains where your bicycle needs a reservation. These trains are marked with a bicycle symbol in the timetable. You should always try to make a reservation for your bicycle well in advance of your journey and in any event before boarding. Do this when you buy your ticket. Reservations for bicycles can only be made in Norway. Phone the NSB Call Centre on the numbers given above: +47 815 00 888 or +47 23 15 15 15 and press 9 for information in English or to a manned station in Norway.
The fare for cycles is half the standard ticket price, up to a maximum of NOK 175, except on the Bergen Line in summer, from 18 May to 27 September, when there is a fixed fare per bicycle of NOK 175. You will need to load your bike onto the train yourself and put it in the area allocated to bicycles. The train personnel will help you to embark and disembark, if needed.
Airport Express trains from and to Oslo Airport
Bicycles can be taken on the train, and placed in the baggage space, at the rear of the train from Oslo S to Gardermoen, and at the front for Gardermoen to Oslo S.
Ships & Ferries
There are ferries along the whole of the coast including the Hurtigruten Post ships which run daily from Bergen to Kirkenes, all of which take bicycles.
Diversions
Try the Bergen or Dovre Railways from Oslo or the Rauma Railway between Ändalsnes and Dombäs.
