The Bergen Railway

The Bergen Railway is the approximately 500 kilometres (approx. 310 miles) long railway line between Bergen and Oslo. The construction of the Bergen Railway was a huge project in its day and was completed in 1909.

The line crosses both the Langfjellene mountains and the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. The duration of the trip between the two end stations is Bergen and Oslo is approx. 7 hours.

The decision to build the railway line was made in 1894 and it was completed in 1909. The stretch of railway between Bergen and Voss, which was completed already in 1893, really revolutionized life for the communities along the line. It is said that the construction of the Bergen Railway was a huge project in its day and that it can be compared with today's development of the oil industry on the Norwegian Continental Shelf in the North Sea.

One of the railway’s greatest challenges is the harsh and changeable weather. The Bergen Railway line is exposed to deep low-pressure centers from the west, which can mean strong winds and heavy snow for part of the year. Keeping the railway open demands great effort and technical expertise. Today, skilled workers, efficient equipment, tunnels, and snow tunnels make the Bergen Railway one of the safest and most comfortable ways of traveling between Oslo and Bergen.