Viking Magazine - November 2022 - 19

The Bergen Railway
For the history buffs and cycle enthusiasts
Often called the Oslo-Bergen Line,
this super-long railway stretches
across the Hardangervidda Plateau
to connect two of Norway's largest
cities. At 4,058 feet above sea level,
it's the highest mainline track in
northern Europe. If you're taking the
entire 310-mile trek, the eco-friendly,
electrified train will take you into the
alpine cities of Oslo, Gol and Geilo,
the Hallingdal valley, the mountainous
Hardangervidda National Park, and the
jaw-dropping Hardangerjøkulen glacier
in Finse. You'll pass through craggy
tunnels, witness the Vosso river and
the Sørfjord before reaching your final
destination, Bergen. Depending on the
time of year, the southern-Norway
vistas out your window will change
dramatically.
The Bergen line was mapped out in
the late 1800s and it officially opened
in 1909. Roughly 2,400 workers
were called on to build it in extreme
terrain and, at certain points, high
altitudes. Consider also the sometimes
severe and often-changing weather
conditions, and the feat seems even
more remarkable, especially for that
era.
During construction of the track, a
51-mile passage was installed along the
route to transport people, materials and
food to the particularly rugged areas.
In 1974, this Navvy Road (Rallarvegen)
opened to bicyclists, and today it's one
of the nation's most beloved paths.
Tracing the border of Norway's tallest
mountain plateau, Hardangervidda
(4,265 feet above sea level), you'll start
from Haugastøl by way of Finse, then
cruise through Hallingskeid and Myrdal.
Hop off in the petite village of Flåm
near the Sognefjord, or keep pedaling
to Voss by the Hardangerfjord.
While most trains allow bikes, check
ahead of your trip as you might need to
book space for your wheels.
To save money, do some advance
planning, says Erik Sveberg Dietrichs,
the Oslo-based author of " Train
Holiday " ( " Togferie " ), which offers
recommendations for European rail
expeditions, with a focus on Norway
and the Nordic countries.
" Book your train tickets early. It's
much less expensive than buying on
the date you're traveling, " he says.
" I suggest combining train and boat.
Hurtigruten, our coastal steam route
between Bergen and Kirkenes, allows
you to explore the coast and the fjords.
Traveling from Oslo to Bergen by
train and from Bergen to Bodø with
Hurtigruten, before returning to Oslo
by train-with a stop in Trondheim-
would be a very nice trip. "
RAIL STATS
Line: The Bergen Railway
(Bergensbanen)
Length: 310 miles
Duration: 7 hours
Board/Depart: Oslo & Bergen
Bragging rights: Considered to be
one of the world's most famous and
beautiful train passages.
Times & tickets: entur.no, vy.no
DID YOU KNOW?
Can't travel to Norway? You can still get the Bergen Railway experience thanks
to NRK, which filmed the entire seven-hour journey in 2009. The broadcasters
are the creators of Slow TV, which shoots uninterrupted footage of a variety of
activities and airs them in real time. Watch it at nrk.no/presse/slow-tv-1.12057032.
@sonsofnorway
November 2022
19
http://www.entur.no http://www.vy.no http://www.nrk.no/presse/slow-tv-1.12057032
Viking Magazine - November 2022

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