June 30, 2018 – Bergen to Oslo by Train

We were up and around at 5:30 AM – a good thing because I ordered breakfast for 6 to 6:15 and it arrived at 5:45. We looked out the window to check the weather – another beautiful sunny day – we have been so blessed with the weather, and this is totally amazing with Bergen being the rain capital of Norway.

Just a note from last night – because we had some last-minute laundry to do I didn’t actually get to bed until 11:30 – here is a picture from out deck at that time – amazingly beautiful beginning sunset.

Anyway – back to this morning.  We loaded onto a bus at 7 AM and took the short journey to the train station.  Here we learned that we were to get on the 8^th car – which was at the back of the line-up from the terminal, but at the front of the train.  A bit of a walk for Harry but we made it!  We set off exactly on time at 7:57 AM and proceeded on our way to OSLO – a 7-hour journey. 

Just a little information about this train ride. The ‘Bergensbanen’, also called the Bergen Railway is a 371 Km long standard gauge railway line between Bergen and Honefoss but the name is often applied for the entire route from Bergen via Drammen to Oslo a distance of 496 KM.  It is the highest mainline railway line in Northern Europe, crossing the Hardangervidda plateau at 1,237 meters above sea level.

The railway opened from Bergen to Voss in 1883 as the narrow gage Voss Line.  In 1909 the route was continued over the mountain to Oslo and the whole route converted to standard gauge.  The line is single track and was electrified in 1954-64. 

The line has 182 tunnels totaling 73 KM of which 10 are over 2 Km. Finse station remains the highest station at 1,222.2 meters, while the highest point is in the Finse Tunnel at 1,237 meters.

From Bergen to Finse we travelled almost exclusively uphill, making several very short stops along the way.  Just long enough for a few passengers to either get on or off.  We did learn that the morning train from the first stop to Bergen is frequented by commuters as it is only 8 minutes by train and the cost of living is much more reasonable than within Bergen or by driving.  

Throughout the trip Magdelena our guide kept us informed as to what we were seeing out the window.  It was to say the least a spectacular ride with changes to the scenery as we increased our altitude and then the reverse as we proceeded back down to sea level at Oslo.  Taking pictures was a challenge as the train was moving at a good clip and trying to click between trees took a keen eye and a quick finger, but we did get some beautify shots as you can see.

When we arrived in Oslo we got off the train and walked to our hotel which is located just around the corner from the train station. 

              

After checking in at the hotel I went for a walk down one of the main streets of town – which is packed with people today as it s Gay Pride Week – great fun with lots of individuals and families dressed for the occasion.

This evening we will have a quite dinner in a restaurant close to the hotel then tomorrow we have booked a tour around the town.