Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Europe, with reclining seats and lots of
unexpected comforts. Of course, first-
class train travel in Norway is better,
though not necessarily
that
much bet-
ter than second class. For those who
want the added comforts, and can
afford it, first-class is the way to go.
The one-way second-class fare from
Oslo to Bergen is 670NOK ($95),
plus a mandatory seat reservation of
25NOK ($3.55). Another popular
run, from Oslo to Trondheim, costs
720NOK ($102) one-way in second
class. First class from Oslo to Bergen
costs 745NOK ($106) and from Oslo
to Trondheim 823NOK ($117).
One of the country's obviously sce-
nic trips, from Bergen to Bodø, is not
possible by train because of the ter-
rain. Trains to Bodø leave from Oslo.
Express trains are called
Expresstog,
and you have to read the fine print of
a railway schedule to figure out
whether an Expresstog is much faster
than a conventional train.
On express and other major trains,
you must reserve seats at the train's
starting station. Sleepers are priced
according to the number of berths in
each compartment. Children 4 to 15
years of age and seniors pay 50% of
the regular adult fare. Group and mid-
week tickets are also available.
There are special compartments for
persons with disabilities on most
medium- and long-distance trains.
People in wheelchairs and others with
physical disabilities, and their com-
panions, may use the compartments.
Some long-distance trains offer special
playrooms (“Kiddie-Wagons”) for
children, complete with toys, games,
and books.
NORWAY RAIL PASS
A restricted
rail pass applicable only to the state
railway lines, the Norway Rail Pass is
available for 7 or 14 consecutive days
of unlimited rail travel in 1 month, or
any 3 days of travel within 1 month.
It's suitable for anyone who wants to
cover the long distances that separate
Norwegian cities. The pass is available
in North America through Rail
Europe (
&
800/848-7245;
www.rail
europe.com). The costs are $209 for
adults in first class for any 3 days in 1
month; $244 in first class for any 4
days in 1 month; and $279 in first
class for any 5 days in 1 month. Chil-
dren 4 to 15 years of age pay half the
adult fare. Those under 4 ride free.
MINIRPIS TICKETS
NSB's
regional trains offer unlimited travel
for 150NOK ($20), no matter what
your destination: from Geilo, to
Trondheim, to even Bodø in the
north. The offer is valid for a limited
number of seats. You can purchase the
ticket by logging on to www.nsb.no.
Tickets are often sold out, so make
reservations as soon as possible. At this
price, tickets are not refundable and a
change of reservation is not possible. A
supplement of 75NOK ($10) will
grant you access to the NSB “Komfort
Class” section.
BY BUS
Where the train or coastal steamer
stops, passengers can usually continue
on a scenic bus ride. Norway's bus sys-
tem is excellent, linking remote vil-
lages along the fjords. Numerous
all-inclusive motor-coach tours, often
combined with steamer travel, leave
from Bergen and Oslo in the summer.
The train ends in Bodø; from there
you can get a bus to Fauske (63km/39
miles east). From Fauske, the Polar
Express bus spans the entire distance
along the Arctic Highway, through
Finnmark (Lapland) to Kirkenes near
the Russian border and back. The seg-
ment from Alta to Kirkenes is open
only from June to October, but there's
year-round service from Fauske to
Alta. Passengers are guaranteed hotel
accommodations along the way.
Buses have air-conditioning, toilets,
adjustable seats, reading lights, and a
telephone. Reservations are not
accepted on most buses, and payment
