The railway connects Norway's two largest cities across Europe's largest high mountain plateau, running from city centre to city centre. The journey takes about 6.5 to 7.5 hours, depending on whether you take a day or a night train. Check the departure board above for today's live timings and delays before you choose your ticket.
The Bergen Line, who runs it and how long it takes
The Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen) opened in 1909 and runs over the highlands between Oslo and Bergen. Bane NOR, which runs the railway, lists the Oslo S–Bergen service on the Bergen Line as line F4, operated by Vy, with 6–7 departures a day.
The journey takes about 6.5 to 7.5 hours, depending on whether you take a day or a night train. The Bergen Line is 471.25 km long, electric, and reaches its highest point at 1,237 metres above sea level. There are 182 tunnels on the line; the longest, the Finse tunnel, is 10.3 km. The line crosses Hardangervidda National Park and the Hardangervidda plateau, Europe's largest high mountain plateau.
The flight between Oslo and Bergen takes under an hour and the train over 6 hours, but both stations are in the city centre, so the train skips security and airport transfers. You can read more about planning a trip in our Norway section.
Stations worth knowing about
Vy lists 21 stations from Oslo to Bergen. The mountain and western stops include Geilo, Ustaoset, Haugastøl, Finse, Hallingskeid, Myrdal, Voss, Dale and Arna.
Finse station lies at 1222 metres and has no road; you reach it only by train or on foot. At Finse you step off the train straight onto the mountain plateau, with hikes on Hardangervidda all year round. The Rallarvegen cycle route, 80 km and fairly demanding, is reached from Haugastøl, Finse and Myrdal stations.
At Myrdal you change for the Flåm Railway down to Flåm, a ride of about an hour. Voss has cross-country trails and two of Western Norway's biggest ski resorts. Geilo has cross-country trails and alpine skiing close to the station, with 46 slopes and 20 lifts.
Which side to sit on, and the winter light
For the best views of Hardangervidda, Vy says sit on the left from Oslo and on the right from Bergen, in the direction of travel. For the fjords and valleys of western Norway, Vy says sit on the right from Oslo and on the left from Bergen.
A Flex ticket lets you choose your own seat, and so the side you sit on. In winter daylight is limited; on Hardangervidda it lasts from about 09 to 15, so Vy advises a morning or early-afternoon departure for the views. Read our guide to the best time to visit Norway to plan around the seasons.
Tickets and what they cost
Fares work by demand; the cheapest tickets sell first and prices rise as a departure fills, so booking early usually costs less. Vy publishes no standing fare for the route.
Lowfare is Vy's cheapest ticket, and there are only a limited number of them, so book early. A Lowfare ticket cannot be changed, upgraded or refunded, and is valid only on the departure it was bought for. On the Bergen Line, Lowfare passengers are allocated a seat before travel. Lowfare cannot be combined with student or senior discounts, but children aged 0–5 travel free on Lowfare.
A ticket bought on vy.no, in the app or from a ticket machine can be cancelled within four hours of purchase, as long as that is before departure.
Besides standard class there is a comfort class, which costs more and gives a bigger seat, more legroom, free coffee and tea and a quieter car. Vy's comfort option is called Plus, offering more comfortable seats and freshly ground coffee. Families travelling with children can reserve seats in the Family carriage, which has its own playroom for children.
The night train
On the night train you can take a lie-flat PlusNight seat, a two-bed Sleeper compartment or a six-berth Rest compartment. Vy's sleeper service has the following options:
- Sleeper compartment: A compartment with two beds fitted with 75 x 200 cm mattresses, duvets and pillows. The Sleeper compartment has a sink, power outlets and free earplugs, and you get a wake-up call 15 minutes before arrival. Up to 2 adults and 2 children can share one, but pets are not allowed in the sleeping car compartments.
- Rest compartment: A compartment with six berths, with sheets, pillows and fleece blankets included.
- PlusNight: A lie-flat seat for those who cannot sleep sitting up but do not need a compartment.
On the night train the café is open all night and closes 30 minutes before arrival; no breakfast is served on board.
Food, luggage, bikes and skis
The day trains on the Bergen Line have a café with hot and cold dishes, pastries, desserts and drinks, to eat there or take to your seat. Most Vy services have free wifi, though coverage varies along the way.
You can bring up to 30 kg of luggage in at most three pieces at no extra charge. Pets, bicycles, children's buggies and skis can come too, with some restrictions. The Bergen Line has room for bicycles and plenty of luggage, but you must reserve a space for a bike.
Winter on the mountain and disruptions
Winter trains run a little slower over the most exposed parts of the plateau, and there are more departures in summer than in midwinter. Some stretches of the Bergen Line have no road connection in winter.
Bane NOR keeps three snow coordinators on shifts at Finse, watching the weather, wind and avalanche risk. The Bergen Line is cleared of snow and ice every day, from the west in the morning towards the east in the afternoon. Bane NOR's heaviest snow blowers, the Beilhacks, clear the high mountain section of the Bergen Line.
On days of extreme winter weather Bane NOR now cuts the number of departures rather than stopping all traffic, a method it is developing with the train companies. At Bolstadøyri station the track has repeatedly flooded in recent years, most recently in February 2026; a new drainage system is built for a 200-year flood.