Flam Railway, Norway
The Flam Railway is one of Norway’s most spectacular visitor attractions. In 2014 it was voted by Lonely Planet as the world’s most beautiful train journey and every year visitors from around the world enjoy a ride on this magnificent railway. The train runs from the end of Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the world’s longest fjord, Sognefjord, up to the high mountains at Myrdal station.
The line between Myrdal and Flam is open throughout the year and guests on the Flam Railway get to enjoy some of Norway’s most stunning scenery including gushing waterfalls, deep gorges and snow-covered peaks. Travelling an hour each way, the train will take you from Flam to the Mydral Mountain Station (867 metres above sea level). Here visitors can choose to depart and carry on to Bergen or Oslo on the Bergen Line.
Prices from: $67 (round-trip ticket)
Departing from: Flam station
Journey length: 2 hours
The Flam Railway route
On the Flam Railway line, you will travel from Flam to Myrdal and vice versa. Small villages on the way include Aurlandsfjord and Sogn og Fjordane. Starting in Flam, the train skirts the bottom of Aurlandsfjord, one of the most picturesque fjords in the world. From here the journey takes you deep into the Flam Valley where you’ll get to see Norway’s famed ‘Hansel and Gretel’ type houses. En route the train makes a five-minute stop at the Kjosfossen Waterfall, so you can take photos of the region. At the end of the hour-long journey you will end up in the mountains of Myrdal. Trains depart either way ten times a day from May to September, with four departures from October to April.
The Flam Railway trains
The Flam Railway uses NSB El 18 electric locomotives to pull the carriages along the route. With their distinctive dark green livery and large picture windows, the trains are very attractive and run well. The 20-kilometre long Flam Railway is one of the world’s steepest railway tracks in the world on normal track.
Why we love it
This is truly one of the world’s greatest day train journeys, where every view will give you a ‘wow’ moment. It’s not cheap but it’s well worth the money and for railway enthusiasts it’s an absolute must.