Latest news with #BaneNor
Local Norway
13 hours ago
- Local Norway
What you need to know about travel in Norway in summer 2025
What to expect? Most Norwegians take four weeks off work between July and August, so if you are planning a city break to Oslo, Bergen or Trondheim at this time, you might find them strangely deserted. Smaller restaurants and shops often close, or have reduced opening hours, from the start of July until mid-August. Larger shops and restaurant chains will remain open, as will establishments with high tourist footfall, as it will be their busiest time of the year. Where you might find crowds is at some of Norway's fjord hotspots, such as Trolltunga , Preikestolen or "Pulpit Rock", Geiranger, or parts of the Lofoten Islands. The "Coolcation" trend is making Norway an ever more popular summer destination. Air There are a number of new routes to tempt foreigners living in Norway to spend a week or two away this summer. If you're travelling to and from Europe, it will be slightly cheaper too. In its 2025 budget, the government cut the air passenger tax for travel in Norway and countries in Europe from 80 kroner to 65 kroner per ticket. The high rate (for journeys outside of Europe) has increased to 342 kroner per ticket. As things look now, there are no strikes planned by pilots, baggage handlers or cabin crew, so any summer strike disruptions are likely to be at your destination (or departure point if you're flying in to Norway). Rail Summer in Norway is generally bad news for anyone who relies on the train, particularly if you tend to use heavily trafficked commuter lines. Norway's rail operator Bane Nor normally takes advantage of the drop in commuter traffic to carry out essential track maintenance. This year, there will be replacement buses on five different lines, all of them around Oslo, as the rail operator carries out station and platform upgrades. If your train from Oslo has been replaced by a bus, you can find replacement buses on Trelastgata next to Platform 19. Look for bus stops marked with yellow signs. Here are the lines affected, according to a post on the Bane Nor website . Advertisement 1. Drammen Line, Vestfold Line & Sørland Line June 28th – July 16th: No trains between Brakerøya and Stokke/Mjøndalen July 17th – August 5th: No trains between Asker and Stokke/Mjøndalen August 6th – August 10th: No trains between Stokke and Porsgrunn Impacted lines: F5 (Sørtoget), FLY1 (Airport Express), F4 (Bergensbanen), R12, R13, R14, RE10, RE11 2. Østfold Line (Oslo S – Ski & beyond) June 28th – August 3rd: No trains between Oslo C and Ski (Follobanen remains open) July 12th – August 1st: No boarding/alighting at Eidsberg and Heia stations August 4th – December 13th: Nordstrand station closed August 4th – autumn 2026: Only one track open at Kolbotn station, meaning reduced capacity and some extra rush-hour trains cancelled Impacted lines: L2, R22 3. Oslo S – Lillestrøm (main line) July 5th – July 27th: Work between Oslo C and Lillestrøm. Impacted line: L1 4. Spikkestad Line July 12th – July 27th: No trains between Asker and Spikkestad Impacted line: L1 5. Nationaltheatret Station July 14th – July 27th: One track closed. Platform changes and possible delays Advertisement Roads The Norwegian Public Roads Administration also saves up a lot of its maintenance work on busy commuter roads for the summer months and this year is no exception. There will be so-called "column driving" through the Lote Tunnel on the E39 road between June 10th and July 4th, meaning long waits. On Tuesday June 10th, the administration started work on renovating the bridge on Søren Bulls vej over the E6 in Oslo, with the work finished at the end of August. Traffic on the E6 itself will not be affected. Ring Road 1 in Oslo has been closed between Oslo Spektrum in the east and Pilestredet/ St. Olavsgate in the west since last year, as two tunnels, the Hammersborg tunnel and the Vaterland tunnel, are upgraded. The closure is set to continue until 2027. One of Norway's big tourist draws, the Trollstigen road (meaning "path of the trolls", or "magic path") has been closed since 2024 due to the risk of falling rocks. The road, famed for the eleven hairpin bends that take you up from Åndalsnes to the Trollstigen plateau, is scheduled to reopen again on July 14th. If you're planning to make the journey from Åndalsnes to the Trollstigen plateau before that, there's an alternative route via E146 to Sjøholt and the Fv 650 to Valldall, that will get you there (although it will take nearly 3 hours). If you're driving from Geiranger, you can take the Ørnevegen road to Eidsdal and the ferry to Linge, and then continue on to Valldal, a journey that takes only one hour and 15 minutes. You can catch up with any other possible disruptions before setting off on your journey, by searching on the administration's traffic app or website .
Local Norway
20-05-2025
- Local Norway
The train services in Norway that will be replaced by buses this summer
Bane Nor, the government agency responsible for Norway's railway infrastructure, has announced its annual construction and upgrade plan. This means commuters and travellers alike will once again rely on buses replacing trains on key routes. READ MORE: Buss for tog? The words to help you navigate public transport in Norway Why the summer shutdown? While many Norwegians take time off during the warmer months, Bane Nor makes the most of the quieter period on the rails. With 83 million travellers recorded in 2024 – 5 million more than the year before – the wear and tear on railway infrastructure is increasingly evident. "Maintenance work helps reduce the risk of acute failures," Victor Hansen of Bane Nor told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation ( NRK ). "Simply because newer infrastructure is less vulnerable than old, worn-out rails and facilities." Advertisement Where you'll see bus replacements in 2025 Drammen, Vestfold and Sørlandsbanen Lines June 28th – July 16th: Between Brakerøya and Stokke/Mjøndalen July 17th – August 5th: Between Asker and Stokke/Mjøndalen August 6th – August 10th: Between Asker and Skien/Mjøndalen Affected lines: F5 (Sørtoget), FLY1 (Flytoget), F4 (Bergensbanen), R12, R13, R14, RE10, RE11 Expect full replacement by bus on these stretches and longer travel times. READ MORE: How to fake being a local on Norway's public transport system Østfold Line June 28th – August 3rd: Between Oslo S and Ski (note: Follobanen remains open) July 12th – August 1st: Eidsberg and Heia stations closed August 4th – Autumn 2026: Only one track operational at Kolbotn station August 4th – December 13th: Nordstrand station closed Affected lines: L2, R22 While Follobanen will remain open for express travel, local stations will see reduced access and longer transfer times. Advertisement Oslo S – Lillestrøm (Trunk Line) July 5th – July 27th: Buses replace trains on this busy commuter route Post-work period: Trains may run at reduced speed for a few days Affected line: L1 Allow for delays and altered schedules even after train service resumes. Spikkestad Line July 12th – July 27th: Buses will operate between Asker and Spikkestad Affected line: L1 READ MORE: Where in Norway do they dislike tourists? Advertisement Nationaltheatret Station July 14th – July 27th: One track out of service Expect some platform changes and minor delays due to reduced capacity. Advertisement What travellers should know Bane Nor offered several travel tips to help make the seasonal switch smoother. Travellers in the affected parts of Norway are encouraged to plan ahead by using railway apps or the websites of train companies for real-time updates and scheduling information. It's also important to be aware that replacement buses may stop at different locations from the train stations, so checking stop details in advance is advised. Furthermore, since journeys by bus can take longer than by train, and connections between buses and trains may not be immediate, some flexibility with travel time is recommended. Passengers should also remember to purchase their tickets before boarding, as onboard ticket sales may not always be available. Lastly, summer schedules typically feature fewer departures, so travellers should expect reduced service frequency on many routes.
Local Norway
22-04-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
Norway's Vy warns of significant rail disruption in eastern Norway
Train company Vy has warned network rail operator Bane Nor of potential issues for travellers, public broadcaster NRK reported. The reason is that the Sundland workshop in Drammen will be closed from April until August, meaning that more single set trains will be in use during rush hour – reducing capacity. The workshop is used to maintain around half of the trains that operate in the general Oslo area, and there could be up to 15 missing trains. The missing trains could lead to reduced timetables and more frequent cancellations. 'It [the work] is being done in a way that unfortunately has very big consequences for our customers, in that we do not get enough trains into traffic,' Vy's director of marketing and communications, Marius Holm, told public broadcaster NRK. The lines that could be affected by reduced capacity are the RE11, the R12, the R13, the R14 and the R21. Advertisement Holm said that Vy would've preferred if the work for the workshop had been carried out in a different way. The closure of the workshop will eventually see it rebuilt by 2027, which Vy said could affect train traffic well beyond the April to August window first projected. The rail tracks around eastern Norway are already among the most congested in the country, and issues with train travel in the region have contributed to national punctuality targets being missed several times in the past few years. READ ALSO: What are your rights if your train in Norway is delayed or cancelled?
Local Norway
11-04-2025
- Local Norway
Everything you need to know about travel in Norway for Easter 2025
Travel by road Kids break up for the Easter break, Påskeferie, once school ends on Friday, April 11th. However, according to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, the roads aren't expected to be too busy on Friday. Friday 11th is expected to be similar to a normal Friday. The reason is that Easter is quite late this year, and it's been a poor year for snow in many mountainous areas. Therefore, many are expected to spend their Easter holidays close to the coast or in the lowlands, The worst traffic when travelling by road is expected on the Wednesday before Maundy Thursday. Maundy Thursday is a public holiday in Norway, meaning workers will then be off until the Tuesday after Easter Sunday. Those who will be heading to the roads on Wednesday are advised to avoid travelling around midday or the early afternoon. The public has also been asked to pay attention to the weather and road conditions before travelling. Those who will be driving over Easter can use the service to plan their journey. Air travel More than 1.6 million people are expected to travel via Norwegian airports over the Easter break. Friday, April 11th, will be the busiest day at Norwegian airports. This is according to the airport operator Avinor. Nearly one million trips will be domestic as many travel around the country to visit friends and family. Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger will see more than 141,000 travellers on Friday, so arriving at the airport in good time is recommended. This year is expected to be particularly busy for air travel. 'Even before the Easter outing had started, we saw numbers that beat last year's Easter by a good margin,' Thorgeir Landevaag, executive director for airports in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger, said in a press release . Advertisement Landevaag asked passengers travelling with hand luggage only to prepare extra well for security checks to minimise queues. Strikes have disrupted flights to Greece and Italy in recent days. However, it isn't clear if industrial action will continue over Easter. Travellers to the UK will need to be aware that operation workers at Gatwick Airport will strike over the Easter weekend. Rail travel Network rail operator Bane Nor typically uses Easter to carry out works on tracks , meaning that some rail travel will be disrupted. Bane Nor will work on the Spikkestadbanen and Hovedbanen lines from April 12th until April 27th. Furthermore, the Bergen Line between Hønefoss and Geilo will be closed from the afternoon of April 17th until the morning of Easter Sunday. Advertisement Work will also be carried out in Drammen in preparation for the new station opening in August. What else do I need to know? Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are all public holidays. This means you can expect large supermarkets to be closed, as well as things like banks. It will also be impossible to purchase alcohol on these days unless sitting in at a bar or restaurant. If you really get stuck, there will be convenience stores open, although don't expect much in the way of a selection if you have ambitious dinner plans. Museums and other attractions will also close.
Local Norway
04-03-2025
- Climate
- Local Norway
Red weather warning issued for floods in western Norway
The weather warning was upgraded by forecasters on Tuesday afternoon, and the expected rainfall was compared to the extreme weather event Jakob that drenched western Norway in October 2024. When a red weather warning is issued, the public is advised to secure their valuables. During red weather, it is 'very likely there will be widespread damage, travel and power disruption and even risk to life,' according to Norwegian forecasting site Yr. Meanwhile, warning site Varsom has said that the consequences of the rainfall could be extensive flooding, erosion damage and flood damage to buildings and infrastructure that could close roads and bridges. The red weather warning will apply to central and inner parts of Vestland, with between 80 and 120 millimetres of rain expected in the region and up to 150 millimetres in some areas. A yellow rain warning has been issued for large parts of Vestland, Rogaland and Møre og Romsdal counties, with between 60 and 100 millimetres of precipitation expected. An orange flood warning would apply to Bergen, and the flood peak isn't expected until Wednesday evening or early Thursday. The public has been asked to consider whether planned journeys are necessary or if they are sufficiently prepared for potential shower outages. Bane Nor has cancelled the night train on the Bergen Line. Highway 13 in Tyssedal will be closed from 9pm, and County Road 55 at Esebotn will be closed on Wednesday from 10am.
