Bergen Line, Railway line between Oslo and Bergen, Norway
The Bergen Line is a railway running 493 kilometers between Oslo and Bergen in Norway, crossing mountains and plateaus with regular passenger and freight services. The route passes over the Hardangervidda plateau and through more than 180 tunnels, traveling across different climates and terrains.
Construction began in 1901 and took eight years, with workers digging tunnels and building bridges through harsh mountain conditions. The opening in 1909 connected Oslo and Bergen by rail for the first time, reducing travel time between the two cities dramatically.
Travelers often use this route to reach mountain cabins and ski resorts that locals visit throughout the year for outdoor recreation. The train stops at villages where farming and railway work have shaped daily life for generations.
The journey takes around seven hours and offers both standard and first-class seating with dining cars and power outlets at seats. Large windows provide good views on both sides, and seat reservations are recommended especially during summer months and weekends.
Finse station sits at 1,222 meters (4,009 feet) above sea level, making it the highest point on a mainline railway in Northern Europe. In winter, the place can often only be reached by train, as no roads lead there.
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