Norway > The Flåmsbane train climbs up

Today is actually the free day. Ruud suggested taking the train ride from Flåm to Myrdal through the mountains and then continuing by train toward Ål. This costs 350 NOK (45 euros) per person. Everyone already thought this was a good idea earlier.

Norway - Flm is a small village at the end of the Aurlandsfjord and is also the starting point of the Flmsbane

Ruud had already reserved the train in Trondheim. Svein is willing to drive us by bus to Flåm. We leave at ten o’clock. The weather is not as good; it’s lightly raining. By bus we retrace yesterday’s route via Ål to Geilo. Just after Geilo we turn off toward Aurland. Aurland is a wealthy province, because a lot of hydropower is generated here. To do this, several waterfalls have been dammed up by power plants. The route continues through Hallingdal and the Strandkwarde (salt lake). On the way we stop for coffee in a small settlement near the lake. At this restaurant there are several vacation cottages, which are for rent in the summer. We took a look inside one of them. On the way to Flåm we pass the entrance to the 24.5-kilometer-long Laerdal Tunnel, of which we had seen a film earlier in the trip. We don’t go through it, but on the way back it is the shortest route for Svein.

Norway - On the train in 20 km it climbs 866 meters in height

Via the Aurlandsfjord we reach Flåm. Flåm is a small town at the end of the Aurlandsfjord and also the starting point of the Flåm Railway. This railway line runs straight through the mountains and is 20 kilometers long. Over that distance the train climbs from just 2 meters to 866 meters altitude. This makes the route the steepest railway line in Europe without a cogwheel system. The train therefore has five different braking systems. Before the train departs there is plenty of time to look around the town and the harbor. The harbor quay is filled with souvenir shops. From the quay you have a beautiful view over the Aurlandsfjord. In one of the shops, Rita buys a beautiful Norwegian coat. While she is trying it on, not only her fellow travelers agree that the coat looks wonderful, but other tourists nod approvingly as well. At ten past four the train departs for the mountain top. The sights are announced in three languages. Occasionally the train slows down especially for photos. At the large waterfall the train even stops completely so everyone can get out to have a look. The many Japanese tourists make full use of this opportunity in their typical manner. After an hour the train arrives at Myrdal station.

Norway - The station of l the final point of our train journey

The connecting train was already fully booked, so we have to wait an hour for the next one. This is the through train from Bergen to Oslo. We take the train from Myrdal to Ål. While waiting, we have a drink in the restaurant. I also call René to congratulate him on his birthday. At ten to six the train arrives right on time. We are seated across three carriages. The journey runs across the Hardangervidda plateau. Along the way we pass Finse. Finse is the highest located station in Norway, at about 1,100 meters. This is far above the tree line and covered with snow for much of the year. To keep the tracks clear of snow, wooden shelters have been built along the route. Several passengers will have these shelters in their photos, since they pressed the shutter just a moment too late. At 19:17 the train arrives in Ål. Svein is there waiting with the bus. He drives us to the hotel in Hemsedal. A little after eight we arrive at the hotel and go straight to dinner. After dinner, Frenk shows his video on the big screen. Fun to see the footage again.