Buying and using Tickets & Rail Passes in Norway

The guide to Norwegian train tickets, and how to buy them online, covers the basics of what you can expect to encounter when making bookings in usual circumstances.
The aim is to provide context for the tickets and journey options you should typically encounter when making a booking either online or at the station.
SMTJ has striven to ensure that the advice we present is as accurate as possible, but a guide such as this cannot cover every combination of journey options.

There are currently three main rail operators in Norway:

1. Vy is the dominant company, it operates the routes between Oslo and Bergen, which has day and sleeper trains; and the route between Olso and the Swedish border at Halden.
   So it also provides the trains which travel between the Norwegian capital and Göteborg / Gothenburg.
   Vy also operates most of Norway's regional train services, including all such services to/from Oslo.

2. In addition to the trains between Stockholm and Oslo the Swedish national rail operator SJ now also operates many train services wholly within Norway, they are branded SJ NORD and include:

• the day and night trains between Trondheim and both Oslo and Bodø
• the trains between Dombas and Andalsnes
• local and regional trains to/from Trondheim

3. Go Ahead Norway operates the trains between Oslo and Stavanger and the local trains to/from Stavanger.

Norway has a national public transport ticketing service, named Entur which sells all rail tickets, regardless of whether the train service will be operated by Vy, SJ NORD or Go Ahead.
It also sells tickets for some bus routes, so it can also handle tickets requests for journeys which involve a combination of trains and buses.
Bus routes not sold by Entur include those which link Bodo, Tromso and Narvik, instead they can be booked with Fylkestrafikk.

One notable train service not sold by Entur is the Flytoget airport express servicein Oslo.

Booking with Entur

When using it to book journeys, you will be offered the full range of tickets per route and can access the core terms and conditions for how each type of ticket can be used; and be confident that what Entur is offering will be the best option.

Though what can be confusing is that the names which Entur uses for specific types of ticket can be out of sync with the names of tickets that the train companies use, and that's because Entur has to use a common name across it's platform.
For example what Vy describes as a 'Flex Refundable' ticket is a 'Flexible' ticket on Entur.
So what cannot be looked up on Entur is an overview of all the types of ticket sold by Vy, SJ NORD or Go Ahead.

Similarly Entur uses 'Premium' to designate 1st class, despite the train companies having different branding to designate the equivalent of first class; Vy uses 'Plus'; SJ NORD uses 'Premium' and Go Ahead Norje uses 'Extra' and 'Rest'.

Links from the booking pages will connect you to the ticket information details of each respective operator, so you don't need to be particularly concerned as to which company will be operating the train you will be travelling by.
When travelling between Olso and all more distant destinations, including Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim, you can't choose between different operators.

Though something to look out for on Entur is that when booking rail tickets from and to Oslo, you need to select Oslo S, the city's main station, as a location in the From and To search boxes.

Vy operates the routes between Oslo and both Bergen and Halden (and on to Göteborg / Gothenburg) as well the regional train services from/to Oslo, except for the Flytoget aiport trains.

When travelling longer distances on daytime trains such as between Oslo and the likes of Bergen, Myrdal, Voss and Göteborg a range of 'Flex' tickets will be available.
The prices of all three types will rise between when they are initially placed on sale, which is typically 90 days ahead, and the travel date,

The three types of Flex tickets will typically be offered for sale (on Entur) are:

1: Non Flexible tickets - They live up to their name as they can't be refunded or exchanged, hence they are the cheapest type of ticket; when first placed on sale they are typically less than half then price of Flexible tickets.
Seats will be assigned when booking these tickets, but you cannot choose specific seats from the seating plan.
Also note that because these tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded, once purchased, you can only travel by the specific departure you chose when making a booking.
On the longer-distance trains, Non-Flexible tickets for travel in Standard (second) class can sell out before the travel date.

2: Semi Flexible tickets - These tickets can't be refunded if you want to cancel your travel plans, but they can be exchanged to an alternative departure and they also allow the purchaser to select specific seats on a seating plan.
These tickets aren't available on the Regional trains.

3: Flexible tickets - They are most expensive because unlike Semi-Flexible tickets, they can be refunded, in addition to being exchanged to an alternative departure.
They also allow the purchaser to select specific seats on a seating plan.

Travelling in Plus (first / premium) Class

Vy tends to take a flexible approach for the sale of tickets to travel in Plus Class, particularly when looking up a journey more than a couple of weeks ahead, when the Non-Flexible tickets may not be an option for travelling in Plus.

Conversely closer to the travel dates, the Non-Flexible tickets can be sold out for travel in Standard Class and available for travel in Plus*.

Plus Class is not available on the regional (R) train services.

*= when booking with Entur it refers to Vy's Plus Class as Premium Class.

Resting compartments

These are six seat compartments, available on trains on the route between Oslo and Bergen, which can be block booked for use by family groups or any travelling party of up to six people.
Though Non-Flexible tickets may not be made available for journeys in a resting compartments.

Sleeper trains on the route between Oslo and Bergen

Vy's sleeper trains on the Oslo to Bergen route offer four types of accommodation:

• Standard Class seats, of the type available on the daytime trains
• Reclining seats
• Sleeping compartments with two single beds (solo travellers will have sole occupancy of the compartment)
• Resting compartments, which have 6 beds
  When travelling in groups of 3 to 6 adults whether 1 x resting compartment will be cheaper than more than one sleeping compartment can depend on how far ahead you will be booking; tickets will be released up to 90 days ahead of the travel date.

Non-Flexible tickets don't tend to be made available for travel in the sleeping compartments.

Booking on the Vy website instead of with Entur

Entur is the national transport booking service for Norway, but tickets for travel by Vy trains can also be booked on the Vy website.

Some ticket options on the long-distance trains are only available on the Vy website, namely;

• you can choose seats in the family carriage, which is available on the Bergen line,
• you can specifically choose to sit in a part of a train in which pets aren't allowed.

Also when booking on Vy, tickets to sit in Plus (first) Class are available as an added extra to the Standard Class price; if you can't find Plus Class availability when choosing Non-Flexible tickets then check Semi-Flexible and Flexible tickets.

The Vy website will also sell tickets for the routes operated by Go Ahead and SJ NORD.

On Vy's train services children aged 0-5 travel for free* in Standard Class and children from 6 years old through to 17 years old receive a 50% discount on Flexible tickets and 'Single' tickets - this type of ticket is available for the shorter distance journeys by Regional trains to/from Olso and for journeys between Bergen and Voss.
In Plus Class (first class) children aged 0-5 can travel at an 85% discount, but there is a minimum charge of NOK 100; this minimum charge also applies in Plus Class when booking Flexible tickets for those aged 6 to 17.

*= When there is no charge for children they still need a ticket so don't forget to add them to the booking,

Those aged 67 years and older also receive a 50% discount on Flexible tickets and 'Single' tickets.

Note than when travelling long-distance there is no discount for children aged 6 to 17 and for Seniors when booking the cheaper Non-Flexible tickets.
So it can pay off to book early - when they are first placed on sale, from 90 days ahead of the travel date, these tickets can be discounted by more than 50%.

Dogs with a shoulder height that exceeds 40 centimeters are charged 50% of the Non-Flexible ticket price.
On the Bergen Line you will get an extra seat so that the pet can stay on the floor by the window while you sit in an aisle seat.

There is no need to book tickets for dogs whose shoulder height is less than 40 cm as they accompany you free of charge. The pet must be placed on the floor at your feet and you will not get an extra seat. If you would like an extra seat to have more floor space, you can buy a pet ticket even though your pet has a shoulder height of less than 40 cm.

There is a limited number of spaces available for pets on each train departure. Spaces for pets are located in designated areas, so keep in mind that there may be several pets in the same area at any given time.

The longer-distance trains operated by SJ NORD are the day and night trains between Trondheim and both Oslo and Bodø,
The longer-distance trains operated by Go Ahead Norway are the day and night trains on the Oslo to Stavanger route.

Two types of Flex tickets will be offered for sale, both of which have assigned seats / sleeping accommodation

1: Non Flexible tickets - they live up to their name as they can't be refunded or exchange, hence they are the cheapest type of ticket.
Also note because they cannot be exchanged or refunded, once purchased, you can only travel by the specific departure you chose when making a booking.

2: Flexible tickets - more expensive, but they can be refunded; however, if you ask for a refund less than 24 hrs before departure you will have to pay an admin fee of NOK 100.

Both types of ticket will rise in price, between when they are placed on sale from 3 months ahead, and the travel date.

Entur is the best option for making an online booking for travel by these companies, the SJ NORD website doesn't seem to allow bookings from outside Norway, and Go Ahead only offers ticket booking through its app.

On SJ NORD's train services children aged 0-5 travel for free in Standard Class, but in Premium Class there is a fixed supplement of NOK 199.

Children from 6 to 17 years old and Seniors aged 67 and over receive a 50% discount on Flexible tickets when travelling in Standard Class and a 25% discount on Flexible tickets for travel in Premium Class.
Note that those aged 6 to 17 years old, or 67 and over aren't eligible for a discount on the cheaper Non-Flexible tickets, so it can pay off to book early.
When they are first placed on sale, from 90 days ahead of the travel date, these Non-Flexible tickets can be discounted by more than 50%.

There is seemingly no information regarding the discounts children and Seniors receive on the Go Ahead Norway website, so presumably those aged 0 to 5 travel for free.

Journeys for those aged 6 - 17 and those aged 67 and were looked up on the Entur website and when booking the cheaper non-Flexible tickets, the discount offered was typically 25-35%, but for journeys with Flexible tickets the discount was 50%.

Dogs with a shoulder height that exceeds 40 centimeters are charged 50% of the Non-Flexible ticket price
For routes with a seat reservation, you must add 'a pet' when booking regardless, of its height, so that you will then you will be allocated a seat in the section where animals are allowed
For the larger dogs that require tickets you will be allocated an extra seat to ensure floor space for your dog, but for dogs with a shoulder height of under 40 centimeters, you can opt to purchase an optional dog ticket (and take up to two dogs with a height of under 40cm), to give you this extra floor space.

The dog, regardless of size, must stay on the floor and cannot sit in a seat.

On the day trains dogs cannot travel in Premium, Premium Plus, the cafe wagon, the family wagon and in the animal-free zone in Standard class and dogs cannot be taken on the Sove night trains.

Dogs with a shoulder height that exceeds 40 centimeters require a ticket.

For the larger dogs that require tickets you will be allocated an extra seat to ensure floor space for your dog, but for dogs with a shoulder height of under 40 centimeters, you can opt to purchase an optional dog ticket (and take up to two dogs with a height of under 40cm), to give you this extra floor space.

The dog, regardless of size, must stay on the floor and cannot sit in a seat.

Folding bicycles can always be taken on board as hand luggage, but each of the three train operators, Vy, SJ NORD and Go Ahead set their own terms around how non-folding bicycles can be taken on trains.

On most of its routes the core terms for travelling with a non-folding bicycle on Vy trains is that tickets are required which cost 50% of the Non-Flexible ticket price, but with a maximum price of NOK 235.

Spaces have to be reserved when travelling between any station on the Bergen Line, between Oslo and Bergen (a maximum of 15 spaces are for bikes are available on these trains) and for journeys on the Gjøvik Line (a maximum of 17 spaces are available on these trains)
Spaces will be assigned when booking tickets to travel by these trains online (see below), though in summer a fixed rate is applied to journeys between stations on the Bergen Line, regardless of distance.

Despite bike tickets being required pre-boarding, spaces for bikes cannot be reserved on Vy's other routes, but the number of bike spaces per train is limited.
The number of spaces per trains on the key routes is typically:
Oslo - Lillehammer = 20
Oslo - Halden and most local services = 5.

On most of its routes the core terms for travelling with a non-folding bicycle on SJ NORD trains is that tickets are required which cost 50% of the Non-Flexible ticket price, but with a minimum price of NOK 43 and a maximum price of NOK 215.

The bicycle must be able to be hung on the hooks in the cargo area. It can be a maximum of 175 cm long and have a tire diameter of a maximum of 5 cm.

On the longer-distance services, spaces are reserved when adding a bicycle to a ticket booking (seat below) as bike tickets for these trains have to be booked online.

For electric bikes, the lithium-ion batteries must be removed and taken in the hand luggage, and the battery must not be charged on board.

On the longer-distance services, spaces are reserved when adding a bicycle to a ticket booking (seat below) but on other routes spaces for bikes are not guaranteed.

The bicycle must be able to be hung on the hooks in the cargo area. It can be a maximum of 175 cm long and have a tire diameter of a maximum of 5 cm.

For electric bikes, the lithium-ion batteries must be removed and taken in the hand luggage, and the battery must not be charged on board.

Whether making a bike reservation is mandatory, or if you want to add an optional bike ticket when booking your tickets, this is easily done.

On the Entur website you can select it as an Add-on before you look up the ticket options.

On the Vy website you can the add the bike option before you 'find the journey'.

Eight Things Worth Knowing About Using Rail Passes in Norway:

(1) Reservations are required on all long-distance services (day or night) and on most regional services, including all those operated by SJ NORD, but be aware that all those travelling with journey tickets will have had their seats assigned; hence reserving as soon as possible is particularly recommended on the Oslo ↔ Bergen and Oslo ↔ Trondheim routes.

(2) Seat and bed reservations are usually available up to 90 days in advance

(3) You can book reservations online by using the Eurail reservation service or the InterRail reservation service though you will be charged a €2 booking fee per reservation, per person.

Though this €2 fee can now be avoided by using the Entur rail pass reservation service.

(4) Reservations can be arranged at the Entur ticket desks in stations

(5) On day trains the terms differ depending on whether you have a first class or second class rail pass.

Second class passes = the costs per seat in the Standard (second class) seating areas is NOK 50, but holders of second class passes can also opt to to travel in the equivalent of first class seats at a cost of NOK 200/300.

First class passes you can either;

• opt to reserve prior to arrival in Norway and pay the reservation fee NOK 200/300 (plus the booking fees)
• or avoid all the charges, if you wait until you are in Norway and book at an Entur travel desk in the major stations.

(6) For travel on the Sove night trains, regardless of operator, the reservation fees are the same for both first and second class pass users.
The rail pass reservation fee for the sleeping cabins is a flat rate of NOK 1000 (approx €100) so if you are travelling solo you will have the cabin to yourself, but couples /pairs can pay the one fee, but then have double occupancy.
Seat reservations are the same as the day trains, except for on the Oslo - Stavanger route operated by Go Ahead, on which reclining seats are also available, but they can only be booked at the Entur travel desks in Norway.

(7) The only pan-Scandinavian rail pass that is still available is the Eurail Scandinavian Pass; so if you don't meet the criteria for Eurail passes - for example, being a citizen of a European country makes you ineligible, you cannot purchase a pan-Scandinavian rail pass.