NORWEGIAN STATE RAILWAYS NSB is in the midst of a renewal process. The three train concepts Agenda (medium distance journeys), Signatur (long distance) and Puls on short haul commuter lines are changing the face of NSB and its product offering. Specially spectacular routes to recommend are the Flåm Line (side line from the Bergen line), Rauma Line from Dombås to Åndalsnes and to Finse a part of the construction and operation of the Bergenline Railway. Finse is located on one of the most sheltered areas on the alpine stretch of the railway and was, for this reason, picked as the centre of the manpower needed to clear the track of snow in the winter. Norwegian trains are very comfortable and provide good service, both on day and night services. There are also good, direct rail connections with the main cities in Sweden and Denmark. The first Agenda train went into service north-west of Oslo on the scenic mountain route between Dombås and Åndalsnes in October 2000. In the south-east around Oslo the first Agenda-upgraded train was introduced to customers the month after. Agenda-implementation here will be complete when all of today´s InterCity trains reach the Agenda standard and 6 brand new trains have been delivered. When this program is fully implemented in 2002, both Skien - Oslo - Lillehammer and Oslo - Halden routes will be serviced every hour by modern Agenda trains. Further north 11 totally new Agenda trains enter service between Hamar, Røros and Trondheim, Dombås and Åndalsnes, and Trondheim - Bodø. On these routes Agenda is already fully implemented. On the rail stretch between Trondheim - Bodø, however, there are still one day train with compulsory seatreservation (train number 471, departure 08:42, arrival 18:30) as well as a nighttrain (train number 475, departure 23:30 arrival 10:00. FLÅM RAILWAY Discover the Flåm Railway - an incredible train journey from the mountain station at Myrdal on the Bergen Railway down to Flåm station nestled in the innermost corner of the Aurlandsfjord. Nowhere in the world do adhesion railcars on normal tracks have a steeper journey than on the Flåm Railway. Each year, this exciting stretch of track attracts people from all comers of the world, making the Flåm Railway one of Norway´s major and most spectacular tourist attractions. Challenge It was a major challenge for railway engineers of the period to build a railway track from the Myrdal Plateau, down the precipitous mountain sides, to the bottom of the Flåm Valley. The twisting tunnel, which wends its way through the mountain at several levels, is proof of the most audacious and skilled engineering exploits in Norwegian railroad history. The mountain line had to be laid along steep slopes and round sharp bends to enable the train to snake its way up and down the sheer inclines. Almost 80% of the railway line has a gradient of 55%o, the equivalent of 1:18. 20 Years of Construction The Bergen Railway from Oslo to Bergen was inaugurated in 1909. Work on the Flåm branch line was started in 1923 to ensure the transport route down to the Sognefjord, and progressed so well that they could begin to lay the tracks in the autumn of 1936. The line was opened temporarily for steam trains on 1. August 1940, and for electric trains in 1944. 20 Tunnels The train takes about one hour to cover the 20-kilometer long track, through 20 tunnels totalling a distance of six kilometres. Eighteen of these tunnels were excavated by hand, each metre claiming a month´s hard labour from the railroad workers. To avoid areas at risk from avalanches, the Flåm Raiiway criss-crosses the river and the bottom of the valley three times in the course of its journey. Instead of building bridges, the river was led through a tunnel under the railway line. Breathtaking Scenery The Flåm Railway is one of the world´s most attractive and spectacular railway lines. The train journey from Myrdal to Flåm provides a panoramic view of some of the wildest and most striking examples of Norwegian mountain landscape. Rivers cut through deep ravines, waterfalls cascade down the side of steep, snow-capped mountains, and mountain farms cling dizzily to sheer slopes. At the foot of the mountains you can enjoy the natural beauty of the Flåm Valley and admire the majestic Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the world´s longest fjord, the Sognefjord. RAUMA LINE The Kylling bridge at Verma at the head of Romsdalen valley carries the Rauma Railway from one side of the valley to the other. It is one of the best-known bridge structures in Norway and is often used as a symbol of good engineering and quality for products not remotely connected to bridges. The Romsdalen valley is extremely narrow here. The river Rauma is actually all the valley floor there is and the Kylling bridge connects the sides of the valley 60 metres above the surging waters. The Kylling bridge is built of blocks of granite in a self-supporting structure. It took all of ten years to build the bridge. The Rauma Railway was opened in 1924. Åndalsnes is the end station for the Rauma Railway and has been a cruise port since 1883. AIRPORT EXPRESS TRAIN The main airport in Norway is Oslo Airport Gardermoen. It takes 19 minutes to Oslo Central Station. The Airport Express Train brings you from Oslo Airport to Lillestrøm, Oslo Central Station (Oslo S), the National Theatre, Skøyen, Lysaker, Sandvika and Asker. The Airport Express Train offer Ticketless Travel using SAS Travel Pass Corporate (TPC), SAS Corporate Card, SAS Braathens e-pass, Eurocard/MasterCard, American Express, Diners and Visa. Remember to swipe your card in the card reader at the station before boarding. This way we can register the station you departed from. At the airport just swipe your card through the card reader again, and your card will be charged with the correct fare. Our card readers are located close to our ticket vending machines at all stations. Tickets for the Airport Express Train can be purchased together with air tickets at your travel agency. Tickets are also available at all Airport Express Train stations, at ticket counters as well as card and cash ticket vending machines. There is no seat booking on the Airport Express Train. NSB Regional and Local trains All Regional trains on the stretch Skien - Oslo - Lillehammer - Trondheim via Oslo Airport. So does NSB Local trains on the stretch Kongsberg - Eidsvoll also. Train schedules are available at NSB Customer or your local railway station. Parking at Airport Express Train Stations A taxi, private car or bus will take you right to the Airport Express Train terminal at Oslo Central Station. There is a parking garage for 650 cars situated right outside the terminal. Oslo Central Station has a direct link from the Jernbanetorget subway station. Except for the Nationaltheatret subway station, you can park your car at all railway stations where the Airport Express Train stops. Train schedules are also available on www.rutebok.no. FLÅM STEP BY STEP Myrdal The Bergen Railway and Flåm Railway meet on the Myrdal Plateau. The Flåm Railway is operational throughout the year with four departures daily in the winter season and nine or ten during the summer season. Vatnahalsen Barely a kilometre from Myrdal the train stops at Vatnahalsen where you can enjoy the first spectacular view over the valley. Vatnahalsen Hotel is located close to the station. Reinunga Just east of the line lies Reinunga Lake in picturesque surroundings. At Reinunga the train enters its first loop. After a few sharp bends it slowly passes a "window" cut out in the tunnel wall, providing a magnificent view over the Flåm Valley. Kjosfossen At the exit of Bakli Tunnel the train stops at the mighty Kjos Waterfall. The river seen from here flows down from the Reinunga Lake to the power station through a water tunnel. Shortly after the Kjos Waterfall and tunnel, at Pinnelia, you can see three levels of the Flåm Railway spiralling up the steep mountain side. From Pinnelia you can also see the Rallarvegen road with its 21 sharp bends zigzagging up towards the Myrdal Mountain. The next tunnel, the Nåli Tunnel measuring 1.340 metres, is the longest. Kårdal From Kårdal you can see the highest hamlet in the Flåm Valley, the Kårdal Waterfall and the old road through the Ugjerd Valley. Blomheller One of the Flåm Valley´s most dangerous natural phenomena, the Trolla Avalanche, is to be found in the west. Each winter with normal snowfalls an avalanche thunders down from the lofty mountain peak. Berekvam From this station, halfway between Myrdal and Flåm, you can see the dramatic Berekvam Ravine, where the Flåm River cuts deeply through the narrow gorge. At Berekvam there are double tracks to enable the trains from Myrdal and Flåm to pass each other. Dalsbotn Just south of Dalsbotn lies the Styvisethaugen Farm, built on an enormous rock. Another huge rock provides a natural bridge across the river. After Dalsbotn there are two tunnels, Spælemyren and Furuberget. Håreina The Flåm Railway widens out and you can see picturesque farms and Flåm Church (1667) nestling at the bottom of the valley. Above Håreina, tower the Vibmesnosi Mountain (1.260 metres) and the breathtaking Rjoande Waterfall with a vertical drop of 140 metres. Lunden This is where the precipitous Haga Mountain drops down to the railway line. FLÅM Flåm is a smalI town with approximately 450 inhabitants, nestled in the innermost corner of the Aurlandsfjord, and centrally located along the new main road (open all year round) between Oslo and Bergen.