Flamsbana, the steep fjord railway between Flam and Myrdal
Published on 09/09/2026 at 11:18 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Flamsbana, known in Norwegian as Flåmsbana, is a mountain railway that drops from the high station of Myrdal to the fjord-side village of Flam in western Norway. Built as a branch of the Bergen Line in the twentieth century, it threads through the steep valley of Flåmsdalen, turning a short stretch of track into a concentrated encounter with rock faces, waterfalls and farms on the slopes.
A steep branch of the Bergen Line
The core identity of Flamsbana lies in its role as a branch line of the Bergen Line connecting mainline trains with the inner reaches of Aurlandsfjord. The route runs between Myrdal station, high on the mountain corridor between Oslo and Bergen, and Flam, which lies close to sea level at the head of the fjord.Flåm Line Over this run the railway covers just over 20 km (about 12.5 mi), yet the track climbs or descends roughly 860 m (around 2,820 ft), giving the line gradients that are unusually steep for standard-gauge railways.20.4 kilometre line
The Flåm Line was opened in 1940 after decades of planning and work to bring rail access down into the valley and out to the fjord.opened in 1940 as a branch It was built as a standard-gauge adhesion railway rather than using rack sections, which makes its sustained steep gradients a point of engineering distinction. Northern Europe’s steepest standard-gauge adhesion track label follows from this combination of length and climb on ordinary rails, and it has helped to define the line’s reputation among rail enthusiasts.Northern Europe’s steepest adhesion track
Engineering through a narrow valley
Between Flam and Myrdal the Flåm Line runs through the valley of Flåmsdalen, where steep slopes and unstable ground demanded a careful alignment. Much of the route lies on the side of the valley rather than on the floor, and the track alternates between open sections with views across the valley and closed sections where the line disappears into rock. Around twenty tunnels pierce the mountainside along the journey, and many of them were excavated by hand when the railway was built.20 tunnels on the Flåm Railway Short platforms and passing loops at intermediate stations show how the alignment contends with limited flat ground.
The descent from Myrdal, around 867 m (2,844 ft) above sea level, to Flam, close to sea level on Aurlandsfjord, takes place over a sequence of curves and gradients that together form one of Europe’s steepest standard-gauge adhesion lines.866 metre drop in 20.2 km On board, the train passes small farms, river crossings and sections where rock walls rise immediately beside the track. Waterfalls can be seen at several points along the valley, with Kjosfossen being a particularly prominent cascade beside the line, and the combination of tunnels, bridges and sharp changes in view gives the journey its concentrated feel.
From fjord village to mountain junction
At the lower end of the line, Flam sits at the head of Aurlandsfjord, itself a branch of the larger Sognefjord in western Norway.Flåm in the Aurlandsfjord The station lies close to the harbour area, where cruise ships and local boats call, and the railway forms a straightforward connection between fjord transport and the inland rail corridor. The village is framed by steep, grassed slopes and higher rock faces, so the first metres of track already begin the climb into Flåmsdalen.
At the upper end, Myrdal station is a mountain junction on the Bergen Line across southern Norway. It sits high above the valley and serves as a transfer point between long-distance trains and the branch down to Flam.Myrdal Station on the Bergen Line From the platforms at Myrdal the main line continues towards Oslo in one direction and Bergen in the other, while Flamsbana takes a separate track that begins its steep descent almost immediately. Modern operations involve companies such as Vy and Flåmsbana AS, and the line forms part of Norway’s national rail network even though its scale is much smaller than intercity routes.Flåmsbana AS
Visiting Flamsbana: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Flamsbana runs between Flam, a village at the head of Aurlandsfjord in western Norway, and Myrdal station on the Bergen Line high in the mountains, so the journey links fjord travel with mainline trains.
- The terrain on the line involves steep slopes, tunnels and short platforms, and movement between train and platform at intermediate stops often means using steps and walking on uneven surfaces.
- Flam lies in Vestland county in Norway; the official language is Norwegian and the currency is the Norwegian krone.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Flamsbana
Where is Flamsbana?
Flamsbana runs between the mountain station of Myrdal on the Bergen Line in southern Norway and the fjord-side village of Flam at the head of Aurlandsfjord in Vestland county.
What can travellers expect on a journey with Flamsbana?
The journey covers just over 20 km between high mountains and fjord-level terrain, crossing bridges and passing through numerous tunnels, with views of steep valley sides, waterfalls and scattered farms.
What makes Flamsbana distinctive among railways?
Flamsbana combines standard-gauge adhesion track with an elevation change of around 860 m over a short distance, giving it one of Europe’s steepest profiles and a concentrated sequence of gradients, tunnels and tight curves.
