Flamsbana climbs from fjord to mountain plateau
Published on 09/22/2026 at 21:20 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Flamsbana is a railway journey written into the landscape of western Norway. From Flam beside the Aurlandsfjord, the line climbs towards Myrdal through a long sequence of tunnels, bridges, waterfalls and mountain terrain. Its 20.2-kilometre route rises from near sea level to a high railway junction, making the changing altitude visible in the track itself.
Flamsbana: a railway between fjord and mountain
The line links Flam with Myrdal, where it meets the Bergen Railway. Flam station lies beside the Aurlandsfjord, while Myrdal is situated high above the fjord landscape. Between them, the railway crosses the Flamsdalen valley and passes through terrain shaped by steep slopes, narrow watercourses and exposed rock.
The railway has standard gauge and reaches a maximum gradient of 5.5 per cent, equivalent to a rise of one metre in eighteen. The route climbs without a rack railway. Its 20-kilometre railway route contains twenty tunnels, creating a repeated rhythm of darkness, rock and open valley views.
Engineering in rock, water and snow country
Construction began in 1923 and the railway was completed in 1940. Parliament had selected the route and its broad-gauge railway form before construction began, while electric operation was decided in 1923. The line opened with steam trains before electrification was completed in 1944.
Eighteen of the twenty tunnels were excavated by hand. The tunnels remain among the clearest signs of the work involved in crossing this mountain landscape. The railway also includes a bridge and several curved sections within the mountains. At Vatnahalsen, the line passes through a long tunnel before reaching higher ground.
The figures give the route its character: an elevation difference of roughly 864 metres, a minimum curve radius of 130 metres and a steepest gradient of 55 per mille. technical details of Flamsbana also record the line’s standard gauge and electrical system.
From Flamsdalen to Kjosfossen
The journey passes through several distinct landscapes. Near Flam, the railway follows the valley floor, with green slopes, farm buildings and streams close to the track. Higher sections show more exposed rock and mountain vegetation, while the route approaches the open terrain around Myrdal.
Kjosfossen is the best-known named feature on the line. The waterfall appears beside the railway in a steep mountain setting, with water descending over rock near the track. The route also passes Berekvam, Blomheller, Dalsbotn, Lunden, Reinunga and Vatnahalsen.
The railway’s history is closely linked with the Bergen Railway. The Flåm route provides a connection between the fjord settlement and the main railway across the mountains. Its electrified railway history belongs to the infrastructure of western Norway as much as to its scenery.
Visiting Flamsbana: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Flamsbana runs from Flam on the Aurlandsfjord to Myrdal, where it connects with the Bergen Railway. Flam is reached through the fjord and road network of western Norway.
- The route crosses a steep mountain valley. Tunnels, bridges, rock faces and sharp gradients are permanent features of the railway landscape.
- Kjosfossen is a named waterfall beside the line. Higher stations include Vatnahalsen and Myrdal, where the surroundings become alpine and open.
- The official language is Norwegian and the currency is the Norwegian krone.
Searching for Flamsbana on social platforms
These links open searches for Flamsbana on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Flamsbana
Where is Flamsbana?
Flamsbana is in western Norway. It connects Flam on the Aurlandsfjord with Myrdal on the Bergen Railway.
What does the railway journey show?
The route crosses the Flamsdalen valley and mountain terrain. Tunnels, waterfalls, bridges and steep gradients appear along the line.
What makes Flamsbana distinctive?
Its 20.2-kilometre standard-gauge line climbs roughly 864 metres and reaches a maximum gradient of 5.5 per cent.
