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Advice on Narvik-Trondheim leg of Norway trip

Posted by on

Hi everyone!

My partner and I are travelling to Norway in July, and would like some advice on (part of) our itinerary. We are travelling by train and other public transport, so we fear some activities or locations might be less practical than we think. This is our route so far, I'm putting some specific questions below, but feel free to mention any other problems or issues you might notice!

  • night train to stockholm, spending the day in stockholm, then taking the overnight train to Narvik.
  • two nights in Narvik, so we would spend 1.5 days there (polar park / mountain top)
  • Bus from Narvik to Fauske + Train from Fauske to Mo I Rana (perhaps safer with an overnight stay in Fauske? Or is this reliable?)
  • two nights in Mo I Rana (unsure about this, perhaps straight to Mosjøen?)
  • via Stokkvågen to Lovund, 3 nights on Lovund with daytrips to different islands
  • via Sandnessjøen to Mosjøen, two nights there
  • Mosjøen to Trondheim, 2 nights in Trondheim
  • Havila or Hurtigruten from Tronheim to Bergen
  • Next day: Bergen to Oslo by train (early train) + train to Göteborg (seems doable in 1 day, we've already travelled this route with several stops 2 years ago)
  • 2 nights in Göteborg, then going home.

Specific questions:

  1. Is two nights in Narvik okay or will we want more time there?
  2. Getting from Narvik to Mo I Rana: in one day or sleep in Fauske? (We we want to be efficient with money and time but also don't want to get stuck anywhere)
  3. Stop in Mo I Rana, then Lovund, then Mosjøen, or skip Mo I Rana? I'm torn between spending more time in one place (Mosjøen / Lovund) to be able to relax, and splitting up the journey to account for any issues on the way. But is Mo I Rana worth it if you don't have a car? Seems like the most highly recommended things (Svartisen, National park) are hard to reach.
  4. Do you see any issues with this itinerary?

Thanks for your insights!

Posted by
29703 posts

I am utterly useless on the places you're going other than Trondheim, Bergen and Oslo, which are obviously not the focus of this trip, but I'm a bit concerned about your plan for back-to-back overnight train rides. Have you taken night trains before? Do reviews indicate the compartments are comfortable and the rail bed reasonably smooth for those specific routes? I've only slept in couchettes, and it was never a restful experience even when I was in my 20s. I know compartments are a bit roomier, but I'd never risk two nights in a row without a real hotel room and shower.

Posted by
10759 posts

The basic problem at the moment with the (Bodo) to Fauske to Trondheim rail route is that it is not running throughout. There was a fatal landslide about a year ago which also closed the E16 road, and there is zero time frame for re-opening. There was also apparently a 2nd landslide about two months ago.

When the 2nd landslide happened there was also a problem on the Narvik line (now resolved) so for a time there was no train service to Narvik either.

Even if the Bodo line is re-opened there are insufficient locomotives to run all scheduled trains (with freight taking priority) due to the age of the trains. They are unusual locomotives and SJ Nord is said to be trying to get other locomotives from somewhere in Central Europe to boost the fleet, pending new trains which are on order for delivery in 2030.

So there is a very limited rail service running with some rail replacement buses. But all the word is that it is a constantly moving target as to what can run, with no quick or easy solutions.

Apparently SJ Nord now have a new maintenance facility just opened at Bodo so some trains can run again from the north end, but not the usual trains and with no catering.

PS- When the trains are running my experience is that the bus to train connection at Fauske is very efficient and very reliable, as the two modes both know that they are meant to connect.

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