I am taking a boat from Balestrand that gets into flam at 1:25. The Flamsbana leaves at 1:35 because the rest are sold out. I am traveling early September. Will I have a problem.?
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
60 posts
No. The arrivals/departures of the ferries and trains are synched, primarily to accommodate tourists. The point at which the ferry docks (Norled express boat) is literally steps away from the train platform. You shouldn't have a problem.
Posted by
Berlin
2224 posts
I am a little less optimistic for two reasons:
- Ferries can delay due to weather and other conditions - and if they do it is often more than just a minute.
- We speak about different companies. There is no central steering to coordinate except the goodwill of some people responsible for different results and organizations.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
60 posts
I could afford to be less optimistic due to possible bad weather as Mark stated or engine failure or whatnot. I'll admit to being an anxious traveler and 10 minutes is cutting it close. However, barring extreme events - and I think it's a safe bet - I would bank on an on-time arrival. Norled and Flåmsbana have been doing what they do for a long time, and they do it well. The boat's cruising speed is 35 knots - the captain told me he could do 40 comfortably but he doesn't need or want to - and I imagine that at a straight shot, without slowing down as the boat does a couple of times along the way for photo ops for the tourists, it could make Flåm in 75 minutes instead of the 90 the route calls for. You might check with Norled to gauge the risk.
Posted by
Berlin
2224 posts
So, we press thumbs for OP :-)
@OP: please add your experience here after journey.