Flamsbana train ticket purchase

At the time I was planning my 2022 trip, I read that vy.no sold through tickets to Flam (including the Flamsbana) from both Oslo and Bergen. I bought such an Oslo-Flam ticket myself without difficulty (though I think I may have had to use PayPal to pay for it). That policy may have changed; maybe Vy now sells Flamsbana-only tickets, but it's worth checking to see whether a purchase for the full trip is possible.

I'd be shocked if a Flamsbana trip in May was already sold out, but I have no intimate knowledge of demand for the Flamsbana.

Another possible source, though they may well mark up the price of the ticket, is NorwaysBest.com.

I wouldn't worry unduly about not finding space on the Flamsbana in May, but I don't blame you a bit for wanting a ticket in your hand. The thing about Norway is that things are so very expensive. The last thing you want is to have to pay for a hotel in Town A while you are marooned in Town B due to some sort of transportation disaster. I planned my Norway trip in much greater detail than I consider necessary in other countries.

I don't think there's anything at all in Myrdal except the train station. You can buy simple food at the station. I had a sandwich that was both good and remarkably reasonable in price (for Norway).

At the other end of the trip, in Flam, there's a small museum about the construction of the Flamsbana that's quite interesting. It has a small shop selling some decent souvenirs. There's a rather large tourist shop nearby that I thought had generally dreadful merchandise.

Thank you, acraven.

Based on your comment I just went back to the Vy website to try and purchase a train ticket from Oslo to Flam. For the 06:25 and 08:25 departures from Oslo it doesn't appear possible anymore. When I clicked on those time/ticket options this message appeared for both: "We only sell tickets from Oslo S to Myrdal stasjon. The remainder of your journey must be bought via other public transport operators."

There were other (later) Oslo departure times that displayed and appear to book the entire ticket from Oslo to Flam, but they arrive in Flam too late to catch the Norled ferry or a public bus from Flam to Aurland (we have booked 2 nights in Aurland.)

I can purchase train tickets leaving Myrdal at 14:48, getting us to Flam by 15:46. Then we just need to find transportation from Flam to Aurland.

I have messaged Norway's Best to inquire if we can book individual one-way tickets on either their shuttle bus (departing Flam for Aurland at 16:00) or their fjord cruise ferry (departing Flam for Aurland at 16:30). I found their timetables on their website.

I've also read there is a taxi service in Aurland that I may end up calling (+47 901-30-808) if Norway's Best can't sell us one-way tickets.

What you're seeing is odd, but it's not absolutely impossible Vy's allotment of tickets for that particular Flamsbana has been exhausted. Or maybe there's another explanation I'm not thinking of.

What you're planning to try next makes sense, but I'd also look for the schedule of the Flam-Aurland public bus. I keep reading that there is one, and I think it runs pretty frequently. I've never taken a taxi in Norway, but it's my impression they're mortgage-the-house expensive.

That day there is a Celebrity cruise ship in port which departs at 1600. So they have probably booked the bookable capacity on the train that day on the relevant departures.

As far as I am concerned there is part of a train car held unbooked for local passengers from the wayside stations. Only that door opens and you pay the train guard, as soon as you board. The same happens on the Andalsnes line when cruise ships are in.

I've used that on cruise days pre Covid (being on a cruise myself) to hop between the various village stations down the line, and was not worried about being unable to board, basically I have enough experience to do that. I can't believe they no longer offer that facility.

The issue here on this forum is that most folk only do full line journeys, so won't have tried that idea out. Surely if you write to Vy or call them they can confirm that.

I can't tell you how that works from either terminal station but it sure works at the village stations. Great fun days there using the valley road to walk between the villages. In fact I got off the last train at the last station before Flam last time and walked back to the ship- which surprised a fair few folk- but heck, why not.

Time was when extra train cars were drafted in from the Stockholm urban area for the summer but those days are gone.

Good news - this morning I refreshed the page on the Vy website and tickets for the 13:24 departure train from Myrdal to Flam were available and I purchased 2.

Glad to hear it. That's a nice thing to have nailed down.