Hi!
Has anyone taken a trip or plan to take a trip from Norway to Sweden using the rail? I'm thinking of planning a trip and would welcome any advice. Is this a common journey? We want to stop for a day or two in each city before we get on the train again to the next city.
Thanks!
Hi llatort,
It depends on where you are traveling to and from, how much time you have and what you want to see. For example, there are 2 direct trains per day between Oslo and Stockholm, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, taking a little less than 5 hours. Other trains involve a train change in Göteborg and take about 7.5 hours. Prices vary greatly, depending on how far in advance you book, anywhere from 225 SEK ($26) for an advance-purchase, non-refundable ticket, to 1200 SEK ($140) for a fully-refundable, walk-up fare. You can find schedules, and book tickets online ahead through the Swedish Rail website - www.sj.se
It's certainly common for people, both tourists and locals, to take the train, especially when compared to train travel in the U.S. but not as common as it is in countries such as italy or France. It's a pretty trip, across the width of Sweden through the heart of the lake country but it can be cheaper and faster to fly (1 hour flights from $50). See www.skyscanner.com for options. If you have a lot of time and wanted to stop in several places along the route, such as Göteborg and somewhere in the lake country before ending in Stockholm, then the train would be a better option.
It certainly depends where you are traveling. For shorter distances, the train is a popular method of transit but because of the inexpensive budget airlines, many people fly longer distances. If going from Göteborg to Oslo, the train is a good option if one doesn't drive their own car. Going from the north to the south, from Trondheim to Oslo for instance, a flight is faster and cheaper.
To find rail schedules (but not prices for these countries), use the Bahn (German Rail) website http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en, following Rick's tutorial: http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/online-schedules
To find flights, use Skyscanner: http://www.skyscanner.com/
Since some of the flights will be on budget carriers, be sure to do a dummy booking (up to the point where you put in your credit card) to see all the extra fees and to learn all the rules.
One thing that surprised me was how much less common train travel was in this region, and how much more common was plane travel, compared to the rest of Europe. The fact that there are only two direct trains a day between Oslo and Stockholm is indicative. Certainly, for many routes the plane is faster, particularly in Norway given the mountains and fjords that force convoluted train routes.
