Need Norwegian Train and Bus Help

Norway Rail's Customer Service would be the experts. You would definitely have to go back to Oslo if traveling by rail. You can see on this map how there is no train route up the west coast.

https://www.nsb.no/en/our-destinations/map-of-railway-lines/_attachment/1438?_download=true&_ts=141972bb8d8

I'd suggest that using the bus/train to get from Bergen to Harstad is not a very good transportation option. There are two far better options. There are plenty of flights that take less than 5 hours with one stop in Oslo for under $200 on Norwegian Airlines or SAS. You'd fly forom Bergen to Evenes (Harstad/Narvik) with a connection in Oslo. This will be the fastest option and probably the cheapest option. The more scenic option would be to take the Hurtigruten up the coast.

Here is one more train map (from Sweden Rail - SJ) that shows more clearly why SJ runs the trains that go to Narvik.

http://www.sj.se/content/1/c6/09/70/34/ScanRail_Map_2011_A4_webben.pdf

The reason for the convoluted land routes from Bergen to Narvik is simple. The spine of Norway is mountainous, and the coast of Norway is water and islands, so direct train travel from south to north along the coast of Norway just isn't possible. That second map Laura posted shows the train routes clearly, and how they have to work around the water and the mountains.

I agree that taking the Hurtigruten (if you have time) or the plane (if you don't) are far better than the marathon train/bus rides you are looking at.

Hi Seattle,

By train, you have to go back to Olso first. I've done this trip myself, and it's scenic, but long. You can take an afternoon train from Oslo to Trondheim, where you will change to an overnight train to Fauske. This is nearly as far as the Norwegian trains go (the line terminates a bit further west in Bodø). From Fauske it's at least 5 hours by bus to Harstad. See the Norwgian Rail website for schedules and ticket prices: www.nsb.no. A full fare ticket on the train is about $200, but there are some advance-purchase tickets available for about half that.

The reason that Swedish trains run to and from Narvik is because Narvik was (might still be) a port for Swedish iron ore, so the Swedes built the railway there. The trains from Narvik only run into Sweden.

It's a long trip from Bergen to Harstad, about a 1,000 miles. I agree with Laura, either flight or boat would be better than the train. Of the two, flying is faster and less expensive while the boat is the most scenic option. If you fly from Bergen to Narvik on the 30th, there is a flight through Bodø taking 3h 45 min. for $225. The flights are not the same every day, so you need to play around with the dates to find the one that works best for you. See www.skyscanner.com for options.

Taking the Hurtigruten boat up the coast is beautful, but it takes longer and it's expensive, around $1000 per person (includes a cabin and meals). You leave Bergen at 20:00 and arrives in Harstad on the morning of the 4th day. It will be a nice trip if you have the time and money. Price depends on day of the week and how soon you book your tickets. See the Hurtigruten website for schedules and prices: www.hurtigruten.com.
Hope that helps!

As Laura notes, you would need to use Swedish train travel for part of a train only travel north.

The Visit Norway website describes option:
http://www.visitnorway.com/us/where-to-go-us/northern-norway/harstad/getting-to-harstad-and-around/

Challenge is distance:
From Oslo: 1,417 kilometres

To clarify the confusion regarding the Norwegeian and Swedish trains in the north, the only trains to/from Narvik are Swedish trains heading to Kiruna and points south in Sweden. If you are heading north from Oslo or Trondheim, you would not take a train to or from Narvik (unless you were traveling into Sweden from Narvik after). You will take a Norwegian train as far as Fauske and continue to Narvik by bus or car.

My vote would be to take the Hurtigruten boat up the coast from Bergen. I've taken it as far as the Lofoten islands (almost as far as Harstad) and loved it. If you have the time and money, it's a beautiful trip.

Thanks for all of your suggestions and advice. I truly appreciate it and it has helped us decide on the most efficient route to get us where we need to go. We are going to take the NSB train from Bergen to Oslo airport train station and then take a flight from OSL airport directly to Harstad/Narvik airport which is where our relatives live. The flight was fairly cheap around $110 a piece and only around 1 hour and 40 minutes instead of a 24 hour train ride up to Fauske and connecting 5 hour bus ride. I have found out that flying within Norway is much cheaper than I first realized and gives us more time to spend with our relatives instead of staying on trains all day and night.

Glad you got the help you needed, and I think you definitely made the right choice!