Myrdal

The mountain junction

Myrdal is a working railway junction rather than a conventional village. The station sits high above Flåmsdalen, linking Bergen Line trains between Oslo and Bergen with the branch line to Flåm. Its essential appeal is the abrupt change of scale: one moment you are on a mountain railway; the next, the Flåm Railway begins its drop towards the fjord.

The station opened in 1908; the Flåm Railway followed in 1940. The compact station area is framed by tracks, rock, snow shelters and open upland. There is no road connection, so every arrival and departure is by train, on foot or by bicycle.

Ride the Flåm Railway downhill

The 20-kilometre railway from Myrdal to Flåm drops about 866 metres in roughly an hour. It is a standard-gauge adhesion railway: no rack rail and no cable are used. Much of the route reaches a 1-in-18 gradient, with tight curves and 20 tunnels; 18 were excavated by hand during construction.

From Myrdal, the line works down through the upper valley past Vatnahalsen and Reinunga before stopping at Kjosfossen waterfall. The train pauses there briefly for passengers to step out. After that, tunnels, steep valley walls and the Flåm River dominate the route to Flåm.

For the best use of Myrdal: make it a one-way rail journey rather than a rushed interchange. Arrive on the Bergen Line, allow time to orient yourself on the platform, then continue downhill to Flåm.

Rallarvegen and the station surroundings

Myrdal is also a trailhead for the Rallarvegen, the old navvies’ road built with the Bergen Line. Its route from Myrdal descends through Flåmsdalen towards Flåm; the upper section is unpaved and the descent is substantial.

Cyclists can hire bicycles at Myrdal when the café is open. This is a mountain route, not a casual station-side ride: use a properly maintained bike, expect changing surface conditions and carry layers. Walking downhill is an alternative, but it requires the same respect for distance, gradient and weather.

Vatnahalsen, the first stop down the Flåm Railway, is within summer walking distance of the station.

Practical station notes

• Connections: trains run towards Bergen, Oslo S and Flåm. Build in transfer time; this is an exposed highland station, not an urban concourse.
• Food and toilets: Café Rallaren operates seasonally; vending machines serve the rest of the year. Toilet access is tied to the café’s opening arrangements.
• Access: there is no road access and no rail-replacement transport from Myrdal if trains are cancelled.
• Mobility: platform access is available from trains, but the area outside the station is not step-free for wheelchair users.
• Weather: conditions can be markedly colder and windier here than in Flåm. Keep waterproof and warm layers accessible rather than packed away.