Raumabanen: Europe's most beautiful train journey

Vertical walls, wild waterfalls and trickling water

The legendary travel book publisher Lonely Planet has repeatedly named Raumabanen Europe's most beautiful train journey. Arriving from Trondheim or Oslo and changing trains at Dombås, you can look forward to an hour-and-a-half adventure that includes the high mountain landscapes of Reinheimen National Park, jagged peaks, steep mountainsides, waterfalls, and the Rauma River winding through the valley.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the visual spectacle. Be mesmerised by Trollveggen, Europe's highest vertical mountain wall. Look up at the peaks of Romsdalshorn and Romsdalseggen, as well as the Rampestreken viewpoint, and start dreaming of your next hike. Alight at Åndalsnes and consider extending your journey by exploring the Norwegian Scenic Route Trollstigen – an absolute engineering marvel.

Experience engineering in steep terrain

Raumabanen is the only railway in Møre og Romsdal. The region’s magnificent landscape, with its towering mountains and steep elevations rising directly from valleys and fjords, is both challenging and enchanting. The Rauma Line’s engineers overcame these challenges in a truly spectacular and beautiful manner, and we, as locals, are really grateful for it.

The altitude difference between Bjorli and Verma in Romsdalen valley is 300 metres, and the descent towards Verma is steep and swift. To navigate this, the engineers and navvies planned and constructed the Stavem turning tunnel and Kylling Bridge, which allows the train to traverse three different altitude levels in the shortest possible time. By the way ‒ Kylling Bridge, with its elegant design in such rugged terrain, is one of the most photographed bridges in Norway.

Raumabanen turns 100 in 2024

For more than a century, the Raumabanen train line has linked Møre og Romsdal to Trøndelag and Eastern Norway. After years of planning and discussions dating back to the 1800s, construction began in 1912. Erik Lerheim, editor of the magazine Jordbrugeren, described it as follows:

“In the past, this large agricultural district has been regarded as a corner between the Dovre Alps and the North Sea. At a stroke, the county has now been transformed into the centre of our country, with the Rauma Line as the shortest route between Eastern Norway and the North Sea.”

The freight train transports furniture, mail, and fish from Møre og Romsdal to the world while also supplying goods to the fjords. In addition to several daily departures operated by SJ Norge between Åndalsnes and Dombås, “The Golden Train” runs the Åndalsnes-Bjorli-Åndalsnes route during the summer season.

The gold transport

When Norway was occupied by Germany during the Second World War in 1940, it was crucial to safeguard Norwegian assets, particularly the gold reserves of the Norwegian Bank in Oslo. To prevent the gold from falling into enemy hands, a group of brave individuals rushed to collect 3,000 gold bars from the bank and transported them by train via Raumabanen to Åndalsnes. In total, 49 tonnes of gold were rescued and shipped out of Norway by British warships from the port of Åndalsnes. During the summer season, you can relive this dramatic chapter of history aboard The Golden Train.

Hollywood’s top choice for mountain majesty

In Møre og Romsdal, you can experience true film magic. The towering landscapes and untamed nature of Romsdalen valley have inspired several major film and television productions, both Norwegian and international.

Find your peace on the train from Oslo and Trondheim to Møre og Romsdal

Raumabanen offers a comfortable train journey from Oslo and Trondheim to Åndalsnes – the gateway to Møre og Romsdal. The train line runs between Dombås and Åndalsnes, connecting with the Dovre Line between Oslo and Trondheim. The journey from Dombås takes approximately 80 minutes, while the total time from Trondheim or Oslo is around 5 hours and 30 minutes. Along the way, the train stops at Lesja, Lesjaverk, and Bjorli for passengers to board and alight.

Continue your journey to other stunning fjords and towns

Travelling with Raumabanen, daily bus services connect Åndalsnes with the towns of Ålesund, Molde, and Kristiansund, as well as Geiranger during the season when the road over Trollstigen (the Troll’s Path) to Valldal is open. Car hire is also available through Fjord Mobility (Avis) and Hertz.

Create your best holiday memories

Møre og Romsdal is a destination for everyone and everything. Whether you seek peace and quiet or raw, untamed nature, you can easily find it here – or even both. This is where wild landscapes take your breath away, yet at the same time, can soothe your soul and slow your heartbeat.