How do I do the train in Norway and Sweden?
July 28, 2015 8:54 AM Subscribe
I am going on a vacation to Norway and Sweden at the end of August, which involves flying into Bergen and taking a series of train rides around until I end up in Stockholm. I am a complete train newbie, how to trains work?
I'm from western Canada where we don't really do trains. So I have experience flying, taking buses, driving, and none with train riding (other than as novelty rides or city-transit). So if someone could walk me through what going on a train ride (preferably in a Norwegian or Swedish context) that would be wonderful.
Given that I bought tickets online, how early do I need to get to the train station? Do train stations have security like an airport? Or do I just wander onto the platform (like at a greyhound station for example)?
What do I do with my luggage? Do I check my bags and get them back at the end?
I'm from western Canada where we don't really do trains. So I have experience flying, taking buses, driving, and none with train riding (other than as novelty rides or city-transit). So if someone could walk me through what going on a train ride (preferably in a Norwegian or Swedish context) that would be wonderful.
Given that I bought tickets online, how early do I need to get to the train station? Do train stations have security like an airport? Or do I just wander onto the platform (like at a greyhound station for example)?
What do I do with my luggage? Do I check my bags and get them back at the end?
Best answer: *Early: matters not. Don't come too late...
*Security: Haven't seen any screenings in the Scandinavian countries, no.
* So, you just walk onto the platform and into the train
* ...with your bags. No checked-in bags. Big bags get stored in special racks close to the entrances (if there are many people on the train, there might be a problem regarding these). Small bags go on a rack above your seat.
* For longer trips it's good to reserve a seat. In many countries there are electronic signs above the seats indicating their numbers and whether or not they've been reserved, and from where to where. Now. Sweden has this absolutely dumb non-system that the reserved seats aren't actually pointed out in the train (for others to not sit on them, in the often false hope of them not being reserved). The only thing some trains have is a note that says "this seat may be reserved". So if you're sure you have the correct coach, and the correct seat nr. you may still have to ask someone sitting there to leave.
* As to how to operate the doors and other stuff, just ask people, and watch them.
posted by Namlit at 9:13 AM on July 28, 2015
*Security: Haven't seen any screenings in the Scandinavian countries, no.
* So, you just walk onto the platform and into the train
* ...with your bags. No checked-in bags. Big bags get stored in special racks close to the entrances (if there are many people on the train, there might be a problem regarding these). Small bags go on a rack above your seat.
* For longer trips it's good to reserve a seat. In many countries there are electronic signs above the seats indicating their numbers and whether or not they've been reserved, and from where to where. Now. Sweden has this absolutely dumb non-system that the reserved seats aren't actually pointed out in the train (for others to not sit on them, in the often false hope of them not being reserved). The only thing some trains have is a note that says "this seat may be reserved". So if you're sure you have the correct coach, and the correct seat nr. you may still have to ask someone sitting there to leave.
* As to how to operate the doors and other stuff, just ask people, and watch them.
posted by Namlit at 9:13 AM on July 28, 2015
Best answer: How exciting - I just went from Oslo to Bergen by train and it was stunning! Coming from Canada the landscapes may not be quite as wonderful to you, but I would recommend a spare camera battery.
The trains in Norway were very friendly to foreigners and non-train-experienced people. No security, but you will probably need a reserved seat on longer trips. On several of the trains we were on there were people standing in the aisles, but in others there was lots of space. Try to minimise your luggage and make it light enough and small enough to put on the shelves over your seat. If you can't do this you'll need to leave your luggage wherever there is space, which can be quite a way away.
You don't need to turn up too early, but don't forget train stations can be big and it can take a while to find your platform. 20 mins works for me. If you need to pick tickets up you might want to turn up earlier.
There's no problem with asking people to leave your reserved seat - just smile and ask politely and if they turn nasty either sit elsewhere (but you may need to move later) or ask the conductor for help.
When an announcement says the train is stopping for 10 minutes it's fine to get off the train, but if you aren't back in time the train will leave without you.
Food on the train is really expensive, it's fine to bring your own (but normal rules about socially appropriate foods apply). It's not always fine to eat on buses.
If you have pre-booked tickets only usable on a particular train then you only need to show the conductor your ticket (and you normally only need to show them once even if they continue to walk up and down, though if they ask again you must be able to produce your ticket). If you have tickets valid on any train I think you need to validate your ticket in a special machine before you get on the train. This is to stop people re-using tickets. They won't always check them but if you travel with an unvalidated ticket you could get fined. If it's unclear, ask for help.
Have a great time!
posted by kadia_a at 10:51 AM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
The trains in Norway were very friendly to foreigners and non-train-experienced people. No security, but you will probably need a reserved seat on longer trips. On several of the trains we were on there were people standing in the aisles, but in others there was lots of space. Try to minimise your luggage and make it light enough and small enough to put on the shelves over your seat. If you can't do this you'll need to leave your luggage wherever there is space, which can be quite a way away.
You don't need to turn up too early, but don't forget train stations can be big and it can take a while to find your platform. 20 mins works for me. If you need to pick tickets up you might want to turn up earlier.
There's no problem with asking people to leave your reserved seat - just smile and ask politely and if they turn nasty either sit elsewhere (but you may need to move later) or ask the conductor for help.
When an announcement says the train is stopping for 10 minutes it's fine to get off the train, but if you aren't back in time the train will leave without you.
Food on the train is really expensive, it's fine to bring your own (but normal rules about socially appropriate foods apply). It's not always fine to eat on buses.
If you have pre-booked tickets only usable on a particular train then you only need to show the conductor your ticket (and you normally only need to show them once even if they continue to walk up and down, though if they ask again you must be able to produce your ticket). If you have tickets valid on any train I think you need to validate your ticket in a special machine before you get on the train. This is to stop people re-using tickets. They won't always check them but if you travel with an unvalidated ticket you could get fined. If it's unclear, ask for help.
Have a great time!
posted by kadia_a at 10:51 AM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Here's Seat61's European rail guide.
Seat61.com is your absolute best friend for this kind of question and rail travel across Europe is a remarkably standardised experience, largely because of well over a century of cross-border train travel. The Norway and Sweden pages might also be useful.
posted by Happy Dave at 11:50 AM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Seat61.com is your absolute best friend for this kind of question and rail travel across Europe is a remarkably standardised experience, largely because of well over a century of cross-border train travel. The Norway and Sweden pages might also be useful.
posted by Happy Dave at 11:50 AM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
I've done this trip, and aside from Seat61 and previous recommendations, I want to add:
pack light! Since you will be moving around with your luggage, it is much easier if you are traveling with a carryon or hiking backpack, rather than a huge piece of luggage.
posted by troytroy at 12:34 PM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
pack light! Since you will be moving around with your luggage, it is much easier if you are traveling with a carryon or hiking backpack, rather than a huge piece of luggage.
posted by troytroy at 12:34 PM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for all the answers! I am one of those people who likes to have a plan for everything, so it was driving me nuts not knowing what to expect walking into a train station.
I am super jazzed about not having to be super early prior to travelling to queue and go through security. Trains sound like such a more civilized way to travel
posted by selenized at 1:20 PM on July 28, 2015
I am super jazzed about not having to be super early prior to travelling to queue and go through security. Trains sound like such a more civilized way to travel
posted by selenized at 1:20 PM on July 28, 2015
The only uncivilised thing about trains in Sweden is the delays. Part of the experience, I fear.
posted by Namlit at 2:37 PM on July 28, 2015
posted by Namlit at 2:37 PM on July 28, 2015
The train ride from Bergen to Oslo is spectacular. Here is a picture of the train station in Bergen. I arrived an hour early for my train - and the train showed up about 40 minutes after that. It unloaded its passengers, got cleaned up, we went in and then I had a beautiful seven hour journey to the capital, Oslo.
I bought my tickets online and saved a lot of money. So I booked a first class ticket ( less crowded ). That ticket enabled me to sit in a quiet car, get a newspaper, help myself to all the hot chocolate, coffee or cookies that I would ever want ( I don't remember a snack service otherwise ) and best of all there was a plug to recharge my Mac and my iPhone right near my seat.
The voyage was beautiful - there are mountains to see, lakes along the way, and quaint villages here and there. NRK made a seven-hour video about that trip here's the greatest hits 30-minute version.
Enjoy Norway and Sweden, superb countries. Send me a message if you wish more info!
posted by seawallrunner at 11:03 PM on July 28, 2015
I bought my tickets online and saved a lot of money. So I booked a first class ticket ( less crowded ). That ticket enabled me to sit in a quiet car, get a newspaper, help myself to all the hot chocolate, coffee or cookies that I would ever want ( I don't remember a snack service otherwise ) and best of all there was a plug to recharge my Mac and my iPhone right near my seat.
The voyage was beautiful - there are mountains to see, lakes along the way, and quaint villages here and there. NRK made a seven-hour video about that trip here's the greatest hits 30-minute version.
Enjoy Norway and Sweden, superb countries. Send me a message if you wish more info!
posted by seawallrunner at 11:03 PM on July 28, 2015
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Train stations vary in the amount of security. I rode trains in Spain that had airport-lite style security and some in Belgium that had nothing. I've always kept my luggage with me, usually with one bag in the overhead compartment and the other with me in the seat. As for time before train, I'd shoot for about 20 minutes before departure. Some trains sit at the station for a long time and others come in, pause to let people off and then on and take off all in the span of a few minutes. As soon as you get to the station, verify the track number and sit near it.
posted by soelo at 9:11 AM on July 28, 2015 [2 favorites]