Myrdal Train Station, Norway
History and Location
Myrdal is not a town or a central hub in the usual sense — it's a remote mountain railway station located 867 metres above sea level in Aurland municipality, Vestland, with no road connection to the outside world. Myrdal station opened in 1908 as part of the Bergen Railway, and today it serves as the junction between the Bergen Line (the Oslo–Bergen mainline) and the Flåm Railway, one of the world's most spectacular railways.
The station has three platforms across two lines, with a single track, a passing loop, and freight sidings supporting the mix of mainline and branch-line traffic that passes through. Because there's no road connection to Myrdal, the only ways in or out are by train, on foot, or by bike — which is a large part of what makes the station such a distinctive stop on a Norwegian rail journey.
Myrdal station opened in 1908 as part of the Bergen Railway, built as the line pushed across Norway's mountain plateau between Oslo and Bergen. The station sits at 867 metres above sea level, surrounded by mountains, with the valley floor of the Flåm valley dropping away sharply below the mountain top junction.
Construction crews once used the old Navvies' Road (Rallarvegen) to build and maintain this stretch of railway, and that same route today serves hikers and cyclists exploring the area around the station. Several tunnels lead in and out of Myrdal, a reminder of just how much engineering was required to bring a railway through this high, exposed terrain.
Myrdal as a Junction & Station Facilities
Myrdal's main role is as a junction. The Bergen Line mainline carries long-distance and regional trains between Oslo and Bergen, while the Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) branches off here and descends approximately 867 metres in just 20.4 kilometres down to Flåm village — one of the steepest standard-gauge railway lines in the world. The journey between Myrdal and Flåm takes approximately one hour, covering a 20-kilometre route often described as one of the world's most spectacular railways.
If you're travelling between Oslo and Bergen and want to visit Flåm, Myrdal is where you disembark from the mainline and change onto the Flåm Railway — there's no way to reach Flåm from the mainline without passing through this station.
Facilities at Myrdal are limited, reflecting its remote setting. There is no ticket office or ticket machine at the station itself, so tickets for the Flåm Railway must be booked in advance online or purchased at ticket offices at other railway stations in Norway — this is especially important in summer, when the railway is extremely popular.
Café Rallaren, named after the railway navvies who built the line, is the seasonal café located at Myrdal station, offering snacks and a small gift shop for travellers waiting between connections. Basic waiting rooms and shelter are available on the platforms, though don't expect the facilities of a larger city station — Myrdal is built around its role as a junction, not as a destination in itself.
5718 Myrdal, Norway, Myrdal, Norway
Popular questions
Popular questions
Myrdal is not a village — it is a remote train station located 866 metres above sea level that serves as the junction between the Bergen Railway (the Oslo–Bergen route) and the spectacular Flåm Railway. If you plan to visit Flåm on your journey between Oslo and Bergen, you must disembark at Myrdal Station and change to the Flåm Railway.
There is no ticket office or ticket machine at Myrdal Station itself, so tickets for the Flåm Railway must be purchased in advance online or at ticket offices at other railway stations in Norway. Booking well ahead is essential, particularly in summer when the railway is extremely popular.
When travelling from Flåm up to Myrdal, sit on the right-hand side for the best views. On the return journey from Myrdal down to Flåm, the left side is preferred. Be prepared for rapidly changing mountain weather and bring layers even in summer.
Yes, Myrdal is a mountain railway station situated at 867 metres above sea level, making it one of the higher-altitude stations on Norway's rail network and a dramatic contrast to Flåm village at sea level just 20 kilometres away.
The Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) is a branch line starting at Myrdal Station and descending to Flåm village, dropping approximately 867 metres over 20.4 kilometres. It's widely regarded as one of the world's most spectacular railways, known for its steep gradient and mountain scenery.
Myrdal functions primarily as a railway station and junction rather than a village or settlement — there are no roads connecting it to the outside world, so it exists almost entirely to serve passenger trains changing between the Bergen Line and the Flåm Railway, along with hikers and cyclists using it as a trailhead.
Yes, passenger trains on the Bergen Line run through Myrdal regularly as part of the Oslo–Bergen mainline service, while separate passenger trains on the Flåm Railway connect the station to Flåm village, making Myrdal a genuine interchange point rather than a quiet backwater stop.
Myrdal acts as a starting point for hiking and cycling on the historic Rallarvegen, giving visitors plenty of activities to explore beyond simply riding the Flåm Railway. Scandinavia's longest zipline is near Myrdal station, spanning 1,381 metres over the Flåm valley, and adventurous travellers occasionally plan a full day around biking, hiking, and the zipline before catching a later train onward.
Biking from Myrdal to Flåm takes about 2 hours, while the hike from Myrdal to Flåm is approximately 16 kilometres long. There's nowhere to buy much beyond snacks at the station's small café, so it's worth planning ahead and bringing water and layers before setting off, whatever the season.
Yes, Kjosfossen waterfall is accessible via the Flåm Railway, which makes a scheduled stop so passengers can step out, view the water up close, and take a photo before continuing the journey down toward Flåm village.
The Flåmsbana descends approximately 867 metres in only 20.4 kilometres from Myrdal to Flåm, a gradient steep enough that the Flåm Railway is a well-known tourist railway in Norway and considered one of the world's most spectacular railways for its combination of engineering and mountain scenery.
Myrdal Station serves as a crucial connection for travellers moving between major cities and coastal fjords, linking the Oslo–Bergen mainline with the Flåm Railway down to Flåm village on the Aurlandsfjord. This makes Myrdal a key junction for anyone planning a cross-country trip that combines mountains, mainline rail, and fjord scenery in one journey.
Myrdal station is situated in Aurland municipality, Vestland, at 867 metres above sea level. It opened in 1908 as part of the Bergen Railway, and Café Rallaren remains the seasonal café located at Myrdal Station today, providing snacks and shelter for travellers waiting between connections.
No separate local trains or local railway operate at Myrdal beyond the Bergen Line mainline and the Flåm Railway branch — the station's platform layout, with its upper terminal area, passing loop, and freight sidings, is built specifically to handle mainline and branch-line traffic rather than a wider local network.
South of Myrdal, the Flåm Railway descends steadily toward Flåm village and the fjord below, while the mainline continues on toward Bergen. In winter, snow at this altitude is common, and the station's platform and waiting rooms provide basic shelter, though travellers should still cross to the correct platform carrying warm layers regardless of season.
There isn't a dedicated tour operator based at Myrdal itself, though the Flåm Railway journey is often included as part of wider guided tours of Norway's fjords, and some tour companies build a stop at Myrdal into multi-day itineraries covering the Bergen Line and Flåm valley together.
Detailed timetables and route information for both the Bergen Line and the Flåm Railway can help you find the right connection and plan your visit to Myrdal, since the station itself has very limited passenger information services on-site beyond the seasonal café and basic signage.
The upper terminal area of Myrdal station, where the Bergen Line mainline meets the Flåm Railway platform, sits above the valley floor and is generally considered the best spot for a photo looking down toward the mountains before the train ascends back up from Flåm or begins its descent. Since there's no road and no way to drive to Myrdal, the upper terminal and its surrounding attractions — the Rallarvegen trail and the nearby zipline — remain reachable only by train, on foot, or by bike.
Myrdal acts as a starting point for hiking and cycling on the historic Rallarvegen, the old construction road that follows the railway through the mountains toward Flåm. Hiking from Myrdal to Flåm covers approximately 16 kilometres, while biking the same route takes about two hours, giving active travellers an alternative to simply riding the train down.
For a different kind of thrill, Scandinavia's longest zipline is located near Myrdal station, spanning 1,381 metres over the Flåm valley. Travellers staying on the train rather than hiking or biking can also see Kjosfossen waterfall, accessible via a scheduled stop on the Flåm Railway itself, where the train pauses so passengers can step out and view the falls up close.