Waits for trains in Bergen and Flåm?

[the_princess]

When we arrive at Bergen, we want to take Expressen, the small train around the city and Fløibanen. In Flåm we want to take Flåmbanen. But what are the waits like for these trains in August? Should we expect crazy long lines? Or will we have a better chance getting on if we leave the ship very early?

:)

[hallasm]

From a Dane to another Dane in English!

Que for flåmsbanen will depend on the number of ships at the day, but my advies is to be early - normally long queus and sold out trains - do not buy tickets in advance at the web. These tickets has to be validated using the same queue as buying tickets for the train.

God tur!

[YOUTUBE]yjnzGcyWPIk[/YOUTUBE]

[the_princess]

From a Dane to another Dane in English!

Que for flåmsbanen will depend on the number of ships at the day, but my advies is to be early - normally long queus and sold out trains - do not buy tickets in advance at the web. These tickets has to be validated using the same queue as buying tickets for the train.

God tur!

yjnzGcyWPIk

 

Sold out??? Then we have to be there first thing in the morning!

Tak for svar :-)

[hallasm]

A snapshot of the monitor when I arrived to the ticket counter.

Check number of ships in Flåm - link to cruise ship arrivals 2014

[the_princess]

Thanks, it looks like we are going to be two big ships in port that day. I guess our best shot is to leave the ship as early as possible.

[Globaliser]

Thanks, it looks like we are going to be two big ships in port that day. I guess our best shot is to leave the ship as early as possible.

One suggestion that has been made here is to buy your Flamsbana tickets at another Norwegian railway station before you reach Flam, if your ship's itinerary makes that possible. Apparently, this avoids the queues at Flam and the (very real) risk of sold out trains.

 

We would have done this if our group had not opted instead to make a group booking.

[hallasm]

One suggestion that has been made here is to buy your Flamsbana tickets at another Norwegian railway station before you reach Flam, if your ship's itinerary makes that possible. Apparently, this avoids the queues at Flam and the (very real) risk of sold out trains.

 

We would have done this if our group had not opted instead to make a group booking.

Buying a ticket at another NSB stations doesn't work - this will be an open ticket with no seat reservation - tickets need to be validated in Flåm.

Only way for reservation is a group arrangement for a minimum of 10 people.

[KirkNC]

One suggestion that has been made here is to buy your Flamsbana tickets at another Norwegian railway station before you reach Flam, if your ship's itinerary makes that possible. Apparently, this avoids the queues at Flam and the (very real) risk of sold out trains.

 

We would have done this if our group had not opted instead to make a group booking.

 

I agree. The other option is to buy them before you leave. We bought ours from RailEurope, we paid more (all be it less than the cruise line charged) but it was a zoo for people trying to get tickets that morning.

[hallasm]

Looks like it's now possible to pre-book tickets for two people at the web

Try this link:

https://booking.visitflam.com/en/to-do/a594953/the-flam-railway/showdetails

[tan2199]

When we went to Flam on our Princess cruise we did the train. We qeued up from the time the ship docked to the time the station opened.

There was nearly a murder in the line with people skipping other people and then when we got onto the train , they had one carriage for anyone who had bought tickets, the rest of the train was booked out by the cruise ship for their excursions.

 

We were like sardines in the one carriage. My advise book through the ship

[the_princess]

When we went to Flam on our Princess cruise we did the train. We qeued up from the time the ship docked to the time the station opened.

There was nearly a murder in the line with people skipping other people and then when we got onto the train , they had one carriage for anyone who had bought tickets, the rest of the train was booked out by the cruise ship for their excursions.

 

We were like sardines in the one carriage. My advise book through the ship

 

This sounds like a mad house!!!! When was this? Could it have become better? I thought you had reserved seats???

[the_princess]

Another question, if it says, that we will be in port at 7 in the morning, is that the time we arrive, or the time we can leave the ship? :-)

[Ecuador]

We purchased our tickets in Bergen at the railway station.No problem.

[Elmartellama]

Looks like it's now possible to pre-book tickets for two people at the web

Try this link:

https://booking.visitflam.com/en/to-do/a594953/the-flam-railway/showdetails

 

Do you have to validate the tickets / que if you do it this way? Or if you buy the tickets at Bergen train station?

[hallasm]

Do you have to validate the tickets / que if you do it this way? Or if you buy the tickets at Bergen train station?

Yes - tickets bought at NSB or at the web are open tickets with no reservation - need to be validate at arrival in Flåm.

Looks like you can buy tickets including reservation at Flåm Railway web - see link in previous post

[hallasm]

Another question, if it says, that we will be in port at 7 in the morning, is that the time we arrive, or the time we can leave the ship? :-)

Ship must be cleared - expect 30 minutes from arrival before you can go ashore.

[Ecuador]

As our ship was in Bergen the day before Flam, we bought our tickets for the 11.05 train at Bergen railway station. When we docked at Flam there was no need to rush off and we headed up to the station about 40 minutes before departure.The inspector at the end of the platform checked our tickets and then we walked onto the platform to join a queue of about 20 other people.Just before 11.00, the barrier was opened and we were free to get on any carriage that did not have a reserved sticker.

[hallasm]

As our ship was in Bergen the day before Flam, we bought our tickets for the 11.05 train at Bergen railway station. When we docked at Flam there was no need to rush off and we headed up to the station about 40 minutes before departure.The inspector at the end of the platform checked our tickets and then we walked onto the platform to join a queue of about 20 other people.Just before 11.00, the barrier was opened and we were free to get on any carriage that did not have a reserved sticker.

 

Will work, except if trains are sold out on busy days.

[tan2199]

This sounds like a mad house!!!! When was this? Could it have become better? I thought you had reserved seats???

 

This was 2011. it was first come for the seats

[KirkNC]

The tickets we bought from RailEurope needed no validation.

[the_princess]

This was 2011. it was first come for the seats

 

So they have changed that now?