For cyclists travelling across Norway this summer, there is one thing you need to pay close attention to before planning your trip:

Large parts of the Norwegian rail network will once again be affected by engineering work, line closures and “buss for tog” (replacement buses).

For normal passengers this is inconvenient. For cyclists, it can completely derail travel plans.

The Main Problem for Cyclists

When trains are replaced with buses, bicycles are usually not guaranteed a place.

This is one of the biggest weaknesses in Norway’s transport system for cycle tourism and something many foreign visitors do not fully understand before arriving.

In practice, whether your bike is accepted often depends on:

• The individual driver
• How full the bus is
• Whether luggage compartments are already occupied
• The size and type of bike
• The number of other cyclists travelling

This means you can arrive at a station with a valid ticket and still not know if you will actually be able to continue your journey. Unlike trains, buses simply have limited capacity for bicycles. During peak summer periods this becomes even more unpredictable, especially on popular cycling corridors.

Major Summer Rail Closures Affecting Cyclists

Dovrebanen

Eidsvoll – Løten/Støren

Dates: 30 May – 14 June

Closed between Eidsvoll and Løten/Støren.

During the first weekend the line is completely closed all the way to Trondheim.

This is one of Norway’s most important north-south rail corridors and will affect cyclists travelling between Oslo, Trondheim, Rondane, Dovrefjell and northern Norway.

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Vestfold & Telemark

Drammen – Porsgrunn

If you plan to cycle NGR 2 or any of the Telemark Canal routes, Porsgrunn will likely be your start or end point.

Dates: 4 July – 20 July

Complete closure with bus replacement.

This is one of the most important train corridors for cyclists travelling between Oslo, Vestfold, Telemark and southern Norway. Riders heading towards the south coast, gravel regions in Telemark or routes further south towards Kristiansand and Stavanger should expect significant disruption.

Porsgrunn – Skien

It is easy to cycle between these two towns in less than one hour, so this disruption should not be a major concern for most cyclists.

Dates: 10 July – 13 July

Additional closure during the same period affecting local connections.

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Sørlandsbanen

Gjerstad – Kristiansand

Repeated engineering work throughout the year including:

6 June – 7 June

Alongside recurring nightly closures through the summer. Only one day involves a full closure, so this should not affect most journeys to the south coast.

Egersund – Stavanger

Dates:

• 20 June – 21 June
• 11 July – 15 July

Important for cyclists starting or finishing rides in the Stavanger region.

If you are trying to return to Oslo or Kristiansand from Stavanger, cycling to Egersund is a good alternative. The route is relatively flat and scenic.

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Oslo Region Disruptions

Oslo S – Lillestrøm

Dates: 27 June – 10 August

Trains rerouted via slower lines with delays and reduced capacity expected.

This affects almost every northbound cyclist leaving Oslo by train.

Lillestrøm – Dal (south of Lake Mjøsa)

Dates: 31 July – 10 August

Partial closures affecting the Hovudbanen corridor.

Oslo S – Ski

Dates: 4 July – 3 August

Affects travel towards Østfold and Swedish connections.

Ski – Rakkestad

Dates: 27 July – 2 August

Closures affecting the eastern Østfold line and connections towards Sweden.

Sørumsand – Kongsvinger

Dates: 10 August – 16 August

Closures affecting Kongsvingerbanen and rail connections towards Sweden and eastern forest regions.

Oslo S – Roa / Roa – Gjøvik

Dates: 29 August – 11 September

Closed between Oslo S and Roa.

Additionally:

• 29 August – 1 September between Roa and Gjøvik

This affects access towards the gravel-heavy forest regions north of Oslo and specifically NGR1 to Gjøvik.

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Trondheim & Central Norway

Trondheim S Closure

Dates: 22 June – 29 June

Trondheim station largely shut for major engineering work.

Hamar – Støren

Dates: 26 June – 29 June

Full closure on one of Norway’s most important north-south rail corridors. Trains between Trondheim and Oslo will be heavily affected during this period.

Dombås – Støren

Dates: 15 June – 16 June

Disruptions along the Dovrebanen. Only one day, so limited impact for most cyclists.

Hell – Steinkjer / Hell – Storlien

Dates:

• 19 June – 22 June
• 20 June – 22 June

Affects Trøndelag regional traffic and Swedish rail connections.

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Northern Norway

Narvik – Bjørnfjell

Dates: 20 July – 6 September

One of the longest continuous disruption periods this summer.

However, bicycles are not allowed on this train service anyway, so this closure should not directly affect most cyclists.

Mo i Rana – Dunderland

Dates: 17 June – 21 June

Closures affecting the Nordlandsbanen between Bodø and Trondheim.

Steinkjer – Bodø

Dates: 20 June – 22 June

Additional closures affecting most sections of the Nordlandsbanen to Bodø/Trondheim.

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Advice for Cyclists This Summer

1. Check engineering works before booking

Do not assume train lines are operating normally during summer.

2. Allow buffer days

Tight schedules become risky once buses replace trains.

3. Travel early in the day

Morning departures generally improve the chances of getting bicycles accepted.

4. Avoid weekends where possible

Popular routes and tourist corridors can become overloaded quickly.

5. Pack lighter

Large touring setups are harder to fit onto replacement buses.

6. Have backup plans

Sometimes the only realistic option is riding to the next operational station.

The Reality

None of this means cycle touring in Norway has become difficult. Far from it. But it does mean cyclists need to understand that Norway’s transport network still operates with a degree of unpredictability once the engineering season begins.