For the first time in over 20 years, a direct train connection between Oslo and Denmark is returning from summer 2028. But it does not stop there. The train continues all the way to Berlin, reconnecting Norway with mainland Europe by rail again.

For cycle tourism, this could become far more important than many people realise.

One of Norway’s long-standing weaknesses has been accessibility. While central Europe has spent years improving international rail connections, Norway has remained physically and psychologically disconnected from the continent unless you fly. This new route begins changing that reality.

Cyclists from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium and beyond will suddenly be able to reach Norway far more easily by train. Although no official bike policy has yet been announced, it is highly likely bicycles will be included. Across Europe there has been growing political and transport pressure to improve bicycle access on long-distance rail services, particularly through EU strategies focused on sustainable tourism and integrated transport.

The infrastructure itself is also evolving. One reason this route is now possible is the massive Fehmarnbelt connection currently under construction between Denmark and Germany. Once complete, it will create a permanent rail and road link beneath the Baltic Sea, dramatically improving travel between Scandinavia and mainland Europe.

For cyclists, this is where things become genuinely exciting.

Imagine leaving Hamburg, Copenhagen or Malmö with your bike, boarding one train, arriving in Oslo, and then riding directly onto Norway’s National Gravel Routes network. From there, days or weeks can be spent exploring remote forests, mountain plateaus, quiet valleys and old transport corridors sustainable by bike.

Then, when the journey is over, you simply return to Oslo and board the train home again.

No dismantling bikes. No cardboard bike boxes. No airport logistics. Just continuous movement between mainland Europe and some of the wildest cycling landscapes left in northern Europe.

The route is expected to connect Oslo with Göteborg, Malmö, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Berlin in around 14–15 hours. Of course, the real test will be pricing, and bike reservations. But strategically, this is one of the most important transport developments for Norwegian cycle tourism in years.

At the same time, the benefits work both ways.

For Norwegians and Scandinavians, this route opens the door to mainland Europe’s enormous cycling network in a way that has not existed for decades. Instead of flying, cyclists will be able to board a train with a fully loaded touring or gravel bike and wake up connected directly to Europe’s rail and cycling infrastructure.

From Hamburg alone, riders can access the Netherlands’ world-class cycling network, Belgium’s canal and gravel routes, Germany’s endless long-distance bike paths, France’s quiet rural roads and the EuroVelo corridors stretching across the continent.

Perhaps most importantly, the psychological barrier begins disappearing. Europe no longer feels so distant when you can simply roll your bike onto a train and begin riding directly from the station. For younger cyclists and bikepackers, it creates the possibility of long one-way journeys across Europe without complicated transport arrangements. For older riders, it offers a calmer, slower and more accessible form of international travel.

Countries like Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands already see bicycles as a normal part of transport infrastructure. Scandinavia has often remained isolated from that system because of geography and weak international rail links.

This route begins reconnecting Scandinavia to that wider European cycling culture and we see this as a positive step forward for Europe as a whole. Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.

Offical Press release: https://www.vy.no/en/news/direct-trains-from-oslo-to-berlin-new-route-from-summer-2028