Features of the transport infrastructure of Norway. Economic conditions for tourism development. Maritime transport in Norway

Norway has an extensive network of public transport, including rail, air, water and road.

Buses in Norway

Buses are the most convenient and common form of transport. Norway has a wide, well-balanced network bus routes, which covers and connects all major cities of the country with the smallest villages, as well as ferry terminals and airports. Passengers are served by about 200 very comfortable buses - with air conditioning, bio-toilets and comfortable seats.

There are several bus carrier companies operating in the country. Their routes, schedules and fares are combined into a single booking and planning network. Generally, bus service between the mainland and island parts Norway is produced jointly with ferry carriers. In these cases, the price of the bus ticket includes the cost of the ferry. And although bus prices are quite high, in most cases the trip will cost much less than the same route by train. There are discounts for children, students, and families. There are often promotions and ticket sales.

As always, in certain cases it is profitable to buy travel tickets for 3-7-21 days. They are valid throughout the country and provide unlimited travel. You can buy them both at the ticket office and directly on the bus. There is no need to pre-book bus tickets: bus companies fully guarantee availability free seats. Tickets can be purchased at bus stations, tourist offices, as well as directly from the driver, naming the destination.

A very useful website for tourists traveling to Norway will be the website of the company NOR-WAY Bussekspress AS, where you can get any necessary information about prices and schedules, as well as ongoing promotions.

Railway

The Norwegian railway network consists of five routes diverging from Oslo:
- southern Sarlandsbanen (from Oslo to Stavanger);
— mountain Bergensbahnen (from Oslo to Bergen);
— central Dövrebanen and Rørosbanen (from Oslo to Trondheim);
- northern Nordlandsbanen (Trondheim-Bodø).

The total length of railway tracks in Norway is 4,087 km. There are 775 tunnels and more than 3 thousand bridges along the route of trains. The management of all railway transport is in the hands of the state company NSB (Norwegian State Railways). The main part of the trains are express trains equipped with first and second class carriages. Traveling by rail is expensive; traveling by bus is much cheaper. You should also take into account that the basic ticket price does not include a sleeping place, the purchase of which will increase the cost by 30–40%. The company provides discounts when booking tickets for children, pensioners and disabled people, and for group trips. Travel tickets for 3-7-21 days are also available.

You can buy tickets at the railway station ticket offices, or also order them through the official website of Norwegian Railways, paying for the purchase with a credit card.

It should be taken into account that in the fjord areas the railway network is insufficient, and in Far North There are no trains at all (the northernmost station is Bodø).

Taxi in Norway

Taxis are an expensive form of transport and operate only within the city. You can rent a car either in a special parking lot, or simply by voting on the street or ordering by phone. You can pay by cards.

Car roads

Norway's roads are among the best in the world. Their length is about 93 thousand km, 74% of them have a hard surface. In Oslo, many highways are underground. There are almost no toll roads, which cannot be said about tunnels and ferries (5 - 100 CZK). Gasoline in Norway is a little more expensive than in others European countries.

The highways are very winding and you need to drive along them with your headlights on all the time, even on a sunny day: this is due to both poor visibility and frequent weather changes. In some places the roads are so narrow that in certain places “pockets” are constructed so that you can miss an oncoming car. Such routes are found in fjord areas. The maximum speed on the highway is 80 km, in cities - 50, in residential areas - 30.

You only need to park in the parking lots. Only residents of nearby buildings who have paid for an annual parking pass can park outside the parking lots. It is mounted on the windshield for easy inspection.

Car rent

To rent a car in Norway, you must have an international driving license, a credit card and paid insurance. In the absence of the latter, a cash deposit is required, the amount of which depends on the type of car. The minimum driver age is 19 years, but some companies extend it to 25 years. Payment is accepted mainly by credit cards.

Air Transport

Norway has developed both external and domestic airlines. Air transport is perhaps the most important in passenger transportation ahead of buses and trains. All details about flights and prices can be found on the official website of the Norwegian airport service Avinor. There are 53 airports in Norway, the largest of which is Oslo Gardermoen Airport.

Water transport

Norway has a wide, well-developed network of water transport: express boats and car ferries connect almost all coastal settlements, as well as large islands and islets. Tickets can be purchased before departure at terminal ticket offices, as well as on the websites of ferry companies. For booking a ticket you get a discount, sometimes quite significant. In addition to public boats, you can also find private boats that offer boat excursions or fishing.

The country has a fairly extensive network of road, rail and air routes. Most of the passenger traffic is transported by road and sea transport. From Oslo, a network of modern highways fan out across the country, covering even the most remote northern regions. Majority intercity buses departs from the Central Bus Terminal on Schweigaardstrasse. Long distance tickets must be reserved in advance.

Roads and driving rules
The roads are very good (in the capital, most of them are underground) and are thoroughly cleared of snow in winter, but they are quite narrow and have many tunnels (there are more than 530 of them in the country), and the roadway itself makes endless turns, sometimes quite sharp, between mountain ranges. As throughout Scandinavia, low beams or side lights must be on here at any time of the day - frequent weather changes sometimes reduce visibility on the road to a minimum. Driving with trailers is prohibited on some roads, especially in the fjords, where the roads may run along narrow ledges and there are "pockets" for passing oncoming traffic.

The permissible speed in residential areas is 30 km/h, in populated areas - 50 km/h, on highways, as a rule, 80 km/h. There are almost no toll highways in the country, but there are many toll tunnels, bridges and ferry crossings(from 5 to 100 CZK). Gasoline is more expensive than in other European countries. The permissible blood alcohol limit is 0.2 ppm. Many small roads are closed in winter.

All parking in Norway is paid. You cannot park outside the parking lots - only cars of residents living in the surrounding houses can be parked there. At the same time, on the windshield of every car parked outside the parking lot there must be an annual parking pass of a certain color that corresponds to the given parking zone. The fine for non-compliance with parking rules is quite high. Entry by car into the historical part of Oslo and Bergen is paid.

Air
Domestic air services are excellent and play a leading role in passenger transport in Norway, ahead of buses and trains. This is due to both the size of Norway (2,500 km from north to south) and the complex mountainous terrain of the country, indented by many fjords and bays. IN winter period Air travel is sometimes the only way to get to settlements located on islands or behind mountain passes.

Bus service in Norway
The bus service is well developed and connects all the largest cities in the country with each other and even with the smallest settlements. Norway has several regional and interregional bus companies whose routes, fares and timetables are linked into a single booking and planning network. Bus service between the mainland and island settlements is carried out in cooperation with ferry companies, and the cost of crossings is already included in the price of the bus ticket. Fares are relatively high, but, as with trains and planes, promotions and ticket sales are common. They also offer 3/7/21 day nationwide passes for unlimited travel.

The buses are quite comfortable, equipped with dry closets, air conditioning, and comfortable reclining seats. At the same time, one should take into account the considerable length of the country and keep in mind that traveling by bus, for example, from Oslo to Narvik (1,900 km) lasts almost a day and can be very exhausting.

More complete information about schedules, tariffs and ongoing promotions can be found on the single website of all bus companies in Norway NOR-WAY Bussekspress AS (www.nor-way.no).

Water transport in Norway
Marine vessels, ferries and boats carry many passengers. Hurtigruta (Coastal Express) provides passenger sea transport all year round, serving the coast from Bergen to Kirkenes and further north to Russian border. The fjord area is served by numerous ferries. From the embankment opposite the town hall (next to the travel office) ferries depart to the Bygdø (Bjogde) peninsula, from the Aker Brygge embankment to Nesodden, from the Wippetangen embankment to the island of Hovedøya, and from June to August to Langøyen beach. Transitions last from 10 minutes. up to 2 hours. Old coasters delivering local residents from remote areas, in summer they are quite attractive for tourist trips. The cabin must be reserved a month in advance. Only modern ships are capable of transporting cars. In many places there are specialized boat moorings, where both regular ships carrying passengers from distant fjords and private boats are usually moored, with the owners of which you can always agree on a trip to a particular area, as well as on a fishing or excursion flight.

Most Popular sea routes on the Stavanger-Haugesund-Bergen line (up to 6 flights per day in summer and three in winter), operated by high-speed catamarans of the HSD company, and the Narvik - Svolvær route in the north of the country.

Tickets can be purchased on both ferry company websites via credit card, and directly at the ticket offices of the relevant sea terminals before departure. The cost is quite high, but by planning a trip to Norway in advance, it is quite possible to purchase tickets during some promotion or sale. In addition, many ferry companies offer discounts of up to 20% when purchasing tickets in advance.

Urban transport
To Oslo public transport very well developed. A whole network of bus lines, 5 metro lines ("T-bane"), trams and ferries completely covers the capital itself and the surrounding areas. A one-time ticket for any type of transport costs about 15 CZK and is valid for an hour after composting (carriage of bicycles is paid separate ticket). A daily pass ("dagskort") operates in the same way and costs about 40 CZK, a weekly pass - 140 CZK. The "flexikort" ticket is valid for 8 trips (approx. 150 CZK). At night (after 24.00) the night rate comes into effect, which is slightly higher than the day rate; night tickets are not valid.

For tourist trips, it is profitable to purchase an "Oslo Card" (150 CZK for one day, about 200 CZK for two days and 250 CZK for three days, for children from 4 to 15 years old - half the price), providing free entrance to most city museums, as well as unlimited travel on all types of public transport (a number of ferries are not included in this system). The Oslo Card also gives a 50% discount on excursions by bus or boat, and a discount in some restaurants, shops and car rentals. Sold at travel agencies, newsstands "Narvesen" and in most hotels. For students and people over 60, who according to Norwegian rules pay half the price of museum tickets, it is more profitable to purchase a regular pass and pay separately for museum tickets.

Taxi
Taxis are quite expensive and only operate within the city. The landing fee is about 3 euros (4 euros after 19.00 and on weekends) and about 1.3 euros for each kilometer driven. Credit cards accepted. All cars are radio-equipped, so you can order a car from any phone, as well as “catch” it in special parking lots and on the street. Taxi drivers are allowed to pick up passengers only with the consent of the person already in the cabin, so not everyone stops on the street. In small towns it is recommended to book a taxi in advance.

Hitchhiking is possible on all provincial roads, but in the north of the country, traffic on the highways is quite rare and sometimes you have to wait quite a long time for a passing car.

Railways and trains in Norway
There are five main railway lines in Norway - the southern Sarlandsbahnen (from Oslo to Stavanger), the mountain Bergensbahnen (from Oslo to Bergen), the central Dövrebanen and Rørosbahnen (from Oslo to Trondheim) and the northern Nordlandsbahnen (Trondheim-Bodø). There are very few trains in the fjord area; they also do not go to the Far North - the railway line ends in Buda, so in order to get, for example, to Narvik, you need to make a long detour through neighboring Sweden.

Train travel is quite expensive (for example, the basic fare for travel from Oslo to Bergen is $40, from Oslo to Trondheim - $85), but various promotions and sales are constantly held. There are discounts for advance booking, for children, for multiple people traveling together, and there are a range of options with 3/7/21 day passes. You can use any of the proposed options as in any of the railway ticket offices in Norway, and through the official website of Norwegian Railways (www.nsb.no) via credit card.

Tourists should keep in mind that traveling by train in Norway will often be more expensive than traveling by plane on the same route. The exception is travel tickets, which give the right to an unlimited number of train journeys. In addition, the basic fare for rail travel does not include the cost sleeping place. Accommodation in sleeping compartment increases the base cost by 30-40%.

Car rental in Norway
To rent a car, you must have an international driver's license, a credit card and paid insurance (or a deposit, the amount of which depends on the type of car). In addition, a number of additional fees are usually charged (for using studded tires - $120, for entering the center of Oslo - $1.5, etc.), with full list which can be found at the rental company office.

The country has a fairly extensive network of road, rail and air routes. Most of the passenger traffic is transported by road and sea transport. From Oslo, a network of modern highways fan out across the country, covering even the most remote northern regions. Most intercity buses depart from the Central Bus Terminal on Schweigaardstrasse. Long distance tickets must be reserved in advance.

Cars. Norwegian roads are considered to be some of the best in the world. Direct expressways are only found in the immediate vicinity of major cities. Outside populated areas, the maximum speed is limited to 80 km/h. In populated areas, the maximum permissible speed is 50 km/h. In Norway the rules traffic require the driver to take certain precautions. For example, even on a sunny day it is necessary to drive with low beam headlights constantly on. The use of a seat belt is mandatory. It is necessary to have a warning sign in your vehicle in case of an accident or malfunction.

Buses. You can travel on buses that travel to more than 50 destinations. Flights are carried out by about 200 comfortable buses. But their movement is better developed in central and southern Norway. Therefore, while still in Oslo, check with bus companies, are there flights to where you want to go? Typically, bus services are connected to other modes of transport: ferries, ships, trains and planes. For those traveling in Norway, there are two types of passes: 7 days and 14 days. For children - reduced price. The subscription is valid for a year.

Train. The railway monopolist in Norway is NSB (Norwegian State Railways). Most trains are express trains that have first and second class carriages. There is a special discount system that will allow you to save money on your trip. You can travel by train by purchasing, for example, a monthly rail pass for Norway (or all of Scandinavia). It does not indicate the destination, train arrival times and is intended for an unlimited number of trips. You choose your own route. In this case, you board any train in any direction on an empty seat and move wherever you want. Very convenient and cheaper than fixed place in the compartment. But it is worth remembering that if a person suddenly comes up with a ticket to the place where you are sitting, then you are obliged to give in to him and change seats to another. There is nothing scary here, and no one will look at you askance - this is how everyone travels. Day - in the city, night - on the train. However, it is still worth considering that booking seats on most trains long distance Necessarily.

Water transport. Many passengers are transported by ships, ferries and boats. The Hurtigruta (Coastal Express) company provides passenger sea transport all year round, serving the coast from Bergen to Kirkenes and further north to the Russian border. The Ford area is served by numerous ferries. Ferries depart from the embankment opposite the town hall to the Bygdø peninsula (Bjogde), from the Aker Brygge embankment to Nesodden, from the Wippetangen embankment to the island of Hovedøya, and from June to August to Langøyen beach. Transitions last from 10 minutes. up to 2 hours. Old coasting ships, transporting local residents from remote areas, are quite attractive for tourist trips in summer. The cabin must be reserved a month in advance. Only modern ships are capable of transporting cars. In many places there are specialized boat moorings, where both regular ships carrying passengers from distant fjords and private boats are usually moored, with the owners of which you can always agree on a trip to a particular area, as well as on a fishing or excursion flight.

- right-hand drive (steering wheel on the left),

The roads are very good and are carefully cleared of snow in winter, but they are quite narrow and have many tunnels (there are more than 530 of them in the country), and the road surface itself makes endless turns, sometimes quite steep, between mountain ranges.

As throughout Scandinavia, low beams or side lights must be on here at any time of the day - frequent weather changes sometimes reduce visibility on the road to a minimum. Driving with trailers is prohibited on some roads, especially in the fjords, where the roads may run along narrow ledges and there are "pockets" for passing oncoming traffic.

In Norway, there are heavy fines for not wearing a seat belt and, especially, for driving while intoxicated. All parking lots in the country are paid, and you cannot park outside the parking lots. Entry by car within the cities of Oslo and Bergen is paid.

Last changes: 24.02.2013

Public transport

Norway has a very developed network of bus routes, for example in the fjord region and on provincial routes. Many of these bus routes intersect with each other and with local public transport lines. Express buses run between major cities Norway, airports and ferry terminals.

Traveling by bus usually costs much less than traveling by plane or train, but, of course, takes longer. Most transport companies offer discounted rates to students, children, seniors and families.

It is usually not necessary to book bus tickets in advance. Many companies guarantee availability of seats on all routes. This means that there will always be a place for you on the bus, even without advance reservation. Tickets can also be purchased at bus stations and tourist information offices.

If you are traveling in a large group, you should purchase tickets in advance.

Public transport in Oslo is very well developed. A whole network of bus lines, metro (“T-bane”), trams and ferries completely covers the capital itself and the surrounding areas. A one-time ticket for any type of transport costs about 2 EUR and is valid for an hour after composting (carriage of a bicycle is paid for with a separate ticket). A daily “dagskort” pass costs about 5 EUR, a weekly pass costs 17 EUR. The “flexikort” ticket is valid for 8 trips and costs 13 EUR.

You can also purchase a ticket directly when boarding the bus, simply by telling the driver your destination.

Last changes: 20.04.2010

Taxi

In Norway, you can hail a taxi right on the street or go to one of the many taxi ranks that exist in every city. You can also ask the hotel concierge to call a car for you.

Taxis are quite expensive and only operate within the city. The landing fee is about 3 EUR (4 EUR after 19:00 and on weekends) and about 1.3 EUR for each kilometer driven.

All taxis in Norway accept credit cards from payment systems VISA, American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard and MasterCard. If you are going to pay by card, you must inform the driver before the start of the trip.

Last changes: 04.06.2010

Aviation transport

Domestic air services are excellent and play a leading role in passenger transport in Norway, ahead of buses and trains. This is due to both the size of Norway (2,500 km from north to south) and the complex mountainous terrain of the country, indented by many fjords and bays. In winter, air travel is sometimes the only way to reach settlements located on islands or behind mountain passes.

The main airport in Norway is Gardemoen Airport in Oslo, where most planes from abroad arrive. Oslo city center can be reached from Gardemoen Airport by express train or bus. The journey by train takes about 20 minutes, and by bus about 40 minutes.

Last changes: 04.06.2010

Railway transport

Total length Norway's railways total 4,087 km (of which 2,528 km are electrified) as of 2005 and also include 775 tunnels and over 3,000 bridges. Most of the routes pass through changing landscapes, and from the train window you can see panoramic views on the outskirts of cities, mountains, lakes and fjords.

The country's railway network consists of several main lines radiating from Oslo, connecting it with the main cities of the country - Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim and Bodø, as well as with Sweden. Another line, short in length in Norway, connects Narvik with Sweden.

Other scenic routes follow the train route railway Dovre from Oslo and Trondheim, and the side line of the Raumabanen railway is served by trains running between Dombås and Åndalsnes, a mountain town located on the fjord.

In the footsteps of Harry Potter.

Some episodes of the popular movie "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" were filmed on the Raumabanen railway in the Bjorli area. A vintage train belonging to Norwegian Railways was used for filming.

See northern lights and the midnight sun.

There is a whole system of offers and discounts that make traveling by train both a source of pleasure and a way to save money.

So-called Minipris tickets for local trains cost 199 Norwegian kroner per person, regardless of the length of the chosen route, subject to the availability of a sufficient number of seats. This offer is valid for a limited number of seats on regional routes served by NSB trains. Minipris tickets can be purchased online, as well as from special ticket machines. The ticket must be purchased at least one day before the intended trip.

Tourists who plan to travel a lot around Norway are advised to purchase InterRail and Eurail cards.

In Norway, smoking is prohibited on trains and railway station buildings.

Last changes: 04.06.2010

Water transport

Sea vessels, ferries and boats carry many passengers. Tickets can be purchased both on the websites of ferry companies using a credit card, and directly at the ticket offices of the relevant stations before departure. The cost is quite high, but by planning a trip to Norway in advance, it is quite possible to purchase tickets during some promotion or sale. In addition, many ferry companies offer discounts of up to 20% when purchasing tickets in advance.

Please note that there may be queues during the summer months. It is better to make reservations in advance for the most popular routes: Geiranger-Hellesylt, Gudvangen-Kaupanger and Lauvvik-Lysebotn.

Flights operate daily and there are many stops along the coast. The ferries are designed to carry cars, making it possible to combine a cruise with a trip along the coast during your holiday.

To get more detailed information For information on ferries and boat schedules, please contact representatives of the following companies:

The Hurtigruten ferry, famous for many years, runs between Bergen and Kirkenes in Finnmark. The trip from Bergen to Kirkenes and back takes 11 days. During this trip you will have a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the beautiful nature of the coast. This cruise can truly be called “the most beautiful in the world.” Tourists are fascinated by the tiny and not-so-tiny settlements in which they stop during their trip.

Toll roads

Tourists who do not have an AutoPASS electronic pass must pay at checkpoints in the window marked “Mynt/Coin” or “Manuell”. You pay your fare either manually or at a machine that accepts coins. Only Norwegian coins are accepted for payment. Most checkpoints also accept credit cards.

If you have an AutoPASS electronic pass, you can use toll roads without stopping at toll booths. To obtain an AutoPASS pass, you must have an AutoPASS contract and a special electronic AutoPASS On-Board Unit (OBU), which is installed on the inside of the windshield, behind the rearview mirror. An AutoPASS contract can be purchased from companies that work with EFC systems. Each user only needs one contract. Toll roads, where AutoPASS payment points are installed, are clearly marked with an AutoPASS sign.

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