Norway train strike September 2026: routes and rights

A train-driver strike affecting Vy services in Norway is ongoing. Vy has published cancellations through Tuesday, September 29, while separate engineering work will close the Voss to Bergen line during daytime hours from September 28 through October 1. The two disruptions require different checks and may have different replacement arrangements.

Original editorial image created for OpenSim. It shows ordinary rail travel, not a named station, service or strike event.

The short answer: Search the exact journey in Vy or Entur before leaving. If a listed Vy service is missing, treat it as cancelled. Do not assume a replacement bus will run for a strike cancellation. For travel between Voss and Bergen, also check the planned engineering closure because its replacement plan is separate from the strike.

This guide was checked at 22:29 WEST on September 27. Vy says its strike plan is usually updated about two days ahead, so later journeys remain uncertain. The Vy strike page, Bane NOR traffic notices and the journey planner are the deciding sources.

Is the Norway train strike still happening?

Yes. Vy says the strike began at 10:00 on September 18 and remains in progress. The company has not published an end date. Its current service plan covers Monday, September 28 and Tuesday, September 29.

The strike does not mean every train in Norway is cancelled. It affects selected Vy departures. Other operators may run normally, although displaced travelers can make available trains busier. SJ Norge says its services are running and warns that some departures may sell out.

Vy says an omitted service in its affected-line list is cancelled for the published period. Still check the journey planner immediately before departure, because a line number alone does not identify your individual train.

Vy cancellations for September 28 and 29

The table below summarizes Vy's published totals. A percentage is Vy's share of departures cancelled on that line, not the chance that an individual train will be cancelled.

These are network totals. They do not replace the exact departure search. A Tuesday traveler on R23 faces a very different service pattern from someone using L4.

Strike cancellations and planned rail works are not the same

Bane NOR separately lists planned work between Voss and Bergen from 08:35 to 16:55 each day from Monday, September 28 through Thursday, October 1. It affects the F4 Oslo to Bergen service, R40 and RE40 between Bergen, Voss and Myrdal, and L4 between Bergen and Arna.

This distinction is important. A bus shown for engineering work does not prove that a cancelled strike departure has a bus. Conversely, a train replaced because of planned work may still have a valid planned alternative even while the strike continues.

Route advice for Oslo, Bergen and airport journeys

For Oslo-area local travel, search by departure time rather than memorizing the cancellation percentage. Ruter warns that the strike can put extra pressure on buses, trams and metro services. Leave more time for an airport, ferry or separately booked train connection.

For Oslo Airport, confirm the operator shown on the ticket. Vy airport trains can be affected by the relevant route plan, while Flytoget is a separate operator. A general notice about "airport trains" is not enough to decide whether your booked departure runs.

For Oslo to Bergen, the published strike table does not by itself show that every F4 departure is cancelled. The planned Voss to Bergen closure can still change the final part of the route during the daytime work window. Search the complete Oslo to Bergen itinerary and read every segment, including any transfer to a bus.

For Bergen, Voss, Myrdal and Flam, check both RE40 or R40 changes and the onward connection. A delayed or replaced Bergen to Myrdal segment can undermine a separately booked Flam Railway or fjord itinerary even when that second service is operating.

For Oslo to Trondheim, SJ says the Dovre Line is operating but demand may be higher. Reserve a seat instead of assuming that another operator has unlimited capacity. Check SJ's live traffic status on the travel day.

How to check a Norwegian train before leaving

Use this order:

1. Search the complete journey in Vy or Entur, including the final destination rather than only the first rail segment.
2. Confirm the operator for every train. Vy strike rules do not automatically apply to another company.
3. Read the disruption note for each segment. Look for a cancellation, changed departure time, bus replacement or altered station.
4. Check Bane NOR when the route crosses a listed engineering closure.
5. Save the result offline, then refresh it before leaving for the station.
6. If the itinerary has a flight, cruise, tour or separately ticketed train, contact that provider before abandoning the original journey.

A route shown by a general map app may not reflect the latest cancellation or replacement bus. Use it for orientation, then return to the operator or national journey planner for the operational decision.

Refunds, changes and alternative transport

Vy says a ticket for a cancelled train can receive a full refund regardless of ticket type, but the refund is not automatic. Low Fare tickets can be changed by customer service when the strike affects the journey.

On the same travel day and route, Vy may allow a traveler to use another Vy train. Exceptions include the Oslo to Bergen route, services requiring a seat reservation and trains run by another operator. Contact customer service rather than boarding on an assumption. A Vy ticket is not automatically valid with another railway company.

Vy says it may reimburse comparable public transport when the ticket was valid before the strike began. It says taxi, flights and private-car costs are not covered. The Norwegian Consumer Council's strike guidance disputes a blanket exclusion under passenger-rights rules and advises travelers to use comparable public transport where possible. This disagreement means an expensive self-arranged taxi or flight carries claim risk.

Ask Vy for an alternative before spending money. Keep the cancelled itinerary, customer-service messages and itemized receipts. If a claim is rejected, the Consumer Council explains the complaint route.

Delay compensation, hotels and missed connections

Vy states that delay compensation can apply at 50% of the ticket price after more than 60 minutes on Oslo to Bergen or Flam to Myrdal, and after more than 30 minutes on other routes. Its page also says compensation does not apply when the delay was announced before the ticket was bought.

If a journey has already started and cannot reasonably be completed the same day, necessary accommodation may be covered for up to three nights under the conditions Vy describes. Contact the operator first when possible and save receipts.

Vy says it does not cover a missed event, flight or onward connection. Travel insurance may cover consequential losses, but the policy wording and connection buffer matter. A through rail ticket creates a different claim from two unrelated bookings, and a train plus flight booked separately may leave the flight unprotected.

What to save before the journey

Download or screenshot:

• the full ticket and reservation;
• every segment in the current journey plan;
• the cancellation or replacement notice;
• the address and opening hours of the next staffed station or customer-service channel;
• one realistic public-transport alternative;
• accommodation and onward-booking contacts; and
• insurance claim instructions.

Pack medication, a charging cable, a power bank allowed by your carrier, water and a layer for waiting outdoors. Do not assume a replacement bus will have the same luggage space, accessibility or toilet access as the train. Travelers who need step-free assistance should check the replacement segment and contact Bane NOR assistance before travel.

Mobile data during Norway rail disruption

Mobile data cannot make a cancelled train run or guarantee a signal on a mountain route. It helps with the practical work around the disruption: refreshing Vy or Entur, opening a replacement ticket, finding a bus stop, downloading an offline map and messaging accommodation.

The live cards below show current OpenSim product facts. The Norway catalog checked on September 27 displayed 15 plans from USD 0.64, with reviewed options listing Telenor and Telia and 3G, 4G and 5G. Actual service depends on the selected plan, phone, location and congestion.

Choose a Norway eSIM for a Norway-only trip. A Europe eSIM can be more practical when disruption changes a route through Sweden or another covered country, but check the selected plan's country list before buying. OpenSim provides a data option for travel tasks; it does not replace the railway operator's service commitment.

Install the eSIM on dependable Wi-Fi and follow its activation instructions. The eSIM installation timing guide, phone compatibility guide and travel data calculator cover those decisions. Families planning a wider trip can also use the Norway with kids guide.

Questions travelers are asking about the Norway train strike

Is the Vy train strike still ongoing?

Yes. It was ongoing when this guide was checked on September 27. Vy had published affected services through September 29 but no end date.

Which trains are cancelled on September 28 and 29?

Vy has published totals for affected L, R and RE lines, shown in the table above. Search the exact time and stations in the journey planner because the line total does not identify your departure.

How do I know if a missing Vy service is cancelled?

Vy says services omitted from its affected-line list are cancelled for the published period. Confirm the exact itinerary in the journey planner and save the cancellation evidence.

Are trains to Oslo Airport affected?

Some Vy routes can be affected, but airport rail is not one single service. Check whether the ticket is for Vy or the separate Flytoget operator, then verify that exact departure.

Is the Oslo to Bergen train running?

Do not assume the whole route is closed. Search the exact F4 departure. The Voss to Bergen section also has planned daytime work from September 28 through October 1, so the itinerary may include a replacement segment even if the booked train is not a strike cancellation.

Are Bergen to Voss, Myrdal and Flam connections affected?

They can be. Vy lists some RE40 cancellations for September 29, and Bane NOR's daytime Voss to Bergen work affects R40 and RE40. Check the onward Flam connection separately.

Will Vy provide a replacement bus for a strike cancellation?

Vy says it cannot provide alternative transport during the strike. A planned bus for engineering work is a separate arrangement and will appear in the journey planner when available.

Can I use my Vy ticket on another train?

Possibly on another Vy train on the same route and day, subject to exceptions. It is not automatically valid on another operator, a reservation-only service or the Oslo to Bergen route. Ask Vy before boarding.

Can a cancelled Low Fare ticket be refunded or changed?

A cancelled train qualifies for a full refund under Vy's current guidance, regardless of ticket type. Vy says Low Fare tickets affected by the strike can be changed through customer service.

Will Vy pay for a taxi, hotel or missed flight?

Vy says it does not cover taxis, flights, private-car costs, missed events or missed onward connections. The Consumer Council disputes part of the alternative-transport limitation, while necessary accommodation may qualify in defined circumstances. Ask first, use comparable public transport when possible and keep evidence for any claim.

Norway rail sources and next update

This guide uses the current Vy strike information, Bane NOR traffic notices, Vy claims guidance, SJ capacity notice, Ruter disruption notice and Norwegian Consumer Council advice. OpenSim will update the page when Vy publishes another dated service plan, the strike ends, or Bane NOR changes the Voss to Bergen work.