Romsdalen: Rauma Railway Golden Train with Guide

The Rauma Railway is less about getting somewhere than watching Norway unfold outside your window. For one hour, the train moves slowly through steep rock faces, high peaks, waterfalls, and an emerald-green river, with Troll Wall and Kylling Bridge as the big visual prizes.

I like the unhurried pace, which gives you time to take photographs, and the clear, lively commentary that adds stories about mountain life and the wartime gold run. The main drawback is the seating: arrive early, because the best window places can go quickly, and the return ride may not offer the same view.

Key points to know before you go

• Troll Wall and Kylling Bridge are the headline sights: Keep your camera ready as the train moves slowly through the most dramatic section of the route.
• The return ride is part of the experience: You get a full round trip from Åndalsnes to Bjorli, not a one-way train transfer.
• English commentary adds context: Expect live information from onboard hosts, with an audio guide also included for use on your own phone.
• The right side is often best for views: You can still see plenty from the left, and open areas between carriages let you look across.
• Bjorli is a short pause, not a full destination visit: The advertised stop is 30 minutes, though train delays can make it shorter.
• The price is strong for cruise passengers: At $64, it can cost about half as much as booking the same outing through a cruise company.

Why the Rauma Railway is worth your time

Norway has no shortage of scenic transport, but the Rauma Railway gives you a close, slow look at a particularly wild corner of Møre and Romsdal County. The route runs between Åndalsnes and Bjorli, where the railway follows the Rauma River through a valley framed by jagged peaks.

The train crosses 32 bridges. That number matters because the route does not simply point you toward one famous view and then coast along ordinary countryside. Bridges, tunnels, river bends, cliffs, and waterfalls keep changing the angle outside the glass.

I especially like the way the train turns scenery into a story. The commentary covers the people who lived among the sharp mountains, used the river, and climbed the peaks. It also explains the Second World War events connected with the railway and the Norwegian gold run, giving the ride a purpose beyond taking pictures.

The train moves slowly enough for you to follow the scenery with your eyes. You are not rushing past a waterfall at high speed or trying to frame a peak before it disappears. The pace also helps if you want to photograph through the window, though reflections and other passengers can still affect your shots.

Starting at Åndalsnes station

The trip begins at Åndalsnes station. The station is close to the quay, which makes this a practical choice if you are visiting by cruise ship. You do not need a complicated transfer across town to reach the train.

Hosts welcome you onboard, and the first part of the ride to Bjorli takes about one hour. The train has toilets, and reviews also note hot and cold drinks and snacks onboard. Those extras are useful, but the train is not the place to build your entire meal plan. Think of them as convenient refreshments during a scenic ride.

Try to arrive early. Seating arrangements can be a little unclear, and a few passengers have found that someone else took the place they expected to use. The safest approach is to board with enough time to choose a window seat before the carriage fills.

A clean window matters here. One of the pleasures of this trip is being able to watch the scenery without rushing from one side of the train to the other. The windows have generally been described as clear, but avoid sitting behind a pillar if photography is important to you.

The first hour: river, cliffs, and bridges

Once the train leaves Åndalsnes, the scenery becomes the main event. You follow the Rauma River through a valley of high rock walls and steep mountain slopes. The river’s green color can be striking, especially when it contrasts with the darker rock and forest.

You will pass over bridges and through sections where the valley tightens. Each bend changes the view, so it is worth keeping your attention outside rather than treating the first half of the ride as a wait for the famous sights.

The railway’s slow speed is one of its best features. You can take photographs without needing a rapid-fire camera hand, and you have time to watch how the river, rail line, and mountain walls fit together. The train also has extra viewing areas in parts of the carriages, allowing you to look across at scenery on the opposite side.

If you are choosing between sides, the right side is often considered better for the strongest views on the outward journey. That is useful advice, but do not treat it as a rule. The left side still offers fine scenery, and the return journey changes your angle. A few compartments seating six people also give you a wider chance to look across both sides.

Troll Wall and the dramatic mountain section

Troll Wall is one of the most memorable sights along the route. Its vertical rock face gives the journey a strong sense of scale. The train lets you take it in from below, where the height and jagged rock are easier to appreciate than they would be from a quick roadside stop.

The best photographs may not come from one exact moment. The train’s slow movement gives you several chances to frame the cliffs, but window reflections, pillars, and fellow passengers can get in the way. Keep your phone or camera ready before the guide announces the sight.

This is also where the commentary helps. The guide does not simply name the mountain and move on. The stories about people who lived and worked around these peaks give the scenery a human side. You begin to see the valley not just as a dramatic backdrop, but as a difficult place where people built lives around the river, railway, and mountains.

The experience is quiet in a good way. One review described the whole carriage falling silent as the scenery passed by. That is a fair picture of the mood when the cliffs and river are at their most impressive.

Kylling Bridge, the train ride’s signature view

Kylling Bridge is the most photographed railway bridge in Norway, and the train makes sure you have time to appreciate it. The bridge is an engineering highlight as well as a scenic one, crossing a deep section of the valley with rock and water around it.

Your guide will point it out, so you do not need to spend the whole ride wondering when the important view will appear. Still, keep your camera ready. The train may be moving slowly, but the best angle can pass quickly once the bridge comes into view.

The bridge is worth looking at from both sides. If you are near a viewing area or between carriages, you may be able to get a broader view than from your assigned seat. Just keep safety and other passengers in mind, and do not assume you can freely move through every part of the train.

Kylling Bridge also shows why this is more than a standard sightseeing ride. You are seeing scenery shaped by engineering. The railway had to cross a difficult valley, and the bridge makes that challenge visible.

Verma Waterfall and the changing weather

Verma Waterfall is another major sight along the line. Waterfalls can vary with season and weather, so the exact force of the water is not guaranteed. Still, it adds another moving element to the route, alongside the river and passing clouds.

Weather deserves realistic expectations. On a clear day, the peaks and rock faces can look enormous and sharply defined. In poor weather, cloud and mist may hide parts of the mountains. That does not make the train ride pointless, but it changes what you will see.

One useful point is that the experience does not depend on perfect sunshine. The route still has bridges, waterfalls, river views, railway engineering, and commentary in dull weather. A photograph may be less dramatic, but the stories and close views remain.

If photography is your main reason for booking, check the forecast and keep some flexibility if possible. If you mainly want a comfortable way to see the valley and hear about its past, the trip still has value in mixed weather.

Bjorli: a short stop with modest expectations

The outward train reaches Bjorli after about an hour. You get a short break at the station, listed as roughly 30 minutes, before returning to Åndalsnes.

Bjorli is best treated as a pause to stretch your legs, take photographs, and look around the station area. It is not presented as a long village visit or a separate mountain excursion. There is not much to see beyond the immediate surroundings, so the train ride itself is the main attraction.

A station house collection provides memorabilia connected with the Norwegian gold run during the Second World War. It is a small but worthwhile stop because it links the railway to a real wartime episode. You may only need a few minutes to look through it, leaving time to enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Do not be surprised if your stop is shorter than expected. Freight trains can delay the journey, and waiting on the line may cut into the time at Bjorli. That is frustrating if you imagined a full half-hour outside, but it does not remove the main value of the trip, which is the route between Åndalsnes and Bjorli.

The return to Åndalsnes

After the break, you board the train for the ride back. The return journey is not filler. The scenery looks different from the opposite direction, and you may notice views that were hidden behind the carriage or missed while you were focused on Troll Wall and Kylling Bridge.

This is also your chance to improve your seat position. If people are moving around and space allows, you may be able to view the other side of the train. The journey is better when you avoid trying to claim a particular window for the entire trip. Still, because seat expectations have caused some confusion, listen carefully to the onboard arrangements and be polite about changing places.

The full activity lasts about 2.5 hours. That includes the outward ride, the pause at Bjorli, and the return to Åndalsnes. Allow for the possibility of delays, especially if the railway is waiting for freight traffic. If you have a strict connection immediately after the train, leave some buffer.

Commentary, audio, and what to bring

English commentary is an important part of the experience. The onboard guide explains the natural sights, local mountain life, engineering features, and the Second World War story connected with the railway. The delivery has been described as warm, funny, and continuous, which helps fill the quieter stretches between the main sights.

The activity also includes an audio guide for your own phone. Bring a charged smartphone and headphones. Even if live commentary is being provided on your departure, your phone and headphones are still listed as required items and may be useful for the audio material.

The mix of scenery and explanation suits you if you like to know why a place matters. If you want total silence, the guide’s steady narration may feel like too much. The commentary is part of the product, not background noise you can assume will stop after the first few minutes.

The train has a toilet onboard, which is useful during a 2.5-hour round trip. Drinks and snacks have also been noted onboard, though you should not rely on the train for a full meal.

Is $64 good value?

At $64 per person, this is a fair price for a two-and-a-half-hour round trip with a guide, onboard commentary, and access to one of Norway’s most dramatic rail routes. You are paying for the complete journey, not just a short scenic section.

The value looks even better for cruise passengers. The train is close to the quay, and some cruise companies charge about twice as much for the same outing. Booking independently can therefore save a substantial amount, provided you leave enough time to return to your ship and allow for possible railway delays.

You should also compare this trip with your own priorities. If you want a long stop in Bjorli, this is not the right excursion. If you want a relaxed ride with strong mountain scenery, a live English guide, and no need to arrange several separate transport legs, the price makes sense.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead and the option to reserve now and pay later add useful flexibility. Those terms matter in Norway, where weather can change quickly, but check the conditions at booking because availability and starting times vary.

Who should book the Golden Train?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want to see the Romsdalen valley without hiking, driving, or managing a complicated sightseeing route. It works well for cruise passengers, first-time visitors to the area, photographers, and anyone who enjoys rail travel with a steady stream of scenery.

Families and older visitors may appreciate the comfortable format, toilet onboard, and short stop. You can remain seated for most of the experience and still see cliffs, bridges, waterfalls, and the river at close range.

You may want to skip it if you need a quiet train with guaranteed assigned seats, a long visit at Bjorli, or a flexible schedule with no chance of delay. You should also reconsider if your main goal is a perfect collection of mountain photographs and the forecast is poor.

Should you book this train ride?

Book it if you want a well-priced, low-effort way to see the best-known sights along the Rauma Railway. The strongest reasons are the slow pace, the excellent scenery, the commentary, and the chance to see Kylling Bridge and Troll Wall without rushing.

Arrive early, aim for a clear window, consider the right side for the outward trip, and bring headphones with a charged phone. Keep your expectations realistic about Bjorli and weather, and allow extra time after the ride if you have a ship or another connection.

For $64, this is one of the more practical ways to experience the Romsdalen valley. The train ride is the destination.

FAQ

Where does the Golden Train trip begin and end?

The round trip begins and ends at Åndalsnes station. The train travels to Bjorli and then returns to Åndalsnes.

How long does the experience last?

The full activity lasts about 2.5 hours. The train ride takes about one hour each way, with a short stop at Bjorli between the two journeys.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The experience includes an English-speaking live guide, and an audio guide is also included for use on your own phone.

What should I bring?

Bring headphones and a charged smartphone. You may also want a camera for the mountain, river, bridge, and waterfall views.

Can I use a toilet during the journey?

Yes. The train has a toilet onboard.

What can I see on the route?

You can see Troll Wall, Verma Waterfall, Kylling Bridge, high mountain peaks, jagged rock faces, the Rauma River, and 32 bridges along the route.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.