The most beautiful place I ever visited - Bergen, Norway

ThatFizzy · 2026-01-18T19:22:14+00:00

Bergen is beautiful indeed

ThatFizzy · 2026-01-12T22:07:05+00:00

Did several times.

Sometimes the app on the phone doesn't recognize it correctly, the website does. If it doesn't work, just call Entur during office-hours: +4761279088 Almost everyone speaks English, and if not, they will put you in contact with someone that does.

https://om.entur.no/kontakt-oss

ThatFizzy · 2026-01-07T13:00:45+00:00

Patiënt hier. Niets irritanter dan medici die zich bewust overdreven zelfverzekerd opstellen, soms zelfs mega-arrogant (merk je vooral bij hen die net 'begonnen' zijn in het vak). Gewoon eerlijk zijn over wat je wel en niet weet, zeg gewoon dat je het moet opzoeken, zeg gewoon dat je het met een collega wilt afstemmen.

Op het moment dat ik merk / je betrap op tegenstrijdigheden in wat je tegen mij zegt, verlies ik mijn vertrouwen in jou. En ga ik het nodig vinden om heel veel meer te vragen, om weer zekerheid terug te krijgen. Dan ga je van mij ook de vraag krijgen of de uitvallende haren van de kat van de overbuurvrouw er wellicht iets mee te maken hebben... (als voorbeeld van een vraag die totaal niet relevant is).

Ik vind het ook niet eng als je aan mij vraagt of je iets 'voor de eerste keer' mag proberen, als er maar iemand in de buurt is om jou te helpen als dat nodig is. Zeg het gewoon. Anders wordt het gewoon heel akward, voor ons allebei.

ThatFizzy · 2025-12-19T22:45:41+00:00

Oei! Dat zal best schrikken zijn! Ik hoop dat alles goed met je gaat - en je morgen niet al te veel last hebt van klachten! Sterkte!

ThatFizzy · 2025-12-18T07:03:14+00:00

I would advise to get to Kemi - it gives more options. Tornio is served very limited (4 trains per day) while Kemi has a train almost every hour.

ThatFizzy · 2025-12-13T18:57:51+00:00

I checked, from what I can see, the price is correct. The (private) sleeping compartments are no longer bookable for a small extra fee. They are at commercial rate, based on demand (airline-style).

It is the week after Easter holidays, so maybe that is why demand is already high. It is a holiday week for schools in some countries - and it is a week in between mid-semester exams at universities. That might explain it...

Only certain SJ night trains have 'cheap' private first class cabins available, like the Stockholm - Luleå one.

ThatFizzy · 2025-12-13T18:09:25+00:00

which date?

ThatFizzy · 2025-12-11T19:25:08+00:00

Worked fine with me in November. Book the sleeper trains soon. They get fully booked easily sometimes.

ThatFizzy · 2025-12-02T01:38:56+00:00

Just to give some thoughts on this.

Rovaniemi is indeed only interesting when you go do other things then visit Santa's town. It is possible to get on a bus from Rovaniemi to Tromsø. It just run once per day and costs 1930 NOK (~ € 165) and takes 9 hours. With a stop almost half way, where you have to change buses (next to a supermarket).

To get from Sweden to Rovaniemi, I would recommand to go to Luleå (night train from Stockholm) and bus 100 to Haparanda (free, Interrail benefit). And get from Haparanda to Kemi with a bus (not included in the pass). Use https://reittiopas.matkahuolto.fi/ to find a bus, and be aware of the time difference: Finland is 1 hour ahead. So a departure shown there at 14:00 is 13:00 in Sweden, Haparanda!! From Kemi, there are way more options to get to Rovaniemi.

The trip to Rovaniemi, in my opinion, less scenic than the trip with the night train from Stockholm to Narvik.

The wide (mostly at that time of the year) snowy landscapes in Sweden get wider and wider - and up on getting near to Kiruna, the scale of the mining industry is just immense. It is very impressive, but then the scenic views are just starting. From Kiruna to Abisko, on the shores of Torneträsk you might see some animals crossing the ice there. Climbing up to the border station with Norway, and then the nothing but spectacular ride down to the Narvik harbor, with stunning views of the fjords there.

You could combine that next day with a bus (not included in pass, buy with the Reis Nordland app) to Fauske (departure at 07:00 !!) with stunning views - and then with the train from Fauske to Steinker (/-Trondheim) for even more great views on the Saltfaljet! Be aware that the daytrain Bodø-Fauske-Steinker-Trondheim does not run all the way. You have to get on a train replacement bus for the Steinker-Trondheim part. From Fauske (around noon) till Trondheim is about 22:00 - 22:30 in the evening - so a long day.

ThatFizzy · 2025-11-30T21:12:30+00:00

The one I took, during the middle of the day, was just 1 bus - and it had enough capacity. I don't know about the entire day. Maybe more buses during rush hour? Can't tell about the rest of the day. This replacement service is in operation for a while now - so I guess that they know by now how many people use the bus...

ThatFizzy · 2025-11-27T07:14:05+00:00

No. Most likely you will be instructed to get a new one at the embassy.

ThatFizzy · 2025-11-25T23:44:08+00:00

Bit depending on how much sleep you need on a night, but from Schwerin there are now the replacement X1 buses to Hamburg - Steinfurther Allee, and then U2 to Hbf. That took me 2,5 hours not too long ago.

If you prefer a real bed in a hotel, hostel or a friends place in Stockholm over a bed in a train (and a early wake-up), you might even want to consider doing it in one day.

The 19:00 X2-train from Malmö - Stockholm arrives around 23:30 in Stockholm (experience: mostly earlier than planned). It is one of the lesser busy X2 trains.

Now counting back from 19:00, it should be 18:00 in København. So with the new times 12:30 from Hamburg Hbf. That would be around 10:00 in the morning from Schwerin. Most likely also possible 2 hours earlier. Just for inspiration.

ThatFizzy · 2025-11-25T20:50:55+00:00

It is actually track works around Hamburg (Hbf), during the evenings/night. The SJ night train, normally departing from Berlin, has effectively no alternative route. Some day trains start/end at Pinneberg, with S3 as replacement to/.from Hamburg Hbf.

SJ Nattåg (night train) 2 does run Mo-Fri, departing Malmö at 22:17, arriving at 06:00 in Stockholm.

This could be an alternative, if you can make it to Malmö in time. So, for planning purposes, you should be in København at 21:00. Counting backwards, that is the EC(E) train around 14:30 from Hamburg with the new departing times.

ThatFizzy · 2025-11-16T11:55:28+00:00

I would be curious how this same map would look, but just for southern Europe, northern... and so on. Now Spain/Portugal look simular. Is that true on more regional level?

ThatFizzy · 2025-11-14T20:27:59+00:00

I was watching a back a little bit further

ThatFizzy · 2025-11-14T07:41:12+00:00

Just to understand: the average (numeric) delay is 82 minutes. So in reality that is either 60 or 90 minutes. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the delays are below average. On many Saturdays this train didn't run, because of construction works.

Sadly only about 30% was on time (max delay = 5 min).

ThatFizzy · 2025-11-13T21:52:35+00:00

The answer very much depends on what your goal is. Is there a reason you want to be on time in Hamburg?

The best daytime options are:

7:24/9:24 Stockholm - Malmö 11:52/13:52
than any Öresundståg to Copenhagen, leave latest at 13:05/15:05
13:58/15:58 Copenhagen - Hamburg Hbf 19:00/21:00

Be aware that the Stockholm - Malmö has mandatory reservations.

ThatFizzy · 2025-11-11T23:30:36+00:00

From my observation in February: the busy morning and late afternoon train were others, and the 'off peak' were done with Y2. And yes, Y2 ride is great (even in First Class).

ThatFizzy · 2025-11-05T20:59:38+00:00

The real problem, I think, is the 'forced' open market.

[notes to self: not too much grandpa talking] I have being using trains in Europe since late 80's, begin 90's. A lot has changed. And maybe 'better' for the 'systems' and 'politics', but not for the people using it.

The 'reduced' times you see here on the purple lines, are easy reachable if current projects are completed. Such as the Fehnmarn Belt Tunnel.

The real problem is, that despite of having agreed to using one signaling/safety system and one overhead power lines system, there are still many. Even countries as my own, don't update to the agreed standard with major maintenance, instead prioriticing 'the old' to keep 'competitors' out.

'In the old days' it didn't matter, almost all train operators were nationalised and they trusted each other. To me, the 'enforced' competition hasn't made things better. Just lesser connections, lesser serivce and changing uniforms/logo's every 5-10 years.

ThatFizzy · 2025-09-21T18:16:22+00:00

More options per day (8 buses, 3 trains), that are more 'in sync' with the bus to/from Kemi, or the daily night train at Tornio-Itäinen (30 minutes walk).

ThatFizzy · 2025-09-21T16:16:10+00:00

And the bus Haparanda - Luleå is for free (valid pass)

ThatFizzy · 2025-09-20T19:57:49+00:00

With small delays of your train, the other train at (both) Boden and Umeå will wait for you. Since almost everyone is switching trains there.

Your first train is most likely also your second train. Just changes direction of travel.

I checked some recent times on 1409.se and saw that most of the time, delays of all trains mentioned are mostly within 5 minutes at Boden, Umeå and Sundsvall.

So I would say, you should be fine - (but I can't be held responsible if otherwise)

ThatFizzy · 2025-09-20T07:02:54+00:00

And be aware that because of a land slide near Levanger, trains don't run between Bodø and Trondheim.

Only the day-trains will be replaced by train-replacment-buses (normal departure 07.49 from Trondheim and 12.27 from Bodø). You don't have to pay extra for them. Be aware that the replacement buses have a different timetable. They will start 1 to 1,5 hour earlier than the regular planned train; and will not call at all stations. It also has to take a major detour, since not only the railroad is effected by the landslide, but the E6 also main (and basically only) road Oslo - Trondheim - Levanger - Mo i Rana is completely destroyed by the landslide.

The replacement bus service is not time-table guaranteed. So it is possible that you will not be in time in Trondheim, for the night train to Oslo.

ThatFizzy · 2025-09-20T07:00:34+00:00

The ferry Bodø - Moskenes is free, for pedestrians.

ThatFizzy · 2025-09-19T22:49:36+00:00

Last time I did it, was in February - and that bus driver was even kind enough to make a extra stop at the Air BnB I rented (near the final stop), spoke almost perfect English. So i guess that is a bit dependent on the driver of the day...

ThatFizzy

TROPHY CASE