With its unique twilight skies and dramatic landscapes, Norway has become one of Europe’s most enchanting destinations for rail travel. On a summer journey from Oslo to Trondheim, passengers aboard the F6 night train experience both the romance of traditional sleeper services and the beauty of Norway’s endless summer light.
A Family Adventure on the Rails
For many travelers, including families, the night train offers a blend of nostalgia and discovery. Passengers collect compartment keys from conductors before boarding, stowing bags in their cabins as the train glides out of Oslo Central Station. The train, part of Norway’s classic Dovre line, runs at modest speeds of less than 80kph due to rugged terrain, yet offers a remarkably smooth ride.
Onboard, families can be found in playrooms, while others gather in the dining car. Even late in the evening, the restaurant remains lively, serving local dishes such as frankfurters and moose burgers. Passengers chat, play chess, or gaze out at a sky that dims but never fully darkens.
The Magic of the Midnight Twilight
Though south of the Arctic Circle, travelers still experience the striking twilight of Norway’s high summer, when the sun dips only briefly below the horizon. From carriage windows, silver lakes, dense forests, and farmland appear bathed in a luminous glow. For two months of the year, Norwegians embrace this near-constant light, hiking, cycling, swimming, and even fishing through the night.
One passenger, Joakim, a former King’s Guard returning to Trondheim, recalled his childhood couchette journeys with his mother, highlighting the nostalgia that fuels renewed interest in sleeper trains across Europe. He also pointed out historical remnants along the way, including lakes where Second World War weapons had been dumped and are still being recovered.
Through the Night and Into the Morning
After midnight, the train passes through towns like Hamar, glowing with festive lights, before passengers retreat to their bunks. By early morning, the Gudbrandsdalen valley reveals itself in a spectacular display: mist rising from meadows, rivers rushing past, and purple lupins lining the tracks.
As the train approaches Trondheim just after sunrise, hikers, canoeists, and swimmers are already making use of Norway’s natural landscapes.
A Simpler Luxury
While luxury private trains like the long-delayed “Norient Express” promise fine dining and on-board gyms, travelers on the regular sleeper find that the essence of Norway’s beauty lies outside their windows. A simple berth and the rhythm of the train are enough to connect passengers to the landscape.
By 6:40am in Trondheim, the journey ends with sunlight streaming across the fjords — proof that in Norway, the magic of summer rail travel comes not from extravagance, but from the enduring charm of the twilight express.
