By Nate Smith

All aboard! When it comes to travel, there are many tried and true methods. Many seasoned travelers can navigate their way through airports, Uber, or taxis. But one mechanized method of movement has been around longer, and is on the up and up: trains! 

The allure of train transportation has seen a bit of a renaissance since it was popularized in the early twentieth century. Norway is seeming to jump onto this trend with its announcement of an all-new luxury train coming in late 2025 or early 2026: The Norient Express! Named after the famous Agatha Christie novel, this train is set to travel from the west coast in Bergen to the capital of Oslo, near Norway’s largest national park, ending in Trondheim, passing by the famous and grand fjords of Norway. 

But why a train? Is it simply to follow trends of the times or is it Norway bringing their eco-conscious thinking into travel and tourism? 

Before we dive into that, let’s take a look at the route the Orient Express will take!

A brief itinerary of the Norient Express

The first stop on this week-long train ride is set to begin in Bergen. This city (pronounced like the word bargain, but with a more emphasized ah sound) is one of the westernmost cities in Norway. It is directly on the west coast, it is a city full of history but is nestled in the mountains and fjords of Norway to get the best of both worlds.

The next stop on the Norient Express is Oslo. The capital city of Norway is bustling with museums, vibrant architecture, and brimming with culture as Norway’s most populated city. To reach Oslo, the Norient Express will pass Hardangervidda National Park. This National Park is home to the largest mountain plateau in Europe and the famous Vøringsfossen waterfall! 

Rounding out the trip is Trondheim. The third largest city in Norway, Trondheim has one of the largest art museums in Norway, along with its famous Nidaros Cathedral, a medieval cathedral built in the fourteenth century! 

The Norient Express stops at all of these iconic Nordic cities. Each one brimming with Nordic culture. But what does the Norient Express mean for Norway’s tourism? 

Impact of Norient Express on Norway’s tourism

Norway is most known for two things: its natural and cultural beauty. This is abundantly clear in data that shows Norway’s travel statistics, the top places people visit are cultural attractions like the sculpture park in Oslo or the western Bergen Fjords. The Noriest Express stops at the most visited cities in Norway while traveling through nature and the natural beauty of the country. This capitalizes the two most popular reasons people visit Norway. But, is there more to the train than just an easy catch-all of Norway’s most valued tourist destinations? 

In comparison to car or air travel, train travel is by far the lowest cost of energy way to get around. Trains use of far less natural resources because most of them are electric these days. In fact, trains use 60-80% less carbon emissions than planes or cars. 

A train may be a slower mode of transportation, but in the case of Norway’s up-and-coming Norient Express, the journey truly is the destination.