🚆🏔️ Commute on the Bergen Railway: Voss/Arna → Bergen

If you live on the west coast and work in central Bergen, the most convenient train routes are Arna ↔ Bergen and Voss ↔ Bergen. Let's take a look at who they are suitable for, how to calculate tickets (Skyss/Vy), how long the journey takes, how to connect with Bybanen and what to consider in winter.

❓ Why these segments?

• Arna ↔ Bergen — 7 minutes through the Ulrikken tunnel, frequent service (local line L4), single zone A Skyss. Great for daily commuters.
• Voss ↔ Bergen — about 1 hour 5–1 hour 20 minutes, usually every hour (line R40/Vossebanen). Suitable for hybrids and those who live in spacious areas outside the city.

Tickets and validity:

Skyss confirms: in zone A, tickets (single/24-hour/7/30/180 days) are valid on trains between Bergen–Arna/Trengereid; for Bergen–Voss, you need season tickets for zones A+F+E (7/30/180 days).

Regional trains to Oslo are not covered by these tickets.

👥 Commuting practice

🚉 Voss ↔ Bergen: who it works for

• Time and frequency. Average time — ~1:05–1:18; usually one train per hour (more frequent during peak hours). Look for line R40 in the Vy planner.
• Travel passes. For regular commuting, get a 30-day Skyss pass for zones A+F+E (example: Bergen–Voss stasjon — 2064 NOK for adults as of 14 August 2025). Tickets can be purchased at Skyss/Vy/Entur.
• Who is it suitable for? Those who appreciate space/nature and travel to the office 2–4 times a week. Plan your day for the ‘long leg’ and allow 10–15 minutes for transfers/rain.

🚄 Arna ↔ Bergen: frequent flights, short distance

• Time and frequency. Typical interval ≈ 20 minutes; the journey takes ~7 minutes (local L4). This is faster than the bus due to the terrain and traffic jams.
• Zone A tickets and prices. Single 49 NOK, 24-hour 123 NOK, 7-day 272 NOK, 30-day 827 NOK (adult; Skyss prices as of 14 August 2025). Convenient if you live/park in Arna.
• Alternative. There is a bus Skyss 925 Bergen busstasjon → Arna terminal (less frequent during the day and takes longer, ~30 min) — as a ‘plan B’.

📅 Planning tips

• Connections in the centre. The railway station is right next to the bus terminal; nearby are the Bybanen Nonneseter (2 minutes on foot) and Byparken (centre) stops. This makes it easy to transfer from train to tram/on foot.
• Morning windows. To avoid heavy traffic, try to leave before 07:30 or after 09:15. On the Arna side, catch the frequent L4; on the Voss side, check the R40 in advance, taking into account the day of the week.
• Evening returns. Allow extra time for the last departures in case of rain/wind and possible adjustments by the carriers (check for updates in the Vy/Skyss/Entur apps).
• Winter and bad weather. In case of snow/storm, Vy may reduce services in advance to avoid damage to trains; check notifications on the day of travel.
• Park&Ride/bicycle. At Arna station, there is a large car park and a bike hotel (accessible via the Bane NOR Parkering app, 50 NOK/30 days). Convenient for the ‘bike → train’ scheme.

📝 Mini checklist (quick route)

• Check R40/L4 in the Vy planner for your days/times.
• If Arna ↔ Bergen: calculate Skyss zone A (single/7/30 days).
• If Voss ↔ Bergen: get a season ticket for A+F+E; compare with Vy tickets.
• For connections, use Skyss (Bybanen/buses) and keep ‘plan B’ with bus 925.
• Travelling with a bike? Connect to Bane NOR Parkering (bike hotel at Arna).

For daily commuting in the capital of the ‘seven mountains’, the railway is the most predictable option: Arna — ‘short distance’ with high frequency, Voss — ‘longer, but stable’. Set the zones you need, configure Vy/Skyss notifications — and the road will no longer distract you.