Norway will soon rollout its biggest rail change in more than ten years.
From December 2027, the well-known orange Flytoget (Airport Express) will no longer run as a separate service and will become part of the regular Vy network (Norway’s state-owned transport operator).
For commuters in Eastern Norway, this change will make both airport travel and daily trips much easier.
For a long time, Oslo’s train system showed a clear divide: regular trains were crowded, while the more expensive Airport Express trains often had plenty of empty seats. Given the Oslo Tunnel is already at full capacity, the government has been seeking better options to cover the diverse needs of all commuters.
“By integrating the Flytoget routes with the regional train service, we can better utilise the scarce capacity in the Oslo area.
This will provide a major boost for the vast majority of train passengers in Eastern Norway, who currently make close to 30 million journeys per year. They will get many more departures, better space on board, and a more reliable train service,” said acting rail director Marit Rønning.
One of the main advantages for international travellers is that they will no longer need to worry about choosing the right platform, and that a regular Ruter or Vy ticket will be valid on any train to Gardermoen Airport.
The new route plan will offer efficient service, with trains leaving every ten minutes from Drammen to Oslo Airport. Along with this regular schedule, the Regional Express trains RE10 (Drammen-Lillehammer) and RE11 (Skien-Eidsvoll) will also run on this route.
The current airport trains will be replaced by a new line, R15, which will run five times per hour between Drammen, Oslo Airport, and Eidsvoll.
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However, to improve punctuality, there will be one fewer train per hour through the central tunnel. This means travellers from Oslo S to Gardermoen airport will have one less train each hour.
Even though there will be long-term benefits, officials are warning that the rollout may be difficult. Marit Rønning said the plan depends on the introduction of new regional trains, which are currently delayed. Also, combining the staff and systems of two different companies will be a big challenge.
Given the full changes will not happen until late 2027, commuters will have to deal with the current situation for two more years before the new Norwegian rail system comes in to place.
Major regional shifts
Passengers in Lillestrøm will see departures almost double, from six to eleven per hour. Drammen will become a major transport hub, with trains every ten minutes to both central Oslo and the airport on the new R15 line.
Commuters in Asker and Sandvika will also have more options, with departures increasing from six to ten per hour.
Further south, people in Vestfold and Telemark will benefit from a new double track, with trains from Tønsberg increasing from one to four per hour.
Passengers in Northern Vestfold will lose their direct airport connection and will need to transfer at stations like Nationaltheatret.
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