Trondheim to Bodø by Train
The Nordland Line (Nordlandsbanen) is Norway's longest railway and the only line that crosses the Arctic Circle, ending in Bodø, the ferry port for Lofoten.
Compare times and prices for this route.
Book tickets on Omio →Journey time
About 9.5 to 10 hours
Distance
About 730 km by rail
Operator
SJ Norge
Departures
Two daily trains, one of them overnight
The Nordland Line at a glance
From Trondheim the line follows the Trondheimsfjord to Steinkjer, then heads inland through forested valleys to Grong, Mosjøen and Mo i Rana. North of Mo i Rana it climbs onto the bare Saltfjellet plateau, where a cairn beside the track marks the Arctic Circle. The line then descends to Fauske and runs west to Bodø on the coast.
The journey takes about 9.5 to 10 hours. There is a day train and a night train with sleeper cabins; take the day train for the views over Saltfjellet. You can compare departures and book Trondheim–Bodø train tickets on Omio.
Onward to Lofoten
From Bodø, car ferries cross to Moskenes in Lofoten in about 3 to 3.5 hours, and fast passenger boats go to Svolvær. See the Northern Norway map for Lofoten and the rest of the Arctic north.
Rail from Oslo to the Arctic
Combined with the Dovre Line from Oslo, the Nordland Line lets you travel by train from Oslo to above the Arctic Circle in about 17 hours, ideally with an overnight stop in Trondheim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the train from Trondheim to Bodø?
About 9.5 to 10 hours.
Does the train to Bodø cross the Arctic Circle?
Yes. It crosses the Arctic Circle on the Saltfjellet plateau between Mo i Rana and Fauske. It is the only railway in Norway that does.
Can you take the train to Tromsø?
No. There is no railway to Tromsø. The closest railheads are Bodø and Narvik (reached via Sweden), with buses or flights onward.