Arctic Train is in trouble

#NordicNews on train traffic and Norway

Uncertain future for Arctic Train in Norway

The future of Arctic Train's tourist trains on the Ofot Railway line from Narvik to Bjørnfjell, the northernmost railway line in Western Europe, is currently uncertain. This is due to the significant financial losses the company has suffered.

In the last two years, Arctic Train has lost 28 million kroner. The ownership structure is quite complex. Arctic Train Holding AS holds 100 per cent of the shares and is in turn part of the Arctic Travel Group. The operator of the tourist train is TM Togdrift, a company founded by the construction company Taralksvik Maskin from Narvik.

The first train trip took place on 17 May 2020, after it had taken three years to obtain state approval. Unfortunately, this coincided exactly with the Corona pandemic, and the expected cruise ship passengers stayed away, as did most other tourists. Even after the decline of COVID-19, the tourists stayed away. Attempts to attract more travellers by travelling as far as Abisko in Sweden were also unsuccessful. Moreover, tour operators also showed little interest. The successful Flåmsbana can score points with Bergen as a tourist magnet in the background.

In the beginning, there were up to three train pairs per day, but today there are only two departures per week from Narvik. During the journey, train conductors provide information about the landscape and the construction of the Ofot Railway. From December, the Nordlys trains (trains to the Northern Lights) will be offered again. Tickets for the Arctic Train must be booked in advance.

More on Arctic Train.

Header: © Norwegian Travel Arctic Train