Rallarvegen
The Rallarvegen (also rallarveien ) is an unpaved road that runs along the Bergensbane (rail link from Oslo to Bergen ) over the Hardangervidda . It was originally used to build the railway line over the Hardangervidda and is now used as a cycling and hiking trail.
history
In March 1894, the Norwegian Parliament in Storting decided that a rail link should be built between Christiania (now Oslo) and Bergen.
Since the railway was supposed to run over the then pathless plateau of the Hardangervidda, a path had to be built first to allow people and material to be transported to the construction sites. For this purpose, the Rallarvegen was built by the three towns of Voss , Flåm and Geilo , which was built parallel to the railway line that was subsequently completed. The term is made up of the words “Rallar” (railway workers) and “Veien” (the way).
After the opening of the Bergen Railway in 1909, the route remained and was used by travelers as access from the Sognefjord to the Bergen Railway ( Myrdal station ) until the Flåmsbana opened in 1940 .
Todays use
The Rallarvegen has been used as part of National Cycle Route 4 from Oslo to Bergen since 1974 , and in a few sections it has been approved as vehicle access to weekend properties. Hikers often use the route to cross the Hardangervidda due to the relatively good supply situation on the route.
course
The Rallarvegen runs over a distance of 86 kilometers from the train station in Haugastøl via the train stations Finse , Hallingskeid and Myrdal to Flåm on the Aurlandsfjord .
While Haugastøl is on Reichsstraße 7 at around 1000 meters above sea level, Rallarvegen in Finse at 1222 meters is the highest train station in Northern Europe . The Rallarvegen rises up to 1,343 meters between the train stations Finse and Hallingskeid and then drops to sea level as far as Flåm. The Rallarvegen is not asphalted throughout. In the section between Finse and Myrdal, the path is partly in poor condition. In this area, snow fields must be expected until July. Behind Myrdal, the Rallarvegen falls over a distance of two kilometers over 300 meters with an 18% gradient down into Flåmdalen.
Another route variant leads from Myrdal to Voss. Hikers and cyclists from Myrdal have to bridge one station by train through the Gravhal tunnel, as there is no direct bypass for this section. The journey by train takes about five minutes.
The Rallarvegen, which is closed to road traffic, is part of the National Bicycle Route 4 . It is considered to be one of the most beautiful cycle paths in Norway and in some areas it is not easy to cycle on.
