Oslo trams and trains

My wife and I have been going to Oslo at least once a year since 1992. I love the Oslo transportation system, and I was impressed with the letter “From Airport to Oslo and Frogner Park” (Sept. ’16, pg. 15).

The writer mentioned the brown brick building, near Oslo’s Sentral Station, where you can buy tram tickets. Something that travelers should be aware of is while entering the building to buy your ticket, you will need to take a number and wait for assistance from one of the clerks there. 

During your wait, I suggest you go to the wall to your right and grab a red pamphlet for bus schedules (with a map on its rear fold-in page) and a light-blue pamphlet for the tram schedules. These will help you in planning your stops and then following them on the monitor screen as you hear each announced. If you are confused, ask someone on the bus or tram for help; the locals generally speak perfect English.  

Likewise, when you exit the brown building, which is marked “Ruter #,” make a short right around the corner and you will find a map showing where each bus or tram stop is located close to each train station. It will be on the rear glass panel of the covered enclosure where passengers wait for buses. Very helpful!

The writer’s suggestion for using the NSB train rather than the express train to go from the airport to Oslo may be a way to save money, but be aware that, unlike express trains, NSB trains go in both directions from the airport, so if you get on the wrong one, you may be headed to Trondheim rather than Oslo. My wife and I can attest to the frustration and expense involved in choosing an NSB train headed away from Oslo!

BOB TEWS

Edgerton, WI