railway station in Hol, Norway
Haugastøl is a village on the mountain plateau of Hardangervidda between the western and eastern part of Norway. Many people from Bergen have cabins here, and it is a popular spot for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Haugastøl is accessible by train by the Oslo–Bergen railway.
The Oslo-Bergen railway is operated by the Norwegian State Railways. If you buy your ticket online well in advance, fares may be as low as kr. 199 for a one-way ticket. For an additional fee of kr. 75 you may upgrade your ticket to NSB Komfort, the equivalent of first class, with better seats, free coffee and tea, power supply and a more quiet spot in the train.
There should be a special car accessible for people using a wheelchair on all trains between Oslo and Bergen. A reservation is recommended. The train staff will assist you to get the wheelchair on board.
The only road to Haugastøl is RV 7. If conditions are good, the trip takes about 3.5 hours from Bergen (including a 10-minute ferry). From Oslo, it will take 4.5 hours.
If you plan to drive to Haugastøl in the winter season, it is imperative that you are prepared for the journey. The conditions are harsh. Always keep a full tank of fuel, and keep warm clothes, food and drink in the car. Make sure your tires are good enough and suited for winter conditions (studded or non-studded winter tires, "all-year" tires is not enough), and that you have the sufficient skills for driving in snowy and cold conditions. Roads are often closed on short notice due to weather conditions. For advice on conditions and closed roads, call 175 in Norway or check the road reports from the Norwegian State road authorities.
The most common way to get around in Haugastøl is by foot or by bicycle. There is a distance of 1 km between Haugastøl Station and Haugastøl Turistcenter, which one has to walk when arriving by train.
At Haugastøl one can start to a bike trip along the rallarvegen, the famous old navvies road next to the Bergen line, the railway line across the Hardangervidda. It takes about 27 rough kilometer to Finse, the railway station in the middle of the northern Hardangervidda, where only bikers, hikers or tourists via train will show up - or skiers during the long winter period.