The landslide occurred on Saturday, affecting both the railway and European Road E136, NRK.no reports. The slip, estimated at 50 metres wide and two metres high, reached the Rauma River and rendered Verma station unusable.
Infrastructure damage and safety checks
Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear debris from the tracks. Bane NOR has confirmed that risk assessments for further landslides are underway and must be completed before any reopening. The timeline for restoring operations may be revised depending on weather, geological conditions, and structural evaluations. The mainline remains out of use, and safety protocols are being prioritized for personnel conducting recovery work.
Passenger and freight services disrupted
The closure directly affects both regional passenger services and the tourist train “The Golden Train,” operated by Romsdalen AS. This service launched in 2024 and is experiencing its first full tourist season. Alternative transport has been arranged for passengers during the initial days, with longer-term solutions still under evaluation.
SJ Nord, which manages regular services on the Rauma Line, has implemented rail replacement buses. The damage is described as extensive, and the company expects a prolonged disruption, particularly inconvenient during the summer travel season.
Freight traffic suspended again
Freight operator OnRail, which resumed operations on the line at the end of April 2025 after earlier closures, has once again halted services. The Rauma Line is the only rail freight connection for Møre og Romsdal county. OnRail had resumed daily freight trains between Oslo and Åndalsnes just weeks earlier, following a long period of disruptions caused by infrastructure failures on both the Rauma and Dovre lines.
Goods moved by OnRail included essential deliveries such as food, beverages, hospital supplies, and fuel additives. The closure now requires clients to find available road transport, which is particularly challenging during the holiday period.
OnRail CEO Henning Aandal has previously emphasized the cost pressure caused by infrastructure closures, citing high fixed costs that continue regardless of train activity. These include leasing charges for locomotives and terminals, staff salaries, and rolling stock rental. The company's operations have been repeatedly affected since 2023 by floods and bridge failures, first at Randklev and later at Otta.
Part of a series of disruptions
This latest interruption is part of a series of disruptions affecting the corridor between Oslo and Åndalsnes. Freight operators on the route face logistical and financial constraints caused by the recurring instability of the infrastructure. Each closure limits rail’s competitiveness against road haulage and affects continuity of supply for industries relying on rail logistics in western Norway.
The Rauma Line remains without electrification, requiring diesel traction for freight services between Dombås and Åndalsnes. OnRail uses European Loc Pool’s EuroDual locomotives with reduced emissions compared to legacy diesel units. The company previously estimated that its operations displaced approximately 10,000 lorry journeys per year.
Passenger and freight services will remain suspended until further notice. Bane NOR has stated that the current target date for reopening is 1 September, subject to reassessment.
