Number of travellers

The traffic estimates for Flåmsbana, carried out in 1908 and 1915, predicted 22 000 travellers annually. It soon became apparent that the railway proved far more popular than the experts had forecasted, and already in the first years the number of travellers increased, both on the Flåm Railway and on the Bergen Railway. Up until 1968–69, passenger traffic on Flåmsbana proved stable and predictable, with slight annual variations. Traffic varied more in the 1970s, before stabilising at approx. 175 000 passengers. In 1972, the first year young travellers were allowed to use Inter-Rail passes on Flåmsbana, the number of passengers increased further.
 
During the latter part of the 1980s, Flåmsbana saw another dramatic increase. Norway offered highly attractive travel products: magnificent fjords and mountains, combined with political calm and tranquillity. In a world tainted by war and terror, and growing environmental damage, this was a decided competitive advantage – and true quality for the money. The Flåm Railway was a success, and no longer did anyone suggest closing this secondary line of the Bergen Railway. In fact, Flåmsbana saw the greatest growth in passenger traffic of any railway stretch in Norway – and the numbers increased year after year.
 
Today, the Flåm Railway is a world class tourist attraction, and you would be hard pressed to find a more magnetic attraction in Norway, or anywhere else. 

*) The local company Flåm Utvikling took over sales and marketing of the Flåm Railway.

Source: Flåmsbana - Johs. B. Thue