Travel conditions

Chapter I. Passengers

Section 1. Scope

The conditions of carriage are applicable to journeys by scheduled bus services in Norway and are to be considered as contractual terms between the passenger and the relevant transport operator.

Section 2. Boarding and leaving the bus

If there are officially designated stops, passengers must board and leave the bus at these. Passengers may also board and leave the bus at places other than designated stops where this is in accordance with the traffic regulations and it is safe to do so.

Section 3. Fares – refunds

The transport operator shall apply rules governing fares, including discount schemes, as approved by the authority that the Ministry of Transport and Communications has designated as the fare authority for the route or bus company concerned. These rules may also contain conditions for refunds of unused season tickets.

Information on fares and discounts, including on refund schemes and where to apply for these, shall be made available to passengers.

Section 4. Tickets

Purchasing a ticket or card confers the right of carriage. In the absence of a special payment scheme, tickets shall be bought or cards shown/clipped when boarding the bus. Passengers are responsible for checking that they have been given the correct ticket and change. Wherever possible, any complaints must be raised at the time.

If a passenger has not been able to purchase a ticket at the right time, this must be made known to the crew as soon as possible and before leaving the bus.

The ticket/card must be retained for the entire journey and shown to the crew or inspector on request.

Any passenger who is unable to present a valid ticket or card for inspection must pay a penalty fare equivalent to twice the single fare for the journey, subject to a minimum of NOK 300. If a passenger misuses or attempts to misuse a card, it will be retained by the crew or inspector and a receipt issued.

Passengers who refuse to pay the penalty fare or refuse to relinquish their card may be reported to the police, cf. section 403 of the Norwegian Penal Code.

Pursuant to section 33 of Norwegian Act no. 45 of 21 June 2002 on Professional Transport by Motor Vehicle and Vessel, passengers without a valid ticket may be detained. Terms and conditions for detaining passengers must be specifically approved by the Ministry of Transport and Communications with respect to the individual company’s conditions of carriage.

Pre-purchased ticket does not give you seat guarantee.

Section 5. Conduct

Passengers undertake to show due respect for other passengers and to observe standard safety rules. Seatbelts and other safety equipment must be used where available.

Talking to or otherwise disturbing the driver during the journey is not permitted.

Section 6. Smoking and intoxicating substances

The ban on smoking must be observed. Consumption of alcoholic drinks and use of other intoxicating substances is prohibited.

Section 7. Disturbances

The crew may refuse to carry passengers who are visibly intoxicated or who may otherwise cause inconvenience or offence to other passengers. Passengers who behave in an unseemly manner or otherwise cause a nuisance to other passengers may be removed from the bus if they do not comply with the crew’s instructions.

Section 8. Passenger liability

Passengers shall be liable to pay compensation in accordance with standard compensation rules for any damage caused to the bus or its fittings.

 

Chapter II. Luggage

Section 9. Hand luggage

Passengers may bring on to the bus easy-to-handle items (hand luggage) with a total weight not exceeding 20 kg per ticket. The luggage must be stowed so that it does not cause a nuisance to other passengers or obstruct passengers boarding and leaving the bus.

Section 10. Other luggage

Where space allows and the crew considers it appropriate, heavier or larger items or luggage may be carried subject to payment of a luggage charge. Such items must be stowed as specified by the crew.

Prams and pushchairs may be carried where space allows and must be stowed in accordance with the crew’s instructions.

Bicycles that can be dismantled or folded may be carried in the luggage compartment. Other bicycles may only be carried on buses with a bicycle rack or other suitable device, and where there is sufficient space and the driver considers it appropriate.

Section 11. Live animals

The transport operator is not obliged to carry live animals. The crew shall decide to what extent animals can be taken on the bus. Dogs must be kept on a leash during the journey and positioned so that they do not cause a nuisance to other passengers. Animals that are aggressive or otherwise cause a nuisance to passengers may be offloaded during the journey.

Section 12. Liability and compensation for loss of or damage to luggage

The transport operator is not liable for loss of or damage to items carried free of charge unless intentional or gross negligence on the part of the operator can be proved. The company’s liability in other respects is regulated by the Motor Vehicle Liability Act of 3 February 1961.

In the case of luggage for which a charge has been paid pursuant to section 9, the transport operator is liable for loss or damage affecting the luggage from when it is brought on to the bus until it reaches the destination. However, this does not apply if the loss or damage is the result of error or neglect on the part of the passenger to whom the luggage belongs. The Road Freight Agreements Act of 20 December 1974 shall apply in setting the level of compensation. Section 32(2) of the Act specifies that compensation in connection with transport within Norway may not exceed 17 SDR for each kilogram of the gross weight of the property lost.

(SDR – special drawing rights – is an international currency unit defined by the International Monetary Fund.)

Section 13. Complaints

Anyone wishing to claim compensation pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 must do so within a reasonable time and without undue delay.

 

Chapter III. Liability and damages

Section 14. The company’s liability in the event of delays and cancellations

Wherever possible, the transport operator shall inform passengers of cancellations, delays and other service interruptions, and indicate what passengers should do in the situation at hand. Allowance must be made for minor delays.

The passenger is considered to have accepted any delays that were already known when the contract of carriage was entered into.

If a journey is cancelled or interrupted en route, the transport operator shall make arrangements for onward transport within a reasonable time, depending on the circumstances in question. What is considered to be “within a reasonable time” will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Where onward transport does not take place or has not taken place within a reasonable time, passengers are entitled to compensation for losses incurred if the transport operator has acted negligently.

Evidence of any losses incurred must be submitted to the transport operator. Only direct losses will be covered, and customers are obliged to limit their losses.

Section 15. Personal injury liability

In the event of personal injury, the transport operator is liable pursuant to the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Liability Act.

For the Travel guarantee click here.