Record year for public transport in Norway, Centre Party rules out budget negotiations with the Socialist Left Party, and other news on Wednesday.

Public transport in Norway saw the most passengers ever in 2024

Some 729 million journeys were registered on public transport in Norway in 2024, the highest number ever and an increase of two percent on the year before, according to figures from the national data agency Statistics Norway.

Some 61 percent of those journeys were with buses, while 27 percent used trams or urban railways. Railways comprised 11 percent of passenger traffic, while one percent travelled by boat.

“Trams, subways and light rail had the greatest growth, closely followed by railways,” from Statistics Norway said of the figures.

Tickets generated 17 billion kroner in revenue for transport firms, with Norwegians making 131 public transport journeys in 2024 on average.

Norway advances to Eurovision final

Norway’s Eurovision hope, Kyle Alessandro, will represent the country in Saturday’s final after progressing from the semi-final on Tuesday night.

A total of ten countries advanced from the first semi-final. Albania, Sweden, Iceland, the Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal and Ukraine all progressed alongside Norway, while Slovenia, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Croatia and Cyprus were dumped out of the competition.

A second semi-final will be held on Thursday. Some 26 countries will compete in Saturday’s final.

Centre Party rules out budget talks with the Socialist Left Party

Norway’s minority Labour government will present its revised national budget for 2025 tomorrow, and it already appears as if the party will have an uphill battle getting its spending plan through parliament.

The Centre Party left the government earlier this year over an EU directive row. At the same time, the Socialist Left Party had been the preferred negotiating partner when both Labour and the Centre Party were still in government.

Advertisement

Centre Party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum told the newspaper Klassekampen the party wouldn’t negotiate at the same table as the Socialist Left Party and instead talk with the government first, before the Socialist Left Party is then invited to hold talks with the government.

Minister rules out lilac ban

Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen has ruled out a ban on the lilac variety Syringa vulgaris, despite the Norwegian Environment Agency pushing for a ban over fears that they harm biodiversity.

“Lilacs are a beloved garden plant that has been around for a long time in Norway and has historical value. I can therefore reassure everyone that it is not appropriate for the Labour Party government to introduce any ban on lilacs,” Eriksen said.