Travel terms and conditions
Passengers travelling and buying a ticket/downloading travel money enter into a travel agreement with Kolumbus which grants the rights to transport with companies that operates on contract with Kolumbus, or places where Kolumbus cooperates with another administration company or organisation. The travel terms and conditions are part of this agreement.
§ 1: Who the travel terms and conditions apply to
§ 2: Behaviour during travel
§ 3: Passengers' rights and duties
§ 4: Ticket inspections
§ 5: What you can bring on board
§ 6: Lost and found
§ 7: Responsibility for lost or damaged luggage and bodily damage
§ 8: Kolumbus' responsibility in the case of delays and cancellations
§ 9: Complaints
§ 10: Valid from
§ 1: Who the travel terms and conditions apply to
The terms and conditions apply to all who are on board means of transport operating under a contract with Kolumbus or at connected terminals, waiting rooms and stops. By travelling, the passenger enters into a transport agreement with Kolumbus AS. These terms and conditions function as a transport agreement between Kolumbus AS and the passenger.
The terms and conditions also apply to Jærbanen, which is operated by Go-Ahead Norge AS under a contract with the railway directorate.
§ 2: Behaviour during travel
Persons on board Kolumbus' means of transport or terminals are to show consideration for each other and behave in a manner that does not lead to embarrassment for others.
You are obliged to use seat belt where this is installed. Smoking (including electronic cigarettes) and the use of any drugs is not permitted on board.
Passengers are obliged to behave in a manner where the risk of dangerous situations is kept at a minimum, for instance by not opening doors while the vehicle is moving, not disturbing the driver's line of sight or by not standing in the way of the doors closing correctly. The passenger should always keep a safe distance to the vehicle when driving to or away from a bus stop.
Everyone must oblige to rules put forth by Kolumbus, either through posters or the personnel. Those who do abide by these orders can be shown away. Drivers/captains/crew can refuse to allow on board or show away passengers who are obviously under the influence of alcohol or drugs or in other manners lead to uncomfortable situations for other passengers or the driver.
§ 3: Passengers' rights and duties
Passengers receive the rights to transport by obtaining a valid ticket in accordance with the latest terms and prices, as determined by Kolumbus.
A trip has started as soon as the passenger is on board the means of transport. The passenger is to have a valid ticket upon boarding. This means that an electronic ticket must have been activated at this stage. A ticket bought on a cell phone gives access to boarding when the countdown on the mobile ticket application has started.
Having valid means of payment is the passenger's responsibility upon buying a ticket. If travelling with a discounted ticket, the passenger must be able to prove the right to the discount. For instance, if you are travelling with a student ticket, you must be able to show a student ID.
The passenger must have the ticket available throughout the trip, all the way to the point where the passenger has left the terminal area. The ticket must be shown to driver or ticket inspector upon request.
§ 4: Ticket inspections
4.1 In general
Ticket inspectors and driver/crew on board have the right to inspect tickets. The inspection can be done by both uniformed and civilian personnel. The inspections can be performed both on board and when disembarking.
4.2 Additional fee
Passengers who does not at the time of inspection present a valid ticket for a started trip must pay an additional fee. Ending the trip at the time of inspection does not exempt you from paying the fee. Passengers with discounted tickets and who cannot show necessary ID (for instance a valid student ID), must also pay the additional fee. Minors who have turned 15 must also pay the additional fee if the travel without a valid ticket or ID.
The additional fee can be paid on the spot or with a invoice. For adults over 18, the fee is 950 NOK if the fee is paid on the spot and 1150 NOK if paid by invoice. For persons under the age of 18, the fee is 950 NOK either way.
A passenger who neither shows a valid ticket during an inspection, nor pays the additional fee on the spot, must state correct name, address, and date of birth. The passenger must also wait for ID confirmation, so that the fee could be claimed at a later point. Passengers without a valid ticket, but who state correct name, address, and birth date, can continue their trip. A passenger will also be able to continue their trip if the additional fee is paid on the spot. If the additional fee is paid on the spot, the passenger will receive a receipt.
If a passenger is not entitled to continue the trip, the person can be sent off the vehicle at a bus stop/station en route or shown away from Kolumbus' area.
Lacking payment of the additional fee will be followed up, and if necessary, demanded using debt collection. This also applies for minors from 15 years of age, but these will not be responsible for the costs involved in debt collection. Parents must expect to be informed of the situation.
Tickets or travel money that can not be read electronically, or where name or date of birth are unreadable, will be confiscated. The card can also be confiscated if you travel with a personal ticket and the inspector finds it doubtable that the name and birth date belongs to you. The card can be collected at Kolumbus' customer centre by showing valid ID.
4.3 Holding back passengers without a valid ticket
Inspectors working for Kolumbus can hold back passengers who:
a) do not show a valid ticket, and either
b) do not pay the additional fee on the spot, or
c) do not state correct name, address, and date of birth.
A passenger can be held back until the correct name, address, and date of birth are stated, as well as until the ID is confirmed. If the passenger pays the additional fee after all, the person will not be held back. Persons under the age of 15 will not be held back.
Holding back passengers cannot take place if this constitutes as a disproportionate intervention. The legal basis for holding passengers back can be found in the Railways Act § 7a and the Commercial Traffic Act § 33.
4.4 False or forged ticket
A passenger who travels with a false or forged ticket will be charged a higher additional fee, and the ticket will be confiscated. The higher additional fee is NOK 2000. The case can be reported to the police.
§ 5: What you can bring on board
5.1 Hand luggage
Items which are easily handled (hand luggage) can be brought on board as long as they are not obstructing other passengers. Hand luggage must be placed so that they do not pose a security risk. Passengers must themselves ensure that the luggage is placed safely on board the means of transport.
5.2 Animals
Animals can be brought on board if they do not cause any hassle for other passengers and if there is room for the animals on board the vehicle. Guide dogs/police dogs/service dogs can always be brought on board. Animals are to be controlled by their owner (on a leash, in a cage or similar), and must not prevent free passage. On boats, animals must be placed in designated spaces.
5.3 Bikes
Bikes can be brought on board if there is space and are to be placed in designated areas. The crew will determine if there is space or not.
5.4 Strollers and wheelchairs
Passengers in wheelchairs or those with strollers can use Kolumbus' transport services. There is limited space on board for strollers and wheelchairs. The size of the wheelchair must not exceed those stated in the existing regulations regarding universal design (see more on wheelchair sizes on kolumbus.no).
5.5 Dangerous goods
Inflammable and explosive materials, loaded weapons, items with sharp edges, bad odours or excessive size, or other things than can obviously pose a danger or uncomfortable situations for other passengers, can not be brought on board. Rules concerning what is defined as dangerous good and the regulation of transport of these can be found on kolumbus.no.
§ 6: Lost and found
Lost and found items must be handed over to the crew/driver. The items are kept by the operator or Kolumbus for up to three months. This does not apply to food and similar items. If the owner does not report within three months and prove their right to ownership, valuable objects will be handed over to the police. Other objects are handed to charitable organisations or thrown away.
§ 7: Responsibility for lost or damaged luggage and bodily damage
7.1 The passenger's responsibility
Any damages inflicted by the passenger on the vehicle or décor must be paid for according to normal compensation rules.
7.2 The operator's responsibility
The operator is not responsible for loss of or damage on items that are brought on board, unless purposeful or gross negligence from the personnel can be proved.
The operator is responsible for loss or damage on luggage which has been paid allowance for from it is brought on board the vehicle and until the destination. This is not applicable if the loss or damage is caused by faults or neglect from the passenger's side. When determining the size of the compensation, the law of road freight of 20 December 1974 is used.
The operator's responsibility is regulated by the Car Liability Act from 3 February 1961 for travels by bus, the law of the sea from June 1994 for travels by boat and the Railway Liability Act from 10 June 1977 no. 73 for travels by train.
§ 8: Kolumbus' responsibility in the case of delays and cancellations
Kolumbus AS is to transport passengers in accordance with the already determined and announced routes and facilitate so that the passengers can acquire a valid ticket before the journey.
In the case of cancellations, delays or other situations that may hamper the service, Kolumbus must strive to inform passengers. Passengers must also be informed of alternative transport and travel routes. Kolumbus will also, as far as possible, set up alternative means of transport.
In the case of delays, rerouting, traffic stops or cancellations of departures that have not been advertised, passengers can apply for compensation of expenditures on alternative transport according to Kolumbus' travel guarantee. See https://www.kolumbus.no/en/for more information. Applications must be sent no later than three months after the incident.
§ 9: Complaints
Potential complaints should be sent to Kolumbus. This is also the case for complaints on received additional fees and confiscated tickets in accordance with § 4.
If a written complaint has been sent to Kolumbus and you are not content with how the case has been treated, you can file a complaint to the Transport Appeals Board. The complaint must be filed within one year after the first complaint was sent to Kolumbus. Read more about the Transport Appeals Board here.
Related to the Marketing Act § 10a third section, you are also informed of the European web based complaints portal
Click here for special rights when travelling by train (only Norwegian).
§ 10: Valid from
The travel terms are approved by the Department of Transport 14 October 2020 and is valid from this date.
Last updated : 14.02.2023