About the authority
Om oss · About Vaross Ferdverk
Vaross Transit Authority — Vaross Ferdverk in Marisk, the local tongue — has kept the isles of Kelmar moving for 129 years. We run the metro, the trams and the harbour ferries as one network, on one timetable, for one fare.
The city and the isles
Vaross is the harbour city of the Kelmar archipelago, a scatter of seven inhabited isles in a cold, bright northern sea. The city itself sits on Storøy (Great Isle), wrapped around the deep-water strait of Strømsund that splits it from Vestøy to the west. To the north, across the Nordsund channel and its bridge, lies Nordøy; south and east, reached by ferry, the outer isles of Saltøy, Fyrøy and Vindstrand.
The climate is maritime and changeable: mild, long summer evenings; wet, wind-driven winters; and the sea fog that rolls up the strait and gives the Fyrøy light its work. Vaross grew rich on salt and the herring fishery, and the old salt works at Saltverk still name a tram stop. The language of the isles is Marisk — every station and line on this network carries its Marisk name beside its English one, because that is how the city reads them aloud.
A short history
- 1861
The Fyrøy light is lit at the mouth of the strait — the beacon that still turns each night and gives the authority its mark.
- 1884
Horse trams begin running along the Vaross waterfront; harbour rowing-ferries link the inner isles.
- 1897
Vaross Ferdverk is founded to bring the trams and the ferries under one timetable and one fare.
- 1911
The tram network is electrified. The Solberg and Shore Park routes take their modern shape.
- 1974
The Strømsund strait tunnel opens and with it the first metro line, joining Vestøy to the city core.
- 2009
The Kelkort smartcard arrives; one tap now carries a traveller across every mode.
- 2026
Five lines across metro, tram and ferry serve the whole archipelago on a single ticket.
Accessibility
Every metro station on the network is step-free from street to platform by lift and ramp, with tactile edge paving, level boarding and audible and visual next-stop announcements. Our trams are low-floor throughout; ferry ramps are adjusted to the tide by the crew for level boarding at every quay.
- Priority seating on every vehicle, near the doors and marked in both languages.
- Guide, hearing and assistance dogs travel free and are welcome on all modes.
- Hearing loops at every ticket window and on the ferries.
- Travelling with a wheelchair or need a hand? Book assistance at least 60 minutes ahead on +7 (0)41 555 018 and our staff will meet you.
The one current exception is Strømsund (The Sound), the deep strait station, where the eastbound lift is out of service until the end of the month; step-free travellers should use the free replacement ferry from Harbour Square. See the service notice.
Lost property
Left something behind? Items found on our trains, trams and ferries are handed in to the Lost Property Office at Ferdverkshuset, usually by the end of the next working day.
- Report it. Use the lost property form or call +7 (0)41 555 099. Tell us the line, the date, the time and a description.
- We search and match. You will hear from us within two working days if your item is found, at the email or number you leave.
- Collect it. Bring photo ID to the Lost Property Office, Mon–Sat 09:00–18:00. We can post larger items within Kelmar for the cost of carriage.
Unclaimed items are held for 90 days. Perishable goods and unlabelled keys are not kept. There is no charge to recover lost property.
Lost property enquiries: hittegods@vaross.km
Who we are
Vaross Ferdverk is the public transit authority for the city and archipelago, accountable to the Vaross Isles Assembly. We are funded by fares and by the isles' transport levy, and we publish our timetables, fares and performance openly. Our headquarters, Ferdverkshuset, stands on the harbour front above the Line F5 ferry pier.
Havneplass 1
Sentralkvartalet
KM-1001 Vaross, Kelmar
Customer centre: Mon–Fri 07:00–20:00, Sat–Sun 09:00–18:00
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