Norwegian musician threatened with legal action after filming music video on railway tracks

A Norwegian artist has removed a promotional video and received a formal warning after state rail operator Bane Nor threatened police action over footage filmed on active railway tracks, Dagbladet reports.

Ragnhild Risnes, 28, and her band Lugaren released a video for their song Buss4Tog earlier this month, featuring scenes shot on what appeared to be disused tracks in Trondheim. The video was taken down after Bane Nor contacted Risnes, informing her that entering railway property without permission is illegal under Norwegian law.

“They called and called and called,” Risnes told Dagbladet. “At first I thought they wanted to collaborate. Then it turned into: ‘Before we report you to the police, you need to…’ That’s when I realised this was serious.”

Bane Nor’s external communications head, Stine Smemo Strachan, confirmed the tracks were operational despite their abandoned appearance. “Even on lines with little traffic, trains can arrive without warning,” she said. “You never win against a train—it can take a kilometre to stop.”

The incident ended with a warning rather than a police report after Risnes complied with the removal request. She has since re-released the video with approved footage, while Bane Nor emphasised the risks of trespassing. “We can’t have images circulating that make it seem safe to be on the tracks,” Strachan said. “It can cost lives.”

Risnes maintained the original video was not intended as a critique of rail safety but as a creative project tied to the song’s theme—comparing romantic longing to the frustration of Norway’s much-maligned train replacement bus services. “Everyone agrees we don’t want buss for tog,” she said. “Norway’s rail system is a disaster.”

The band is now planning new material, with Risnes joking they might next tackle topics like energy prices or grocery monopolies.