The Norwegians seem to have smaller personal bubbles than Americans do when it comes to public transportation. With Americans, at least in my experience, if you're sitting next to a stranger on a crowded train, either you or the stranger are expected to move to an empty row as soon as one opens up (or possibly when a certain number of empty rows open up). That way, as vacancies increase and personal bubbles expand, neither of you has to intrude into the other's personal space.
With Norwegians, though, the etiquette seems to be that you stay in your seat. Even if empty rows of seats open up all around you and the stranger beside you, I believe you're expected to stay put. Perhaps it's considered rude to do otherwise.
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