Finding Your Way Through Deepnest
You are deep in the fungal wastes, having just bested the Mantis Lords. The path forward seems to lead only into a dark, foreboding pit. You have heard whispers of a faster way across the kingdom, a relic of Hallownest’s ancient transit system. But to use it, you need a key. Not just any key, but the Tram Pass.
This small, metallic artifact is your ticket to bypassing some of the most treacherous zones in the game, connecting the distant corners of the map with convenient, safe travel. If you are tired of long, dangerous treks back through Deepnest or the Royal Waterways, finding the Tram Pass becomes a top priority. This guide will walk you through exactly where to find it and how to use it to master Hollow Knight’s sprawling world.
What Is the Tram Pass and Why You Need It
The Tram Pass is a key item in Hollow Knight. It is not a charm or a piece of geo; it is a permanent tool that unlocks the kingdom’s dormant tram system. Once acquired, you can interact with the large, red tram stations scattered in three specific locations to instantly travel between them.
The primary benefit is massive time savings. The three tram stations create a triangular network that links the far east, the deep west, and the bottom of the world. Without it, traveling from the Ancient Basin to Deepnest or the Kingdom’s Edge involves navigating through multiple hostile areas, often requiring specific abilities like the Crystal Heart or Isma’s Tear. The tram lets you skip all of that.
It also serves as a critical pathing tool for completionists. Several late-game areas, collectibles, and even an entire ending route are much more accessible once the tram network is online. Think of it less as a convenience and more as a strategic unlock that changes how you navigate the entire mid to late game.
Prerequisites Before You Search
You cannot simply walk to the Tram Pass from the start of your adventure. The area that holds it, Deepnest, is one of the most dangerous zones in the game, and reaching the specific room requires a few key abilities.
First, you will need the Mantis Claw to wall-jump. This is non-negotiable, as the entrance to Deepnest and the navigation within it demand strong vertical mobility. You get this from the Mantis Village, which is also the gateway to Deepnest.
Second, you absolutely need a light source. Deepnest is pitch black in many sections. The recommended tool is the Lumafly Lantern, which you can purchase from Sly in Dirtmouth for 1800 Geo. It is a significant investment, but trying to navigate Deepnest without it is an exercise in frustration and death.
Optionally, having the Crystal Heart super-dash can make the journey to the pass slightly faster, but it is not required for the core route described here. A sturdy nail and a good stock of health are your best companions.
The Step-by-Step Journey to the Tram Pass
This route assumes you are starting from the bench in the Mantis Village, right after defeating the Mantis Lords. Ensure you have the Lantern equipped and your geo stored safely with Jiji if needed, as death in Deepnest can be punishing.
Entering the Depths of Deepnest
From the Mantis Village bench, head left and drop down the large shaft. At the very bottom, you will find a breakable wall on the left side. Strike it to reveal a hidden tunnel. This is the official entrance to Deepnest.
Proceed left through this tunnel. You will soon enter a large, dark chamber with webs and distinctive background architecture. This is the main Deepnest area. Your immediate goal is to go down. Use your wall-jump to descend carefully, avoiding the occasional Garpede burrowing through the walls.
Continue descending until you reach a room with a stationary, non-aggressive bug sitting on a ledge. This is the Midwife. The room just to the left of the Midwife is your critical junction.
Navigating to the Hidden Chamber
In the room left of the Midwife, you will see the floor is made of loose, breakable ground. Do not just drop through. Instead, look for a small tunnel on the left wall, near the top of the room. It is easy to miss. Use your wall-jump to enter this tunnel.
This tunnel leads left into a very distinctive vertical shaft. This shaft has a background of large, stone ribs and is filled with Corpse Creepers (the spider-like enemies that spawn from eggs). Your goal is at the very bottom of this shaft.
Descend carefully, clearing the Corpse Creeper eggs as you go to avoid being swarmed. At the absolute bottom, you will find a small opening on the left wall. Enter it.
Claiming Your Prize
This final chamber is small and contains no enemies. In the center of the room, sitting plainly on the ground, is a shiny, metallic object. This is the Tram Pass. Walk over it to pick it up. A brief message will confirm the item has been added to your inventory.
Congratulations. The journey here is treacherous, but the reward permanently alters your travel capabilities. Now, you just need to get out. The fastest exit is usually to simply quit to menu and reload, which will place you back at your last rested bench (the Mantis Village). Alternatively, you can carefully retrace your steps upward.
How to Use the Tram Pass and Station Locations
With the Tram Pass in your possession, the large, red, inactive tram consoles become interactive. Simply stand near them and press the appropriate button to summon a tram car, then board it. You can choose your destination from the connected stations.
There are three tram stations in Hallownest:
– The Deepnest Station: This is the station closest to where you found the pass. From the pass room, head right and up, eventually leading to a large, open room with the distinctive red console.
– The Ancient Basin Station: Located in the lower right section of the Ancient Basin. This station provides quick access to the Palace Grounds and the Abyss.
– The Kingdom’s Edge Station: Found in the far left side of Kingdom’s Edge, this station sits in a secluded cave, offering a direct route to areas like the Colosseum of Fools and the Hive.
The network forms a loop. You can travel from any station to any other, making it the fastest way to traverse the lower third of the map.
Common Troubleshooting and Alternative Routes
Many players encounter issues on this quest, usually related to navigation or prerequisites. Here are solutions to common problems.
I Cannot Find the Breakable Wall in Mantis Village
If you are at the bottom of the large pit and do not see a breakable wall, you might be in the wrong pit. Ensure you are in the room directly beneath the Mantis Lords’ arena. The wall is on the left side, very near the bottom. If it is still not appearing, try striking all along the left wall. The game sometimes requires a precise hit.
Deepnest is Too Dark, Even With the Lantern
The Lumafly Lantern provides a constant circle of light around your knight. If areas still seem pitch black, that is intentional atmosphere; the lantern only illuminates a certain radius. If you have no light at all, double-check that you actually purchased and equipped the lantern from Sly’s inventory. Simply having it in your collection is not enough; it functions automatically once bought.
Is There Another Way to Get the Tram Pass?
No. There is only one Tram Pass in the game, and it is always found in that specific room in Deepnest. There are no cheats, codes, or alternate methods to acquire it. You must brave Deepnest. However, there are slightly different paths to enter Deepnest itself, such as falling through the false floor in the Fungal Wastes near the Queen’s Station, or via the Distant Village entrance opened by the Beast. But all paths eventually converge on the same pass location.
I Died and Lost My Geo in the Pass Room
This is a tough situation. Your shade will spawn in the small chamber where the pass was. To retrieve your geo, you must make the journey back down to that room. Consider using the Gathering Swarm charm to pull geo to you as you fight, or simply practice the route to minimize combat on the retrieval run. Once you touch your shade, you can quit out to return to the bench safely with your geo recovered.
Strategic Integration Into Your Playthrough
Do not view the Tram Pass as a standalone item. Its real power is in how it connects your world. After acquiring it, immediately visit the other two stations to activate them as fast travel points on your map.
Use the tram to quickly reach late-game zones like the Kingdom’s Edge for nail upgrades, or the Ancient Basin for essential abilities like the Monarch Wings. It also makes backtracking for collectibles, charm notches, and mask shards incredibly efficient.
For players aiming for the true ending, the tram is virtually essential, providing reliable access to the Queen’s Gardens and the Hidden Station. It turns a daunting, interconnected world into a manageable network, letting you focus on exploration and combat rather than tedious traversal.
Mastering Hallownest’s Transit System
The journey for the Tram Pass is a rite of passage in Hollow Knight. It tests your navigation skills and courage in one of the game’s most oppressive environments. The reward, however, is freedom. The sprawling, interconnected depths of Hallownest become linked by safe, rapid transit, turning a daunting kingdom into a cohesive world you can master.
Your next steps are clear. Plot a course to the other tram stations, mark them on your map, and begin using this new network to tackle the challenges that still lie ahead. Whether you are hunting the Dreamers, seeking the Knight’s past, or simply collecting every last charm, the Tram Pass is the key that makes it all flow together. Now, go and ride the rails of the ancient kingdom.
