High-speed rail in Denmark

The first high-speed railway in Denmark was the Copenhagen–Ringsted Line, completed in late 2018 and opened in 2019. Further high-speed lines are currently under planning.

The current, approved high-speed lines set to be built or upgraded in Denmark. Also includes completed lines.

As a part of a long-term green plan for transportation in Denmark in December 2008, the government at the time presented a high-speed strategy for the inter-city train traffic, called The Hour Model (Danish: Timemodellen). The strategy contains bringing down the travel time between the four largest cities of Denmark to one hour, thereby decreasing the total travel time between Copenhagen and Aalborg from approximately 4½ hours to 3 hours.[1] The first part of the Hour Model, the new high-speed line between Copenhagen and Ringsted, opened in 2019.[2]

After realization of the first three stages of the Hour Model, it can be expanded to Esbjerg and Herning.

On 1 March 2013, the government published their proposal for fulfilling the Hour Model, as well as an electrification of the main lines. The proposal includes creation of a DKK 27.5 billion fund, Togfonden DK (Danish: Train Fund DK), based on taxes from oil activities in the North Sea.[3][4] The funding was supported by Enhedslisten and Dansk Folkeparti in a political agreement on 17 September 2013, when the potential outcome where adjusted to DKK 28.5 billion.[5]

On 14 January 2014, the parties behind the funding published an agreement for spending the fund, where from DKK 14.8 billion will be spent for realizing the Hour Model.[6]

Completed projects

The Øresund Fixed Link has 200 km/h as permitted and used speed (by X 2000 only) on the bridge and the Peberholm island, since year 2000. This stretch has Swedish signalling system, considered easier to install and giving higher speed.

Intercity Express

From 2007 to 2017 ICE TD high speed trains extended the German Intercity Express service into Denmark. Routes served were Berlin-Hamburg-Copenhagen and Berlin-Hamburg-Aarhus. The trains could reach high speed only on the Berlin-Hamburg section, and would continue on regular railway lines into Denmark.

Approved projects
The Hour Model will decrease travel time Copenhagen-Odense, Odense-Aarhus and Aarhus-Aalborg to one hour.

First stage: Copenhagen to Odense

To bring the travel time between Copenhagen and Odense down to one hour, two works are planned:

Second stage: Aarhus to Aalborg

Like the first stage of the Hour Model, the second one also consists of two works, both in planning:

  • Upgrading the existing rail line between Aalborg and Hobro to 200 km/h, expected carried out in 2020.[7]
  • Upgrading and straightening of the existing rail line between Hobro and Aarhus.Expected to be carried out from 2021.[7][8] The government plan of 1 March 2013 first mentioned the speed upgrade.[9]

DKK 4.9 billion are reserved for second stage and remaining initiatives on first stage.[10]

Third stage: Odense to Aarhus

The central stage of the Hour Model between Odense and Aarhus is considered the most complex and most expensive to complete. Therefore, this stage was not considered realizable before 2020, now 2030.[7][11]

In March 2011, the Danish Ministry of Transport published a strategic analysis of new transport connections between Copenhagen and Aarhus, including two alternative strategies for fulfilling the Hour Model between Odense and Aarhus:[11]

  • The "Little Belt - Vejle Fjord" Alignment Alternative, including new high-speed rail lines between Odense and Middelfart and between Horsens and Aarhus, as well as bypasses around Fredericia (requiring new bridge across Little Belt), Vejle (requiring new bridge across Vejle Fjord) and Horsens.
  • The "Odense - Horsens" Alignment Alternative, a new high-speed rail line between Odense and Aarhus via Horsens, crossing Little Belt between Bogense and Juelsminde, either as a rail-only bridge or as a combined rail and road bridge.

The parts which have received the go-ahead so far are:

  • The Vestfyn Line, a new high-speed line between Odense and Middelfart, connecting to the old Little Belt bridge. Designed for 250 km/h operation, and set to be built from 2023.[12]
  • New line Hovedgård-Hasselager. Designed for 250 km/h operation, and set to open by 2030. Basic plan approved, final alignment pending.[13] This new high-speed rail line will also enable journey times between Odense and Esbjerg of 1 hour.[3]

The sections which are still pending approval are:

  • Speed upgrades Frederecia-Vejle Fjord South.
  • Speed upgrades Vejle Fjord North-Hovedgård.
  • Speed upgrades Hesselager-Aarhus H
  • New Vejle Fjord bridge, bypassing the city.

The Vejle Fjord bridge is the main reason for approval still pending, as there is strong local opposition to the new trains bypassing the city center.

Journey times

Construction of the Hour Model will reduce the inter-city travel time as presented below:

Journey2013Hour Model
Copenhagen – Odense1:151:00
Copenhagen – Esbjerg3:082:00
Copenhagen – Horsens2:271:50
Copenhagen – Aarhus2:452:00
Copenhagen – Aalborg4:213:00
Odense – Esbjerg1:231:00
Odense – Horsens1:100:50
Odense – Aarhus1:241:00
Odense - Aalborg3:042:00
Horsens – Aarhus0:300:19
Aarhus – Aalborg1:191:00
Source:[3]

Construction on the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link is set to begin primo 2021, to be completed by 2028. Preparatory works have begun at the ground of the future tunnel element factory.[14] The rail part of the tunnel will be designed for 200 km/h operation.

Fehmarn Hinterland projects

The treaty between Denmark and Germany for construction of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link includes hinterland projects in both countries. In Denmark, the existing rail line between Ringsted and Rødby is being expanded to double track and electrified, as well as upgraded to 200 km/h.[15] The Storstrøm Bridge was originally supposed to remain as single track, however a political agreement confirms funding the design of a new combined rail and road bridge across Storstrømmen.[16]

With the opening of the fixed link, hourly Intercity-Express trains between Copenhagen and Hamburg will be introduced. The Travel time will be reduced from approx. 4,5 hours to less than 2.5 hours for the fastest trains.[17]

The fixed link, as well as the hinterland projects, are expected to be completed by 2028.[15]

Technical aspects

Signalling

Railways in Denmark use a system for cab signalling which is unique, but is based on the system in Switzerland. The system allows 180 km/h maximum speed in Denmark (200 in Switzerland). 5 km of the Øresund Line closest to the border uses Swedish signalling, and 200 km/h is allowed here (only SJ X2 trains reach this speed here), as the only railway in Denmark.

In order to allow modernization of the Danish railway network, Banedanmark are rolling out European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Level 2 on all national rail lines between 2018 and 2021, a project called the Signalling Programme.[18] The project was tendered out in four contracts:

Electrification

Most of the InterCity train traffic in Denmark are currently operated using the diesel powered IC3 stock. Only the main line between Malmö (Sweden) and Flensburg (Germany) via Copenhagen, Odense, Kolding and Padborg, as well as the spur between Tinglev and Sønderborg, the line from Copenhagen to Esbjerg, and the main line between Copenhagen and Helsingør are electrified. To replace the IC3 stock, operator DSB ordered 83 IC4 high-speed diesel trains (200 km/h operating speed) at AnsaldoBreda. Electrification of the main lines is appointed the solution to the future InterCity traffic.[22]

On 7 February 2012 a large majority in the Danish parliament reached a political agreement on electrifying the main line between Lunderskov and Esbjerg and produce a feasibility study for electrifying several other main lines.[23] In the Finance Act of Denmark 2013, electrification of the railway between Køge North and Næstved are financed.[24]

On 1 March 2013, DKK 8.7 billion was reserved for electrifying the main lines Fredericia – Frederikshavn, Roskilde – Kalundborg and Vejle – Struer.[25] The electrification will be completed no later than 2025.[25]

In May 2015, an estimated DKK 2.8 billion deal was made.[26][27]

Proposed lines

Beside the Hour Model, additional high-speed rail lines in Denmark are discussed as a part of fixed link projects.

Main article: Kattegat Bridge

The strategic analysis of new transport connections between Copenhagen and Aarhus included a third alternative for decreasing the travel time between the two cities: a new fixed link across Kattegat. This requires a new high-speed rail line between Roskilde and Aarhus via Kalundborg and Samsø. This solution will lower the travel time between Copenhagen and Aarhus to one hour, but not affect the travel time between Odense and Aarhus.[11]

Since 2008 a new fixed link across Kattegat has been discussed widely in Denmark, as a visionary expansion of the overall infrastructure in Denmark, and several analysis (both official and by lobbyists) have been published.

Main article: HH Tunnel

As connection to a second fixed link across Øresund between Elsinore and Helsingborg, wanted by the Swedish Government,[28] a new high-speed rail line might be constructed. Most studies are describing a new transport corridor around Copenhagen (Ring 5), while some transport researchers are suggesting a new high-speed rail line between Elsinore and Copenhagen along the current motorway.[29]

The development project Scandinavian 8 Million City has proposed a 360 km/h high speed rail line from Oslo via Gothenburg to Copenhagen, which is supported by the mayors of the three cities.[30] The governments do not support the idea in the short or medium term, as they are assumed to pay for this more than €10 bn project.

Other upgrades

The lines to Esbjerg and to the border at Flensburg are planned to be upgraded to 200 km/h most of their routes before 2030, mainly based on installation of ERTMS.

See also

References
  1. Danish Government (December 2008). "Sustainable transportation - better infrastructure" [Bæredygtig transport - bedre infrastruktur] (PDF) (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  2. Banedanmark. "Copenhagen-Ringsted". Banedanmark. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  3. Danish Ministry of Transport (1 March 2013). "DKK 27.5 billion to a faster and more environmentally friendly railway in Denmark" [27,5 mia. kr. til en hurtigere og mere miljøvenlig jernbane i Danmark] (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Transport. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  4. Danish Ministry of Taxation (1 March 2013). "The overhaul of the North Sea gives DKK 27.5 billion in a new fund" [Serviceeftersynet af Nordsøen giver 27½ mia. kr. i ny fond] (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Taxation. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  5. Danish Ministry of Taxation (17 September 2013). "The Government, Enhedslisten and Dansk Folkepart agrees on harmonisation of the taxation in the North Sea" [Regeringen, Enhedslisten og Dansk Folkeparti indgår aftale om harmonisering af beskatningen i Nordsøen] (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Taxation. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  6. Danish Ministry of Transport (14 January 2014). "Agreement on TogfondenDK – Now the danes get a better, greener and faster railway" [Aftale om TogfondenDK – Nu får danskerne en bedre, grønnere og hurtigere jernbane] (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Transport. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  7. "Banedanmarks Anlægsplan 2030". bane.dk (in Danish). Banedanmark. p. 26. Archived from the original (pdf) on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  8. Banedanmark. "Upgrading Aarhus-Hobro" [Opgradering Aarhus-Hobro] (in Danish). Banedanmark. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  9. Danish Ministry of Transport (1 March 2013). "Hour Model" [Timemodellen] (PDF) (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  10. Danish Ministry of Transport (1 March 2013). "Train Fund DK: Investments" [Togfonden DK: Investeringer] (PDF) (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  11. Danish Transport Authority (March 2011). "Connections between West and East Denmark" [Forbindelser mellem Vest- og Østdanmark] (PDF) (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  12. "Regeringen sætter 147 millioner af til vestfynsk jernbane - TV 2". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). TV2. 30 September 2019. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  13. "Ny bane Hovedgård - Hasselager | Banedanmark". websitebane.dk (in Danish). Banedanmark. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  14. "Flere Femern-arbejder i gang allerede i år | Femern Belt Development". femern.info. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  15. Banedanmark. "Fehmarn Belt - Danish railway hinterland" [Femern Bælt - danske jernbanelandanlæg] (in Danish). Banedanmark. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  16. Danish Ministry of Transport (19 March 2013). "Agreement on a new Storstrøm Bridge in the bag" [Aftale om en ny Storstrømsbro i hus] (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Transport. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  17. "Fordelene ved Femern-forbindelsen" (PDF). fermern.com (in Danish). Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  18. Banedanmark. "The Banedanmark Signalling Programme". Banedanmark. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  19. Banedanmark (31 January 2012). "Contracts for rail signals of the future are finalized" [Kontrakter om fremtidens jernbanesignaler på plads] (in Danish). Banedanmark. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  20. Banedanmark (5 August 2011). "Banedanmark and Siemens sign deal for new signalling system on the whole S-train network" [Banedanmark og Siemens underskriver aftale om nyt signal- system på hele S-banen] (in Danish). Banedanmark. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  21. Banedanmark (14 March 2012). "Danish trains get new signalling system" [Danske tog får nyt signalsystem] (in Danish). Banedanmark. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  22. Tarp, David (16 November 2011). "Majority will head start electrification" [Flertal vil tyvstarte elektrificering] (in Danish). Berlingske. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  23. Danish Ministry of Transport (7 February 2012). "Wide agreement on electrification of the railway etc" [Bred aftale om elektrificering af jernbanen m.v.] (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Transport. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  24. Danish Ministry of Transport (12 February 2013). "Finance Act 2013" [Finanslov 2013] (PDF) (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  25. Danish Ministry of Transport (1 March 2013). "Electrification of the railway" [Electrificering af jernbanen] (PDF) (in Danish). Danish Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  26. http://cphpost.dk/general/danishgerman-consortium-wins-huge-rail-electrification-bid.html
  27. http://www.siemens.com/press/en/pressrelease/?press=/en/pressrelease/2015/mobility/pr2015060240moen.htm
  28. Marfelt, Birgitte (11 November 2011). "Swedish Government wants two tunnels between Elsinore and Helsingborg" [Svensk regering vil have to tunneller mellem Helsingør og Helsingborg] (in Danish). Ingeniøren. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  29. Nielsen, Otto Anker. "Perspectives for large traffic facilities in the transport corridors, presently as well as further into the future" [Perspektiver for store trafikanlæg i Transportkorridorerne, både aktuelt og længere ude i fremtiden] (PDF) (in Danish). DTU Transport. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  30. The Scandinavian 8 Million City (13 March 2013). "Press announcement: Mayors demand common Scandinavian view" [Pressemelding: Borgmästare kräver Skandinavisk samsyn] (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
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