Completed and approved high-speed lines in Denmark.
The firsthigh-speed railway in Denmark was theCopenhagen–Ringsted Line, completed in late 2018 and opened in 2019. Further high-speed lines are currently under planning.
Since HSR in Denmark reaches no more than 200 km/h, it can also be described ashigher-speed rail.
As a part of a long-term green plan for transportation inDenmark in December 2008,the government at the time presented a high-speed strategy for the inter-city train traffic, calledThe Hour Model (Danish:Timemodellen). The strategy contains bringing down the travel time on the three links that connect the four largest cities of Denmark (Copenhagen-Odense-Aarhus-Aalborg) to one hour, thereby decreasing the total travel time betweenCopenhagen andAalborg 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 toEsbjerg andHerning.
On 1 March 2013, thegovernment 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 theNorth Sea.[3][4] The funding was supported byEnhedslisten andDansk 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]
TheØresund Fixed Link has 200 km/h as permitted and used speed (byX 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.
From 2007 to 2017ICE TD high speed trains extended the GermanIntercity Express service into Denmark. Routes served were Berlin-Hamburg-Copenhagen and Berlin-Hamburg-Aarhus. The trains could reach high speed only on theBerlin-Hamburg section, and would continue on regular railway lines into Denmark.
Upgradingthe existing rail line between Ringsted andOdense via theGreat Belt Fixed Link to 200 km/h, was said to be carried out in 2022.[7] This requires theERTMS system which as of 2024 is planned to be installed on this stretch in two sections in 2027 and 2029.[8]
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Like the first stage of the Hour Model, the second one also consists of two works, both in planning:
Upgrading the existing rail line betweenAalborg andHobro to 200 km/h, expected carried out in 2024.[7]
Upgrading and straightening of the existing rail line between Hobro andAarhus. Expected to be carried out from 2021.[7][9] The government plan of 1 March 2013 first mentioned the speed upgrade.[10]
DKK 4.9 billion are reserved for second stage and remaining initiatives on first stage.[11]
The central stage of the Hour Model betweenOdense andAarhus is considered the most complex and most expensive to complete. Therefore, this stage was not considered realizable before 2020, now 2030.[7][12]
In March 2011, theDanish Ministry of Transport published a strategic analysis of new transport connections betweenCopenhagen and Aarhus, including two alternative strategies for fulfilling the Hour Model between Odense and Aarhus:[12]
The "Little Belt -Vejle Fjord" Alignment Alternative, including new high-speed rail lines between Odense andMiddelfart and betweenHorsens and Aarhus, as well as bypasses aroundFredericia (requiring new bridge across Little Belt),Vejle (requiring new bridge across Vejle Fjord) and Horsens. The bridge/tunnel across Vejle Fjord was abandoned in 2022.[13]
The "Odense - Horsens" Alignment Alternative, a new high-speed rail line between Odense and Aarhus via Horsens, crossing Little Belt betweenBogense andJuelsminde, 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:
TheVestfyn Line, a new high-speed line between Odense and Middelfart, connecting to the oldLittle Belt bridge. Designed for 250 km/h operation, and set to be built from 2023.[14] This new high-speed rail line will also enable journey times between Odense andEsbjerg of 1 hour.[3]
New line Hovedgård-Hasselager. Designed for 250 km/h operation. Basic plan approved, final alignment pending.[15] In 2023 it was reported that there was no longer a political majority for the project.[16]
The sections which are still pending approval are:
Speed upgrades Fredericia-Vejle Fjord South.
Speed upgrades Vejle Fjord North-Hovedgård.
Speed upgrades Hasselager-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.
Construction on theFehmarn Belt Fixed Link began in 2020, and the tunnel is to be completed by 2029. Preparatory works began at the ground of the future tunnel element factory.[17] The rail part of the tunnel will be designed for 200 km/h operation.
The treaty between Denmark andGermany for construction of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link includes hinterland projects in both countries. In Denmark, the existing rail line betweenRingsted andRødby is being expanded to double track and electrified, as well as upgraded to 200 km/h.[18] TheStorstrøm 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.[19] The railway on the new Storstrøm Bridge is scheduled to open in 2027.[20]
With the opening of the fixed link, hourlyIntercity-Express trains betweenCopenhagen andHamburg will be introduced. The Travel time will be reduced from approx. 4,5 hours to less than 2.5 hours for the fastest trains.[21]
The fixed link, as well as the hinterland projects, are expected to be completed by 2029.[18]
Railways in Denmark use a system forcab 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 theØresund Line closest to the border uses Swedish signalling, and 200 km/h is allowed here (onlySJ 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 outEuropean Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Level 2 on all national rail lines between 2018 and 2030, a project called the Signalling Programme.[22] The project was tendered out in four contracts:
Most of the InterCity train traffic in Denmark is currently operated using the diesel poweredIC3 stock. Only the main line betweenMalmö (Sweden) andFlensburg (Germany)/Esbjerg viaCopenhagen,Odense andKolding, as well as the spur betweenTinglev andSønderborg, the line between Copenhagen andHelsingør and the line betweenRingsted andNæstved (part of the Fehmarn Hinterlands projects) are electrified. To replace the IC3 stock, operatorDSB ordered 83IC4 high-speed diesel trains (200 km/h operating speed) atAnsaldoBreda. Electrification of the main lines is appointed the solution to the future InterCity traffic.[26]
On 7 February 2012 a large majority in the Danish parliament reached a political agreement on electrifying the main line betweenLunderskov andEsbjerg and produce a feasibility study for electrifying several other main lines.[27] In the Finance Act of Denmark 2013, electrification of the railway betweenKøge North andNæstved are financed.[28]
In June 2021, DSB signed a contract withAlstom over the delivery of approximately 150, but at least 100, electric multiple unit trainsets of the typeAlstom Coradia Stream.[32] They will be delivered starting 2027 and have a top speed of 200 km/h.[33]
TheTalgo 230 cars that DSB have bought are also limited to 200 km/h.[34]
The strategic analysis of new transport connections betweenCopenhagen andAarhus included a third alternative for decreasing the travel time between the two cities: a new fixed link acrossKattegat. This requires a new high-speed rail line betweenRoskilde and Aarhus viaKalundborg andSamsø. This solution will lower the travel time between Copenhagen and Aarhus to one hour, but not affect the travel time between Odense and Aarhus.[12]
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.
As connection to asecond fixed link across Øresund betweenElsinore andHelsingborg, wanted by the Swedish Government,[35] a new high-speed rail line might be constructed. Most studies are describing a new transport corridor aroundCopenhagen (Ring 5), while some transport researchers are suggesting a new high-speed rail line between Elsinore and Copenhagen along the current motorway.[36]
The development project Scandinavian 8 Million City has proposed a 360 km/h (225 mph) high speed rail line fromOslo viaGothenburg to Copenhagen, which is supported by the mayors of the three cities.[37] The governments do not support the idea in the short or medium term, as they are assumed to pay for this more than €10 billion project.
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.[citation needed]
