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.
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. 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. The first part of the Hour Model, the new high-speed line between Copenhagen and Ringsted, opened in 2019.
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, based on taxes from oil activities in the North Sea. 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.
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.

Completed projects

Øresund Fixed Link

The Øresund Fixed Link has 200 km/h as permitted and used speed 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

Hour Model

First stage: Copenhagen to Odense

To bring the travel time between Copenhagen and Odense down to one hour, two works are planned:
Like the first stage of the Hour Model, the second one also consists of two works, both in planning:
DKK 4.9 billion are reserved for second stage and remaining initiatives on first stage.

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.
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:
The parts which have received the go-ahead so far are:
The sections which are still pending approval are:
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:

Femern Belt fixed link

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

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. 5 km of the Øresund Line closest to the border uses Swedish signalling, and 200 km/h is allowed 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 Level 2 on all national rail lines between 2018 and 2021, a project called the Signalling Programme. The project was tendered out in four contracts:
Most of the InterCity train traffic in Denmark are currently operated using the diesel powered IC3 stock. Only the main line between Malmö and Flensburg 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 at AnsaldoBreda. Electrification of the main lines is appointed the solution to the future InterCity traffic.
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. In the Finance Act of Denmark 2013, electrification of the railway between Køge North and Næstved are financed.
On 1 March 2013, DKK 8.7 billion was reserved for electrifying the main lines Fredericia – Frederikshavn, Roskilde – Kalundborg and Vejle – Struer. The electrification will be completed no later than 2025.
In May 2015, an estimated DKK 2.8 billion deal was made.

Proposed lines

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

Fixed link across Kattegat

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.
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 have been published.

Second Øresund Fixed Link

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