High-speed rail in Denmark

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The first high-speed railway in Denmark is currently under construction and expected to open in 2018. 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 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, is expected to open in 2018.[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]

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 Oresund 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.[7] The project was tendered out in four contracts:

Hour Model

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 160 km/h, expected carried out in 2018.[11] Environmental impact assessment for a further upgrade to 200 km/h will be performed.[12]
  • Upgrading or straightening of the existing rail line between Hobro and Aarhus or a new high-speed rail line between Randers and Aarhus (feasibility study in progress)[13] The government plan of 1 March 2013 includes a speed upgrade.[14]

DKK 4.9 billion are reserved for second stage and remaining initiatives on first stage.[15]

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 is not considered realizable before 2020.[16]

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:[16]

  • 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.

DKK 13.9 billion in Train Fund DK are reserved for a version of the "Little Belt - Vejle Fjord" Alignment Alternative without bypasses around Fredericia and Horsens and thereby without a new bridge across Little Belt.[15] The new high-speed rail line between Odense and Middelfart will also enable journey times between Odense and Esbjerg of 1 hour.[3]

Journey times

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

Journey 2013 Hour Model
Copenhagen – Odense 1:15 1:00
Copenhagen – Esbjerg 3:08 2:00
Copenhagen – Horsens 2:27 1:50
Copenhagen – Aarhus 2:45 2:00
Copenhagen – Aalborg 4:21 3:00
Odense – Esbjerg 1:23 1:00
Odense – Horsens 1:10 0:50
Odense – Aarhus 1:24 1:00
Odense - Aalborg 3:04 2:00
Horsens – Aarhus 0:30 0:19
Aarhus – Aalborg 1:19 1:00
Source:[3]

Other 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

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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.[16]

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.

Fehmarn Hinterland project

The treaty between Denmark and Germany for construction of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link include hinterland projects in both countries. In Denmark, the existing rail line between Ringsted and Rødby will be expanded to double track and electrified, as well as upgraded to 200 km/h.[12][17] 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.[18]

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 approx. 3 hours.[17]

The fixed link, as well as the hinterland project, are expected to be completed in 2021.[17]

Second Øresund Fixed Link

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Main article: HH Tunnel

As connection to a second fixed link across Øresund between Elsinore and Helsingborg, wanted by the Swedish Government,[19] 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.[20]

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.[21] 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.

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 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.[15] The electrification will be completed no later than 2025.[15]

In May 2015, an estimated DKK 2.8 billion deal was made.[25][26]

See also

References

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  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "TogfondInvest" defined multiple times with different content
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ http://cphpost.dk/general/danishgerman-consortium-wins-huge-rail-electrification-bid.html
  26. ↑ http://www.siemens.com/press/en/pressrelease/?press=/en/pressrelease/2015/mobility/pr2015060240moen.htm
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