Denmark
The first Danish railway opened in 1847 between København and Røskilde.
Denmark consists of a long peninsular and a series of islands. Its complex geography
heavily influenced the development of the railways, and train ferries were common. Only
in 1997 with the opening of the combined bridge and tunnel across the Great Belt between
the islands of Sjælland (Zealand) and Fyn (Funen) were the various sections of the
network at last physically connected. Another sea crossing, that to Sweden, was superseded
in 2000 with the opening of the Øresund bridge and tunnel. One important train ferry remains, across the
Fehmarnbelt which separates Denmark from Germany. This represents the shortest route between
the principal centres of the two countries; it, too, is the subject of proposals for a fixed
link.
Under EU regulations, train operation and infrastructure costs must be separately
accountable. Denmark, like many other European countries, has chosen to implement this
by spinning off a separate infrastructure company (Banedanmark). The State Railway
company still operates long distance trains and the København S-banen. Many
smaller railways were privately owned and remain so.
National Railways
Local Passenger Operators
- Lokalbanen operates local
services in several areas, all on the island of Sjælland (Zealand):
- in the area around Helsingør in the north of the island (Frederiksværkbanen,
Gribskovbanen, Hornbækbanen)
- in the northern suburbs of København (Nærumbanen)
- south of Køge in the southern part of the island
(Site in Danish)
- Lollandsbanen local passenger
and freight operator to the west of Nykøbing, on the island of Lolland (Site in Danish)
- Nordjyske Jernbaner two local lines
in the extreme north of Jylland (Jutland):
- Hjørring to Hirtshals (Hirtshalsbanen)
- Frederikshavn to Skagen (Skagensbanen)
(Site in Danish)
- Arriva Skandinavien operates several
lines in the region between Esbjerg and Århus (Site in Danish)
- Odderbanen local line between
Århus and Odder (Site in Danish)
- Vestsjællands Lokalbaner two local
lines in the western part of Sjælland (Zealand):
- Holbæk to Nykøbing (OHJ)
- Slagelse to Tølløse via Høng (HTJ)
(Site in Danish)
Museum lines
- Hedelands Verteranbane
narrow gauge (700mm) railway 3.7km in length in the Hedeland recreational area,
about 20km west of København
- Skjoldenæsholm Tram Museum advertised as
"Denmark's longest museum". Historic trams on about 2km of track
laid on the line of an old railway from Jystrup in central Sjælland
(Zealand). Operates weekends, late May to mid October, and most
weekdays during school holidays.
- Omstigningsklubben historic trams on about 400m
of track in Skælskør. Operates most weekends in July and August,
and by private charter.
Metro
