Railways in
Denmark
The first Danish railway opened in 1847 between København and Roskilde,
a distance of 30km. It was built to standard (1435mm) gauge.
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Sweden, was superseded in 2000 with the opening of the Øresund bridge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 most
long distance trains and the København S-banen. Many smaller railways
were privately owned and remain so.
In 2009 DSBFirst, a new joint venture between the State Railways and the
private operator First Group, commenced international operations between
Denmark and Sweden.
National and International Railways
Local Passenger Operators
- Arriva Danmark
six lines in Jylland (Jutland) including an international service to
Germany:
- Aarhus to Skjern
- Aarhus to Struer
- Struer to Thisted
- Struer to Skjern
- Esbjerg to Skjern, with a branch from Varde to Nørre Nebel
- Esbjerg to Niebüll (Germany), operated in conjunction with
Norddeutsche Eisenbahngesellschaft
(Site in Danish)
- Lokalbanen
four interconnecting local lines in the north of the island of Sjælland
(Zealand), and a suburban line to the north of København:
- Hillerød to Hundested (Frederiksværkbanen)
- Hillerod to Tisvildeleje and Gilleleje (Gribskovbanen)
- Helsingør to Gilleleje (Hornbækbanen)
- Helsingør to Hillerod (Lille Nord)
- Jægersborg (København) to Nærum (Nærumbanen)
(Site in Danish)
- Midtjyske
Jernbaner two local lines in central Jylland (Jutland):
- Vemb to Thyborøn (Lemvigbanen). Also operates freight services
- Århus to Odder (Odderbanen)
(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)
- Regionstog
three local lines on Sjælland (Zealand) and one on the island of
Lolland:
- Holbæk to Nykøbing Sjælland (Odsherredsbanen)
- Køge to Faxe Ladeplads and Rødvig (Østbanen)
- Tølløse to Slagelse (Tølløsebanen)
- Nykøbing Falster to Nakskov (Lollandsbanen). Also operates freight
services
(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
