The Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark officially inaugurated, at Køge Nord Station, country’s first 250 km/h high-speed rail line, between Copenhagen and Ringsted.
Named Ringstedbanen, the line connects Ny Ellebjerg in Copenhagen to Ringsted via a new station at Køge North, bypassing the normal route through Høje-Taastrup.
“The new Copenhagen-Ringsted railway line significantly expands the railway network capacity. This makes the railways to and from Copenhagen more efficient and more robust. The new track will help us improve the timetable, increase departures and reduce delays” Per Jacobsen, CEO of Banedanmark, said.
The construction of the 60-km double-track line and the new station – Køge Nord, began in 2010 and took 9 years to be completed. The total value of the project was DKK 9 billion (EUR 1.2 billion). The project also envisaged the construction of new platforms at Ny Ellebjerg stations, track renovation at Ringsted station, the construction of the Køge Nord station and a new connection to Lille Syd.
The new line will offer better railway connections between Zealand, a large island that is part of Denmark and the rest of the country.
The new station, which is considered a gateway to Copenhagen for the communities in surrounding capital areas, will accommodate 8,000 daily users. The station has a 225-m-long walkway, “which is not only a landmark for the new railway line and for Køge, but also a significant landmark for green mobility,” said Jette Aagaard, the project director. The station has also a park and ride facility.
The new Copenhagen-Ringsted line is also part of a major upgrade of Zealand and Lolland-Falster railway connection and will become an important component of the country’s rail transport system. The Ringsted-Fehmarn rail link is in full swing, which will provide in the future the railway connection through Fehmarnbelt with Germany.
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