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Railway (R)evolution in Denmark: From Odin’s Locomotives to Underwater Tunnels

Railway (R)evolution in Denmark: From Odin’s Locomotives to Underwater Tunnels
photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain/DSB Class MY
04 / 09 / 2024

The railway miracle transformed the Danish landscape and strengthened its ties with Europe. Dive into the story of how the construction of railway bridges and tunnels opened new horizons for travel and trade. The railway revolution not only changed Denmark but also solidified its place in Europe.

The origins of Denmark as an independent state date back to the 8th century AD. Over time, a kingdom emerged on this land, which would engage in a prolonged struggle with Sweden for dominance in Northern Europe. During the Thirty Years' War, Denmark sided with the Protestants, having established a nearly 100-year Lutheran tradition. This allowed an influx of Protestant scholars from Catholic countries.

During the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark aligned with France, resulting in severe economic consequences once the wars ended. Among other losses, Denmark had to cede its long-held colony, Norway. The final step that shaped modern Denmark was the adoption of the constitution in 1849, establishing Denmark as a constitutional monarchy. The defeat in the 1864 war against the combined forces of Austria and Prussia led to the loss of Holstein and Schleswig, firmly setting Denmark within its modern borders.

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The railway development in Denmark began in the 1830s, specifically in 1835, when the Danish government, at the behest of King Christian VIII, established a commission to plan a railway connecting Hamburg and the Duchy of Holstein, then in a personal union with Denmark. This railway was completed in 1844. The first railway on purely Danish soil was completed in 1847. However, the government did not involve itself in its construction. The line connecting Copenhagen with the town of Roskilde, 35 km away, was built by the English Sharp Brothers and Company from Manchester. The locomotives for this line, made by the English, were aptly named Odin, after the chief Norse god.

The railway had to wait a bit longer for its next expansion. The adoption of the 1849 constitution, which brought political will to better connect Copenhagen with the rest of the country, provided the impetus for railway development. The first railway on the Jutland Peninsula (mainland Denmark) was built in 1862, connecting Aarhus with the town of Randers, 39 km away. In the following decade, Denmark experienced a significant railway boom, and much of the mainline network was constructed. By 1880, all major railway lines and companies in Denmark had been acquired by the state-owned De Jydsk-Fynske Statsbaner (Jutland-Funen State Railways) and the private De Sjællandske Statsbaner (Zealand State Railways). These two companies merged in 1885 to form the Danish State Railways (DSB), which became the primary operator of trains in Denmark.

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The following years were marked by both network expansion and the introduction of once-unimaginable innovations. Dining cars, where passengers could eat while traveling, and sleeping cars, where they could stretch out on beds, were sensational developments. In 1911, Copenhagen's main station was completed, a building that resembled a palace more than a railway station, and was met with widespread acclaim.

World War I had little impact on the Danish railway. The Nordic country declared neutrality, which was respected by both warring sides. During the interwar period, Denmark, like neighboring countries, gradually moved away from steam locomotives. Additionally, Denmark introduced suburban trains, known as S-tog, which would serve as Copenhagen’s metro until the actual metro system was established in 2002.

In 1935, Denmark began constructing a series of bridges to eventually connect the Jutland Peninsula with the other Danish islands, creating a network that linked the islands by more than just sea routes. The first of these was the Lillebæltsbroen. With the elimination of cumbersome ferry crossings, it became possible to speed across half of Denmark at a breathtaking 120 kilometers per hour. World War II did not spare Denmark. During the German occupation, which began in 1940, the number of train services was reduced by up to 60%, and Denmark would grapple with the aftermath for some time.

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After World War II, the last steam locomotives were retired. They were replaced by the highly durable MY series. For long-distance travel, the Litra MA (Silver Arrow) trains were produced and became immensely popular in Denmark. Although designed to travel at 160 km/h, Danish infrastructure did not support such speeds. The speed of 140 km/h was first exceeded on the Danish railway in 1964. The fact that Danish railways were not keeping pace with Western European railway development is evidenced by the decision to electrify the main Danish lines only in 1979.

The first electrified line in Denmark was the 46 km Kystbanen, which connects Copenhagen with Helsingør. Operations began in 1986, with Litra EA locomotives pulling the trains. A crucial milestone for the railway was the opening of the Storebæltsforbindelse bridge over the Great Belt, completing the network of bridge connections between significant Danish islands. In 1994, as electrification progressed, the iconic Litra IR trains were introduced, known for their distinctive design.

In 1997, following an EU directive, Banedanmark was established to manage Denmark's railway infrastructure, while DSB focused solely on train operations. The long-planned connection between Copenhagen and Malmö, Sweden, was of immense economic and tourist importance. This mega-project consisted of three parts: the Drogden Tunnel under the sea, the artificial island of Peberholm, where the tunnel emerges, and the bridge over the Flinterenden strait. In addition to the railway connection, a highway was also built. The Øresund railway line was inaugurated on July 1, 2000. The bridge led to a sharp increase in travel between Denmark and the Swedish region of Skåne. In its first year, over 4 million passengers traveled by train across the Øresund—far exceeding expectations—and traffic has continued to grow since. The bridge itself has also become a tourist attraction.

In the following years, Denmark completed its electrification and modernized its railways. As part of this, speeds on selected routes were increased to 200 km/h, and new lines were built. The first domestic Danish line to reach this speed was opened in 2019, connecting Copenhagen with Ringsted. More lines are set to follow. The goal, to be achieved after 2030, is a network connecting major Danish cities at speeds of 200 to 250 km/h. Another significant project is a collaboration with Germany, aiming to connect Copenhagen with the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. A key part of this project is the 18.2 km Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, the world’s longest immersed tunnel for vehicles and trains. The EU is expected to cover part of the EUR 3.5 billion investment, with completion targeted for 2029.

Source: DSB; RailTech

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