High-Speed Rail Approved Projects

High-Speed Rail Approved Projects

Hour Model - Copenhagen to Odense

To bring the travel time between Copenhagen and Odense down to one hour, two works are planned:

A new 200 km/h high-speed rail line between Copenhagen and Ringsted via Køge Nord, which opened in 2019.
Upgrading the existing rail line between Ringsted and Odense via the Great Belt Fixed Link to 200 km/h, was said to be carried out in 2022. This requires the ERTMS system which as of 2024 is planned to be installed on this stretch in two sections in 2027 and 2029.

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 200 km/h, expected carried out in 2024.
Upgrading and straightening of the existing rail line between Hobro and Aarhus. Expected to be carried out from 2021. The government plan of 1 March 2013 first mentioned the speed upgrade.

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

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 was not considered realizable before 2020, now 2030.

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:

• 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 bridge/tunnel across Vejle Fjord was abandoned in 2022.
• 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.

The parts which have received the go-ahead so far are:

The Vestfyn Line, a new high-speed line between Odense and Middelfart, connecting to the old Little Belt bridge. Designed for 250 km/h operation, and set to be built from 2023. This new high-speed rail line will also enable journey times between Odense and Esbjerg of 1 hour.
New line Hovedgård-Hasselager. Designed for 250 km/h operation. Basic plan approved, final alignment pending. In 2023 it was reported that there was no longer a political majority for the project.

The sections which are still pending approval are:

• Speed upgrades Fredericia-Vejle Fjord South.
• Speed upgrades Vejle Fjord North-Hovedgård.
• Speed upgrades Hasselager-Aarhus H
• New Vejle Fjord bridge, bypassing the city.

The Vejle Fjord bridge is the main reason for approval still pending, as there is strong local opposition to the new trains bypassing the city center.