The Third and Current Railway Station

The Third and Current Railway Station

Copenhagen Central Station

By the end of the 19th century, it had become increasingly clear that the conditions at the second railway station had become too narrow and outdated. Already from the end of the 1870s, it was discussed how to solve these problems with Copenhagen's railway connections. After many years of discussions, the Rigsdag, Denmark's parliament finally decided in 1904 to build a brand new railway station, approximately at the location of the first station. The new station was to be a through station with the tracks of the westbound lines leading south from the new station out of the city along Ingerslevsgade via Valby station towards Roskilde and Frederikssund, and the tracks of the northbound lines leading north from the new station through a railway tunnel to Østerport station and continuing north from there via Hellerup station to Hillerød and Elsinore.

The new station was opened on 30 November 1911 by Crown Prince Christian, who stated:

It will probably stand as a monumental reminder of Danish architecture in the beginning of the 20th century. As I express the wish that our new station may make establish a more firm connection between the capital and the country and between Denmark and abroad, I declare Copenhagen Station open!.

The following day, 1 December, the first train departed from the station.

Since the northbound tunnel (the Boulevard Line) was not opened until 1917, the new station was initially only served by trains on the westbound lines, and the old station continued to serve the trains on the northbound lines for a period. With the opening of the first double track of the Boulevard Line on 1 December 1917, the direct connection with Østerport station was established. Now trains along the line from Copenhagen to Elsinore could continue directly to the new central station, just as trains along the Klampenborg Line were diverted via Østerport from the previous route from Hellerup via Nørrebro to the second station. However, it was not until the opening of the second double track of the Boulevard Line on 1 October 1921, that trains on the Copenhagen to Hillerød line from Hillerød were diverted through the tunnel. The old station could thus finally be permanently closed.

The station was overhauled in 1980. Escalators and lifts were established to the platforms, and the station concourse, which was originally split into arrival, departure, and freight sections, was redone completely. The station was overhauled again from 2004 to 2008. This overhaul replaced the roof, lowered platforms 3 to 6 to international standards and lengthened them. The towers and the bridge over the platforms, upon which the main station building is placed, were reconditioned.

Copenhagen Central Station Architecture

The station was designed by Danish architect Heinrich Wenck, who was head architect of the Danish State Railways from 1894 to 1921. The creation of the station project proved to be difficult. In the years 1898–1902, Wenck prepared several proposals for a new multi-storey station building, which, however, were rejected by the Rigsdag for being unnecessarily lavish. In most of these proposals, Wenck proposed a combined station and administration building for the Danish State Railways, which was rejected.

The station is designed in National Romantic style, a Nordic architectural style that was part of the National Romantic movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and which is often considered to be a form of Art Nouveau. The prominent materials are brick, slate and granite, and a host of decorative details have been added. Inspired by Herholdt's railway station, Wenck also used a wooden arch construction both in the two departure and arrival halls and in the 6 arches over the platforms. It was probably just as much a stylistic choice, since Wenck rarely used cast iron. However, the entire railway station's foundation, basement and the platform that support the railway station site are made of reinforced concrete.

Wenck's building is a gesamtkunstwerk, where the architect has drawn all the details, right from the Bornholm tiles, benches, the large chandeliers, of which 12 pieces originally hung (2 are set up in the hall, 2 others are found at Østerport Station), the kiosks, wrought iron signs with neat writing, door handles and brass signs with DSB logo and stained glass windows with city coats of arms from Danish cities.

The Danish sculptor Jens Lund was responsible for the ten folkloristic figures of sandstone on the main facade representing persons in folk costumes from various parts of the country (1910): Amager, Fanø, Hedeboegnen, Læsø, Mols, Ringkøbing, Salling, Samsø, Skovshoved and southern Funen.

Copenhagen Central Station Overview

Copenhagen Central Station Location:
Banegårdspladsen 7
1570 Copenhagen V
Copenhagen Municipality
Denmark
Copenhagen Central Station Coordinates: 55°40′22″N 12°33′52″E
Copenhagen Central Station Elevation: 3 m (9.8 ft) above sea level
Copenhagen Central Station Owned By: DSB
Copenhagen Central Station Operated By: DSB
Copenhagen Central Station Platforms: 7 (island platforms including Metro, 1 long-distance)
Copenhagen Central Station Tracks: 15 (9 InterCity/Regional/International, 4 S-train, 2 Metro)
Copenhagen Central Station Bus Routes: Bus interchange 11, 23, 26, 34, 37, 68, 2A, 7A, 5C, 250S, 93N, 97N
Copenhagen Central Station Platform Levels: 2
Copenhagen Central Station Architect: Heinrich Wenck
Copenhagen Central Station Station Code: Kh
Copenhagen Central Station Fare Zone: 1
Copenhagen Central Station Opened: 1 December 1911, 112 years ago
Copenhagen Central Station Rebuilt: 15 May 1934 (S-train)
Copenhagen Central Station Electrified: 1934 (S-train), 1986 (Mainline)
Copenhagen Central Station Coordinates: 55°40′22″N 12°33′52″E