Copenhagen’s 28 km orbital light rail line was completed with the opening of its second phase from Rødovre Nord to Lundtofte on August 22, 2026. The second phase adds 14.9 km and 17 stops to the network, complementing the 13.1 km first phase opened on October 26, 2025, between Ishøj and Rødovre Nord, which includes 12 stops. The inaugural service departed from Rødovre Nord at 10:30, with full two-way operations starting by 11:30. Travel was free on the opening day, with the new line carrying roughly 50,000 passengers.
Route and Connectivity
The light rail primarily follows the O3 ring road, providing an orbital
transit link around Copenhagen’s capital region suburbs. The route connects residential areas, hospitals, workplaces, schools, and other public transport hubs along its 28 km stretch. This orbital alignment reduces dependence on city centre travel for suburban passengers. Key stops include Gladsaxe Rådhus, where official celebrations were held during the inauguration.
Construction and Project Details
Construction commenced in 2018, divided into five geographical packages to manage different sections. The northern section involved contractors Per Aarsleff and CG Jensen, with Aarsleff Rail serving as the general infrastructure contractor. Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group was subcontracted to install tracks under Aarsleff Rail’s oversight. The project’s initial budget was
about 5.1 billion Danish kroner (DKr), which was revised upwards due to cost increases to a final approved sum of 9.3 billion DKr, including reserves. Funding was split among the national government (40%), municipalities (34%), and the capital region (26%).
Rolling Stock, Operations, and Service
Siemens Mobility supplied 29 four-section Avenio light rail vehicles, each 36.9 meters long, with a capacity for 260 passengers including 64 seats. The initial order was for 27 vehicles, with two additional units delivered subsequently. Siemens Mobility and Aarsleff Rail form a consortium responsible for electrification, signalling, communications, depot facilities, project management, system integration, and a 15-year maintenance contract. Metro
Services, a subsidiary of Milan transport operator ATM that also runs Copenhagen’s metro, holds a 15-year operations and maintenance contract for the light rail. Services currently operate every 10 minutes off peak and every 5 to 8 minutes during peak hours, with an end-to-end journey time of 58 minutes. After a 3 to 6 month running-in period, daytime frequencies are expected to increase to every 5 minutes. Passengers can carry bicycles on board.
Official Statements and Impact
According to Hanne Tærsbøl Schmidt, director of local authority-owned project promoter Hovedstadens Letbane, the full-length light rail reflects extensive collaboration among the capital region, 11 municipalities, and
numerous contractors and partners. The line aims to simplify cross-capital travel for daily commuters. Gladsaxe Mayor Serdal Benli stated that the tramway connects the entire capital and encourages public transport use, reducing road noise and congestion. The light rail is projected to carry around 14 million passengers annually by 2030.
