Copenhagen officially completed its 28-kilometer orbital light rail line on August 22, 2026, with the opening of the second phase between Rødovre Nord and Lundtofte. The inaugural service departed Rødovre Nord at 10:30, progressing to full bidirectional passenger operations by 11:30. Approximately 50,000 passengers travelled free across the network on opening day, highlighted by main celebrations and a public festival at Gladsaxe Rådhus.
Construction Phases and Route Coverage
The orbital line runs between Ishøj in the southwest and Lundtofte in the north, roughly paralleling the O3 ring road. The first phase, opened on October 26, 2025, covers 13.1 km from Ishøj to Rødovre Nord, serving
12 stops. The second phase adds 14.9 km from Rødovre Nord to Lundtofte, connecting additional residential areas, workplaces, hospitals, schools, and transport hubs, facilitating suburb-to-suburb travel that bypasses the city center.
Project Implementation and Technical Specifications
Construction began in 2018, divided into five geographical packages. Per Aarsleff and CG Jensen served as main contractors for the northern section. Siemens Mobility provided electrification, signalling, communications, depot equipment, and project management as part of a consortium with Aarsleff Rail, the general infrastructure contractor. Track installation was subcontracted to Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group.
The line operates 29 Siemens Mobility four-section Avenio light rail vehicles, each 36.9 meters long
with a capacity for 260 passengers, including 64 seated. Service frequency runs every 10 minutes off peak and increases to every 5 to 8 minutes during peak times, with a full route journey time of 58 minutes. Bicycles are permitted onboard.
Budget, Funding, and Cooperation
The project’s original budget was DKr5.1 billion but increased to DKr9.3 billion due to rising costs, including reserves. Funding was shared with the national government contributing 40%, the municipalities 34%, and the capital region 26%. The line is managed by Hovedstadens Letbane, a local authority project promoter, representing 11 municipalities and the capital region in cooperation with contractors and
partners.
Passenger Benefits and Operational Management
The orbital light rail improves connectivity across Copenhagen’s suburbs, offering frequent services with 5 to 8-minute intervals during peak periods. The line enables faster cross-capital travel without passing through crowded central areas. Ridership is projected to reach 14 million passengers annually by 2030. Metro Services, a subsidiary of Milano transport operator ATM, was awarded a 15-year contract for operations and maintenance, ensuring long-term service stability.
Officials noted that the new light rail line facilitates easier travel across the capital, connecting suburbs and reducing road congestion and noise by encouraging public transport use. The Gladsaxe municipality participated actively in the
opening celebrations and supported the project’s aims to improve sustainable regional transit.
