Danish Rail News

Big changes in December timetable

2010-12-06T03:32:00.000-08:00

With just six days (at the time of writing) to go until the December 12 timetable change, DSB says that it has responded to passenger demands, with new and more frequent services, better connections and a cascade of rolling stock as the IC4s gradually enter service.

Amongst the highlights (full details can be found here) are a 20 minute cut in journey times between Struer and Copenhagen, thanks to eliminating lightly used stops. For passengers between Esbjerg and Copenhagen the service is ramped up to make it 'virtually' hourly through the day, and direct trains between Aarhus and Kolding will run to Esbjerg, providing an hourly service in the daytime. For passengers in Jutland these changes will make a big difference.

Flensburg, meanwhile, joins the inter-city network with a two-hourly service to Copenhagen, while passengers from Vamdrup and Tinglev will see an hourly train. New Desiro trains, meanwhile, will begin operation to Grenaa from the timetable change too. Two additional expresses between Copenhagen and Odense-Aarhus will run in the afternoon in response to growing demand, and non-stop trains from Copenhagen to Aarhus are extended in the morning and evening to Aalborg.

A suite of improvements to commuter services around Copenhagen are expected to cut journey times, but journey times to and from Bornholm will be extended by between 10 and 30 minutes due to changes to the ferry operation and the opening of the Malmö Citytuneln.

"This year we have the opportunity to both extend the improvements we introduced in the last timetable and come up with new travel opportunities," says DSB Deputy Director of Traffic Planning Ove Dahl Kristensen.

Apologies for the lack of updates....

2010-12-06T00:41:00.000-08:00

Sincere apologies for the lack of updates on the blog over the past month - normal service resumes from today.

Danish Rail News

Femern Link: tunnel will be cheaper than bridge

2010-11-07T23:56:00.000-08:00

The proposed three span suspension bridge proposed for the Femern Link is now expected to be more expensive than the alternative tunnel proposal. The bridge is now estimated to cost DKr 38.5 billion and the tunnel DKr 37.9 billion at 2008 prices.

Femern A/S, the company behind the project, presented the surprise findings at a meeting with political backers. It follows an extensive investigation into the construction options. The changes in cost are partly due to underground geology not being as stable as thought originally. This has resulted in a rethink with other solutions being examined.

Politicians generally seem to prefer a bridge solution as it is more visible than a tunnel. However, whichever form the crossing takes, it has been delayed by two years due to increased environmental investigation demands. Opening is now scheduled for 2020, which means a potential loss of DKr 4 billion in revenue, as well as expenditure of DKr 800 million for additional consultations.

Top to bottom: cross section of the proposed Femern bridge; an overall view of it; a cross section of the alternative tunnel.

Esbjerg examines high-frequency services

2010-11-07T23:52:00.001-08:00

Plans are being examined by the municipality of Esbjerg, Denmark’s off shore activity city on the west coast of Jutland and its neighbouring municipality of Varde into the viability of establishing a high frequency local train service between Ribe-Bramminge-Esbjerg-Varde.

The service between these towns is currently an hourly service run by Arriva from Niebüll (Germany) Tønder Ribe, and Esbjerg and a similar service from Esbjerg north to Skjern. This service would be integrated in the new local service. A possible integration of the local service from Varde to Oksbøl in the new service is also being considered.

Free travel for 'Night Owls'

2010-11-07T23:51:00.001-08:00

DSB showed its community responsibility last week by providing free travel for ‘Night Owls’ across the entire Danish rail network.

The Night Owl system started in 1998 and has now 7000 active participants in over 200 local groups. The concept is for "responsible and credible adults" to circulate in towns at the weekend on a voluntary basis and chat with young people on their way to and from parties in order to create a feeling of security to both the young people and others and generally nip trouble in the bud.

The Night Owls also circulate, uniformed and in groups of at least three, on local public transport and may travel free between 18.00 and 06.00.

Femern Link loses DKr 550 million support

2010-11-01T01:10:00.000-07:00

A European Union Commission has cut DKr 550 million from support allotted to the preliminary design stage of the link across the Femern Belt between Denmark and Germany because they are of the opinion that preparation works of the link are delayed.

The news was announced when the Commission published its interim report on the allocation of the DKr 60 billion DKr TEN-T funds are to allotted from 2007 to 2013. Denmark had been promised approx DKr 2.5 billion towards the preliminary investigations of the project, of which EU covers 50%, but part of the work connected with the preliminary investigations has moved to the construction phase. EU support can only be granted for work already carried out in the period.

It is possible that Denmark can reapply for the grant in the next period starting in 2014. The CEO for Femern A/S, Leo Larsen, is already negotiating with the EU commission about this.

Bombardier's Øresund trains delivered in 'unsatisfactory quality' says Transport Minister

2010-11-01T01:08:00.000-07:00

The first five of 10 new Bombardier trains for DSB First´s services on the Copenhagen Coast line and to Sweden over the Øresund link have not only been delivered late but with many faults - and the sixth train delivered has so many faults that DSB refused to accept it. The finding appears in a notat to the Danish parliament´s permanent traffic commitee, from the minister of transport Hans Christian Schmidt.

"The trains have been delivered in a generally unsatisfactory quality. I consider the situation worrying and will pursue the matter with DSB," says the minister in his report.

At the moment DSB expects the last of the 10 trains ordered to be delivered by 9 December 2010. After some modifications they expect to place them all in operation by 16 December - in other words, after the introduction of the 2011 timetable and the opening of the Citytuneln in Malmö when the new 10 minute interval service between Copenhagen and Malmö/Lund starts.

The new trains are vital to ensure a necessary reserve capacity, enabling introduction of longer trains, better regularity, and guarantee a seat in the rush hour.

DSB cuts 140 administrative jobs

2010-10-28T04:15:00.000-07:00

Cost pressures are being blamed for DSB's decision to cut 140 administrative jobs following consultation with trades unions.

The decision follows the Sporskifte 2010 programme, and is in addition to 200 similar positions lost two years ago. The company says in a press release that the move will 'make the company more competitive' and allow it to focus on customer-facing initiatives.

Around 40 of the posts will be lost in January when the maintenance activities of DSB and DSB S-tog are merged in a separate company (see here for Danish Rail News' story).

New Communications Director at DSB

2010-10-27T06:27:00.000-07:00

The former Managing Editor for Metro, Jakob Høyer, will take charge of DSB's communications from November 1 in his new role as Communications Director. Mr Høyer, 39, replaces Anna Vinding, who takes on a part time role as Chief Consultant.

Jakob Høyer managed the free Metro newspaper for four years, and has worked in a host of roles on newspapers and as special advisor to the one-time Minister of Culture Brian Mikkelsen. "DSB is undergoing a huge change. Communication is at the heart of the change process and it will be interesting to tell DSB staff as well as the wider world what the company is doing," he says.

Jakob Høyer: image courtesy of DSB.

Kass head's DSB's new maintenance company

2010-10-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

DSB Finance Director Bartal Kass is to become the Chief Executive of a new train maintenance and repair company which will handle rolling stock across DSB's operations. The separation of maintenance from operations is expected to allow greater focus of management in each of these sectors.

Forty-eight-year-old Kass has worked in DSB since 1995, mainly in finance, and DSB CEO Soren Eriksen explained the appointment: "After 15 years in DSB Bartal Kass a thorough knowledge of the entire company and is therefore the best placed to optimize the complex maintenance tasks and get them to work together in the new organization."

The new company comprises 1200 staff and five major workshops - two in Aarhus, one in Fredericia, another in Taastrup and the last in Copenhagen. Kass' first major task will be to integrate maintenance between DSB and DSB S-tog while maintaining reliability and availability levels.

"By pooling the expertise we can make the best of both organizations," says Bartal Kass: "We can do things more effectively and consistently across the new organization."

Bartal Kass: image courtesy of DSB.

DSB wins new Swedish passenger contract

2010-10-22T03:01:00.000-07:00

DSB Sweden has beaten Deutsche Bahn, Veolia, and Tågkompaniet AB to win the Upptåget regional passenger contract for a period of 10 years, six months, and means that one in four DSB customers will be Swedish when the concession starts on June 12 2011. The turnover is expected to be around SKr 80 million per year.

The contract reinforces DSB's position in Sweden - where it operates over more route-km of railway - 2500km - than the entire Danish rail network of around 1700km. The announcement comes two months before DSB begins operation of the Gothenburg Västtrafik and Jönköping Krösatåg concessions. Denmark's national railway has operated the Stockholm Roslagsbanan since 2003 as well as Øresund services in Southern Sweden and the number of train-km of its Swedish operations is greater than that of Denmark's entire regional network.

DSB CEO Soren Eriksen said: "Sweden is already our second home, and with the takeover of operations of Upptåget, expands DSB now further its position in Sweden. DSB won the tender because we offer the most advantageous price and thereby benefit from synergies with the DSB's ongoing activities."

"Sweden is already our second home:" DSB CEO Soren Erikson. Image courtesy of DSB

Aalborg-Frederikshavn receives interim signalling system

2010-10-21T00:43:00.001-07:00

New 'temporary' signalling equipment is being installed between Aalborg and Frederikshavn ahead of the planned rollout of European Rail Traffic Management System from 2016.
The existing equipment is said to be obsolete and increasingly hard to maintain (in common with many similar installations from the late 1960s/early 1970s). A consortium of CactusUniView and Bravida are replacing the existing system with a PC-based equivalent, and installation is due to be completed in November 2011.

DSB restores TV to S-Trains, minus sound

2010-10-14T04:48:00.000-07:00

After massive complaints about onboard television screens disrupting journeys because of their intrusive audio - which prompted the company to halt the technology's use - DSB is set to restore the service without the sound.

Customer surveys suggested many passengers valued the provision of news and information, and the onboard displays will now only feature these services.

DSB takes over IC4 upgrades

2010-10-13T00:10:00.000-07:00

Fourteen of DSB's problematic AnsaldoBreda IC4 diesel trains are to be upgraded and modified in DSB's own workshops rather than in Italy under a deal confirmed this morning, the value of which is undisclosed.

Danish Rail News understands it is the largest contract awarded to the DSB's maintenance arm DSB Togvedligeholdelse to date.

The surprise move will allow the trains - which were delivered in 2007-09 - to undergo more testing and regulatory examinations than if they have to return to AnsaldoBreda's Italian factory for interim modifications. It should, DSB hopes, allow the trains to enter full revenue earning service sooner. Amongst other problems, these 14 trains are unable to work in multiple and have proved unable to match present day reliability requirements. DSB expects to hire additional engineers and fitters for the project.

CEO Soren Eriksen says: "We are very pleased with this order and are pleased, of course, first and foremost that the deal means more IC4 trains for the Danes. For DSB it means that we gain a more thorough knowledge of the trains in advance of final deliveries. By not sending the trains to Italy for modification we achieve greater flexibility as we have more trains available to operate and test and this provides further impetus to development of the new train computer and attempts to link three or more trains together."

DSB Togvedligeholdelse was recently awarded a contract to refurbish 16 trains for the Norwegian Airport Express Train., the second such deal the organisation has won from Norway.

IC4: stylish but delayed. Image: Danish Rail News

DSB sets record punctuality level of 93.7%

2010-10-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

DSB staff are celebrating a monthly punctuality record for long distance and regional trains of 93.7% of trains arriving on time - the highest figure since operational performance has been measured.

Traffic Manager Stig Friisbæk says 'hard and focused work every day' is responsible for the upswing in punctuality, allied with a close working relationship between DSB and Banedanmark staff. "We have a good work ethic and spirit," he adds.

Director of Traffic Planning Ove Dahl Kristensen was also delighted with the performance: "Banedanmark should definitely have a lot of credit for it here. Fewer local speed reductions due to improved rail has been the main reason for the great result. Meanwhile, the very close cooperation established between Banedanmark and DSB has provided fantastic results."

DSB acknowledges that it will be hard to maintain this level of performance, with the annual leaf fall season beginning to get underway, and long range predictions of a harsh winter.

"Very close cooperation between Banedanmark and DSB has provided fantastic results." Director of Traffic Planning Ove Dahl Kristensen. Image courtesy of DSB/Sine Fiig

DSB train punctuality, September 2006-10. Image courtesy of DSB

New appointments at DSB

2010-10-12T01:55:00.000-07:00

DSB has made some new appointments. Anders Ditzel is Rejsekort (travel card) supporter while Hans Henrik Rasmussen is Data Warehouse System Developer.

Congratulations to both of them on their new roles.

Breaking news - SJ starts Copenhagen-Odense service from Monday

2010-10-07T05:45:00.000-07:00

Sweden's national operator SJ will start a new service from Copenhagen to Odense from Monday, October 11.

The service will consist of one round trip per day with X2000 trains and will be an extension of one of the Stockholm-Copenhagen services. There will be no improvements in journey timing in spite of the X2000s' ability to run at 200km/h as the infrastructure only allows 180km/h - which DSB already runs at with its IC3/IC4 intercity and ER4 electric regional trains.

Malmo prepares for Citytuneln opening

2010-10-07T03:32:00.000-07:00

Malmö's long awaited capacity increasing Citytuneln project has started trial operations in anticipation of full services within Sweden and to Denmark beginning on December 12 at the Winter timetable change. A pair of Alstom X61 Electric Multiple Units - popularly called Pågatåg - and operated by Arriva are in use but will not be allowed to cross over to Denmark.

The project is an impressive feat of engineering, with the construction of around 17km of double track electrified railway in the heart of Malmö (6km of which is in tunnels) and the creation of two new stations - Hyllie and the centrally located Triangeln, which is much more convenient for the city centre than the present Malmö C. station. Construction began five years ago at an estimated cost of SEK 8.56 billion (DKK 6.9 billion) and has been completed months ahead of the original December 2010 deadline.

Transformed services

The success of the Øresund link from Copenhagen, as well as a major increase in local traffic in Malmo, mean the city's rail network has been bursting at the seams for some years, but from December 12, the significant extra capacity is going to transform services.

That day, when the tunnel opens for regular traffic, DSB First will double the frequency of the daytime service between Denmark and Malmö - and beyond - to a 10 minute interval service. The opening of the tunnel will mean a reduction of up to four minutes in journey times between Copenhagen and Malmö but a much more noticeable reduction - of more than 20 minutes - between Copenhagen and Lund because of the elimination of the reversal in Malmö.

However, plans to run Pågatåg services from Ystad through Malmö via the Citytunnel has been postponed until late next summer, due to the recent decision to start similar services to Trelleborg in 2012. This decision necessitates doubling the connecting line south of Hyllie - and this is happening now in order to prevent disruption of Ystad services in the future. Two new stations and loops will be constructed on this busy single track line where there is heavy freight traffic to the ferries to Poland. The passenger station in Trelleborg will be restored for passenger traffic too. Ystad services will continue to use the freight line (the Continental line) around Malmö in the meantime.

The DSB service, Intercity Bornholm, which runs from Copenhagen C to Ystad, connecting with fast ferries to the Danish island of Bornholm, will run to the Ystad line via the Citytunnel and the Continental line, through but without stopping at Malmö C, until the new connection is established.

Malmö city has decided to start a half-hourly ring line service in both directions using the Citytunnel and the Continental line. Besides this ring line, only freight services will use the Continental line in the future. The city will build a pair of new stations on the line and encourage residential development on the areas around the stations.

At a time when major infrastructure projects are viewed with suspicion by some financiers, the success of Citytuneln proves that they delivered on time and on budget - and more importantly still that the benefits of providing better transport can cross borders.

Image captions
Top:
Train set "Birgit Nielsen" approaching Hyllie past the watertower. Hyllie is the site of a new town development and a large Park and Ride station (replacing Svågertorp which has that function today) for Swedes who are travelling to Copenhagen airport. It costs DKK 230 to take a car over the bridge and park at the airport.

Bottom:

Set nr 9 at Trianglen deep level station in the commercial and shopping heart of Malmö. This is expected to be the busiest station in the city.

Malmo Citytuneln on track

2010-10-05T00:16:00.000-07:00

Malmo's long planned Citytuneln is on track to open on December 12 and Danish Rail News' correspondent was at a press event last weekend which confirmed final arrangements. A full report will follow later today, but in the meantime, here's a view taken on the approach to the tunnels at Holmla, east of Hyllie...

Electrification plans for Zealand?

2010-10-05T00:12:00.000-07:00

If our friends at the Copenhagen Post are right... this from their website:

DSB plans to electrify Zealand rails

S-Trains could cover the entire island within the next decade
State-owned train operator DSB looks likely to expand its S-Train service out of Greater Copenhagen to cover all of Zealand within the decade, reports public broadcaster DR.
If the plan falls into place, DSB’s S-Trains would run to towns such as Kalundborg and Nykøbing on the western coast of Zealand, and the service would gather most of its passenger growth by serving the new destinations.
The plan calls for establishing a network of a new generation of electrically powered trains on the island of Zealand within the next decade. The network would provide shorter travel times and reduce congestion on the rails, which DSB hopes would attract more commuters.
It is expected that the opening of the new train service would take place at the same time as the opening of the Fehmarn bridge in 2018.

Cable thieves target Sønderborg

2010-09-29T22:17:00.000-07:00

Copper prices of DKK40 per kg have encouraged thieves to steal overhead power cables at the recently reopened Sønderborg station - even though they are electrified at 25kV.

Although such cable theft is not unknown in other European countries it remains comparatively rare in Denmark. Banedanmark believes the stolen cable may be being sold abroad and is appealing for witnesses.

The full press statement (in Danish) is here.

DSB helps Eritrean Railways

2010-09-28T03:32:00.000-07:00

DSB is donating two containers full of machinery and tools to Eritrean Railways as part of the 'Hjælp til Eritreas jernbane' [Help Eritrain Railways] project started by Rene Strandbygaard and Copenhagen Film Company earlier this year. A delegation of management from the African railway toured depots at Copenhagen and Aarhus before the handover.

The aim of the campaign is to help develop Eritrea's railways and to make a positive contribution to the country's economy. Shipping company Maersk is supporting the project and has donated two containers as well as supplying transport from Aarhus to the Eritrean capital Asmara. The containers will go to Africa via London and are due to arrive in November.

DSB Executive Vice President Lone Lindsby said [this is an English translation]: "Denmark has a long history of helping countries that need it. This project is located very nicely in keeping with that tradition. DSB repair shops had a quantity of redundant machinery and tools are it is natural for us to donate it. The machines and tools are fully functional and can now have a second life in Africa.

DSB set for privatisation?

2010-09-26T23:17:00.000-07:00

This from the Copenhagen Post..

Funds raised from sale to be used for electric trains in Jutland

The government is in talks to privatise the public transport unit DSB, according to Berlingske Tidende newspaper.

According to the report, the transport firm will be privatised as of 2022, and the government intends to use 5-10 billion kroner of the proceeds to introduce electric trains to mid Jutland, where they currently use diesel trains for main line services.

This is not the first time the government has tried to privatise DSB, but it believes it will have more luck this time, given its intention to spend the proceeds on the country’s rail infrastructure. It stressed that the private rail operators would have to live up to a number of strict criteria, including good punctuality, and that it would make its decisions according to the competition principle, awarding tenders to those that promise the best service at the cheapest price.

First Group boss to retire

2010-09-22T01:21:00.000-07:00

The Chief Executive of UK bus and rail operator First Group - which operates DSB First Sweden in partnership with DSB - is to retire. Sir Moir Lockhead will be replaced by Tim O'Toole, the American railroad manager who took charge of London Underground and who joined First Group as Deputy Chief Executive in June. 2N47MXNSJ8XY

Designers aim to dress DSB staff

2010-09-20T05:27:00.000-07:00

Designers Peter Jensen, Pernille Schwarz, Christian Westphal, Noir Illuminarti II, Goodmorning Technology & Sidsel Kjøller Damkj and Kontrapunkt are competing to create a new look for DSB's customer facing staff which will be introduced from next year.

The deadline for entries is Spring 2011 and the aim, according to DSB, is to reflect that it is a "service minded and green business."

Is DSB planning a different new look to go with its uniforms? It would seem odd if it didn't at least refresh its current branding...

The original press release (in Danish) is here.