The City of Copenhagen officially opened the so-called Capital Light Rail – Phase One on 26 October 2025, with services now running between Ishøj and Rødovre Nord, marking the return of trams after 53 years.
The 14 km section with 12 stations connects people from Ishøj – a municipality in the Greater Copenhagen area about 20 km southwest of central Copenhagen – with Rødovre Nord, a locality in Rødovre Municipality, just west of central Copenhagen.
The opening was celebrated with a festive day of music, culture and activities at several stations along the route. The first passenger services departed from Glostrup and Ishøj in the afternoon. The municipalities along the route and the Capital Region of Denmark hosted local events at selected stations, featuring music, entertainment and family-friendly activities. At every station, staff from the Capital Light Rail welcomed passengers with information, merchandise and small surprises.
“It is historic that we can now open a completely new light rail that will make a tangible difference for thousands of residents across the capital region. The light rail will serve as a strong link between towns, workplaces and educational institutions. I am proud that, in the Capital Region, together with 11 municipalities and with national support, we have realised a joint project that will have a positive impact on citizens’ daily lives for many years to come,” said Lars Gaardhøj, Chair of the Capital Regional Council.
The Capital Light Rail now provides the Greater Copenhagen area with a new and efficient transport option, making it easier to travel between towns along Ring 3 – from Ishøj to Rødovre Nord.
“The light rail will become an important part of everyday transport for many thousands of people. It makes getting around the capital faster and more comfortable. At the same time, passengers can take their bicycles free of charge, making it easier to combine modes of travel. Today is about celebrating the fact that the light rail has become a reality and that passengers can now make use of it,” said Jakob Thomasen, Chair of the Board at the Capital Light Rail.
The new light rail line connects with the S-train network and is expected to carry up to 14 million passengers a year by 2031.
When the entire line opens in summer 2026, the light rail will link the suburban municipalities along a 28 km route – from Ishøj and the Arken Museum of Modern Art in the south to DTU and Lundtofte in the north. Services will run every ten minutes during peak hours, and as often as every five minutes once the full line opens next summer.
The section between Ishøj and Rødovre Nord currently operates every 10 minutes, and when fully opened in 2026, services will run every 5 minutes during daytime on weekdays and Saturdays, and every 10 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays.
“With frequent departures, the light rail provides the freedom and flexibility needed for more people to choose public transport over the car. That benefits the climate and reduces congestion on the roads. I’m also pleased that accessibility has been prioritised for wheelchair users and passengers with prams and bicycles. I know that many are looking forward to using it,” said Marianne Frederik (Ø), Chair of the Committee for Transport and Regional Development in the Capital Region.
Around 15,000 passengers travelled on the Light Rail on opening day, with even more joining in the celebrations along the entire route. Throughout the day, thousands took the opportunity to try out the new connection, which links the southern municipalities from Ishøj and Vallensbæk through Albertslund, Brøndby and Glostrup to Rødovre Nord.
“The opening day exceeded all expectations. It was a great pleasure to see so many people warmly welcoming the Light Rail – both on the platforms and in the trains. It is clear that the Light Rail is already being seen as a natural and attractive transport option from day one,” said Carsten Riis, CEO of the Capital Light Rail.
With the opening of the first stage, attention now turns to the remaining section from Rødovre Nord to Lundtofte, which will include 17 new stations and is scheduled to be ready in summer 2026. When fully operational, the line will be 28 km long with 29 stations, running from Ishøj in the south to Lundtofte in the north. The line will connect multiple municipalities along Ring 3, providing a frequent, fast public transport option across the Greater Copenhagen area.
In 2018, a consortium with the general infrastructure contractor Per Aarsleff A/S, Siemens secured a turnkey contract to build the light rail system in Copenhagen. The contract also included the delivery of 27 four-car Avenio trams, rail electrification, signalling, communication, workshop equipment, overall project management and system integration.
The low-floor Avenio LRV arrived in Copenhagen in 2023. The vehicle has a maximum capacity for 290 passengers with 64 seats and will operate at a speed of 70 km/h. The vehicle has a bright interior design, a high-performance air conditioning system, and ergonomic seats for maximum passenger comfort. The installed modern energy-saving LCD passenger information screens allow passengers to access up to date information.
The Capital Light Rail is jointly owned by the Capital Region of Denmark and the 11 municipalities of Ishøj, Vallensbæk, Hvidovre, Albertslund, Brøndby, Rødovre, Høje-Taastrup, Herlev, Gladsaxe, Glostrup and Lyngby-Taarbæk.
Share on:
