The Greater Copenhagen Light Rail has entered full operation, completing a 28-km route between Ishøj and Lundtofte with 29 stations across eight municipalities. The network is operated by a fleet of 29 Siemens Mobility Avenio light rail vehicles and is expected to carry 14 million passengers annually by 2030.
The Greater Copenhagen Light Rail is now fully open following the inauguration of the remaining 17 stations on 22 August 2026.
Passengers can travel for the first time along the entire 28-km corridor between Ishøj in the south and Lundtofte, north of Lyngby, largely following Copenhagen’s Ring 3 orbital corridor.
The completed line serves 29 stations across eight municipalities and connects residential areas, workplaces, hospitals, educational institutions and major public transport hubs.
The first section, comprising 12 stations between Ishøj and Rødovre Nord, entered service in October 2025. The opening of the remaining 17 stations completes the project and allows continuous operation along the entire route.
29 Siemens Avenio light rail vehicles
The fleet consists of 29 Siemens Mobility Avenio light rail vehicles, supplied as part of a turnkey contract delivered by Siemens Mobility in consortium with Danish infrastructure contractor Aarsleff Rail.
Siemens Mobility’s scope extended beyond rolling stock and included electrification, signalling, communications systems, depot workshop equipment, project management and system integration.
The company will also provide 15 years of maintenance services.
The Avenio vehicles are 36.9 metres long and can accommodate up to 260 passengers, including 64 seated.
They feature step-free boarding as well as dedicated areas for bicycles, prams and wheelchairs. The vehicles have a maximum operating speed of 70 km/h.
“With the full opening of the Greater Copenhagen Light Rail, we are proud to see Siemens Mobility’s turnkey expertise driving this transformative public transport project in Denmark,” said Léon Soulier, CEO of the Turnkey Business Unit at Siemens Mobility.
Six connections with Copenhagen’s S-train network
Unlike radial rail services focused on central Copenhagen, the new light rail has been developed as an orbital public transport corridor across the metropolitan area.
The line provides connections with the S-train network at six interchange stations, allowing passengers from municipalities around Ring 3 to transfer to rail services towards central Copenhagen and other parts of the metropolitan region.
Services are initially operating every five to eight minutes during daytime peak periods, as part of a transition period expected to last between three and six months.
Evening and Sunday services operate at intervals of around ten minutes.
14 million passengers expected annually
The light rail is expected to serve approximately 12,000 passengers per day during its initial operation, with annual ridership forecast to reach 14 million passengers by 2030.
The project is also intended to reduce dependence on cars along one of the busiest transport corridors in the Copenhagen metropolitan region.
The full opening was marked by events along the route on 22 August, with passengers able to travel free of charge throughout the inauguration day.
Safety approval for the second section between Rødovre Nord and Lundtofte had been granted earlier in August, clearing the way for the completion of passenger services across the entire network.
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