Kystbanen
Encyclopedia
The Coast Line is a regional railway line between Helsingør (Elsinore) and Copenhagen
in Denmark
. It was opened in 1897, and it is today the busiest railway line in Denmark. As of 2009, the Coast Line, along with an extensive network of railroads in Scania
, are run by DSBFirst
, a joint venture between FirstGroup and DSB, the government owned railroad company which previously were solely in charge of operating the line.
Its original terminus was Østerport Station
, but when the station was connected with Copenhagen Central Station in 1917, the terminus moved there. When the Oresund Bridge
opened in 2000, service extended to Malmö
in Sweden
, though the section between Copenhagen and Malmö is a separate railway, the Oresund Line.
The railway services some well-known sights and locations such as Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
in Humlebæk, Kronborg Castle
in Elsinore
, and Dyrehavsbakken
in Klampenborg
.
Kystbanen is now an integrated part of (and served only by) the Oresundtrain
network which also serves southern Sweden.
was built though Helsingør in 1864 and in 1863 the connection between Copenhagen and Klampenborg Station
as a sort of daytrip and tourist route. In 1890 the Minister of the Interior, Hans Peter Ingerslev (Conservative People's Party
), a proposition of a state railway between Klampenborg and Helsingør, but it went four years of discussion and negotiations before the surveyor
s could stop their work and the construction workers enter the field.
The Ministry of War
wanted to have a railway to Vedbæk
, as long as it wasn't built so close to the coast that it could be bombarded by a foreign naval fleet
in Øresund, and as long as the railway could be removed quickly. The Forestry Department didn't have any objections against the railway as long as not even a single tree was cut down. A number of citizens also were active in the debate about the choice of route and placing of stations.
Because of rules decided by the Ministry of War, the railway had to go in a large curve out over the lakes to Nørrebro
and onwards towards the Øresund Coast at Hellerup
. Hellerup station
was built in the 1860s because it was were the North Line and the Klampenborg Line split, and not because there as such was a need for a station at the place.
The stretch between Østerport and Hellerup was first taken into use with the opening of the Coast Line in 1897. Østerport was the initial terminus
of the line, was originally called Kystbanestationen, Østerbro, København Ø and Østbanegaarden. Architect Heinrich Wenk, who drew many of the stations on the railway, was also responsible for the Eastern Station, that after decree from the Ministry of War was constructed as a temporary building. First 20 years later the line between Copenhagen Central Station and Østerport was taken into use, and the Coast Line got its present form on 1 December 1917.
announced a that they would make a bid for transportation companies to bid on taking over the Coast Line. Several European operators most notably SJ
, Arriva
, Connex, and DSBFirst
. DSBFirst won this bid due to their plan of introducing 7-Eleven
to the majority of stations, keeping the current system of permanently staffed trains, and promising better scheduling. Moreover, there was a sense that it was more convenient because DSB already had trains suited to operate under the two different volt systems used for railroad electrification in Denmark and Sweden. Despite serving food and coffee for passengers on their first Monday of operation, they did not win over passengers as the trains were delayed and packed. For the next few months the trains had an average delay percentage of 10, causing outcry among frequent passengers and a massive drop in rating. As of June 2009, DSBFirst has managed to regain much passenger support through fewer delayed trains due to a change in timetables and better education of the train mangers.
s. Lately the line has been operated by modern and comfortable trains, including DSB's first electric locomotive
s, litra EA (on the Coast Line since 1986) and the new electric regional train litra ER and litra IR4, that both started service the Coast Line in the mid 1990s. Today the main service on the line is Oresund trains that operate between Helsingør via Copenhagen and Copenhagen Airport
to Malmö
in Sweden and ER trains between Nivå
and Kastrup
. In rush hour
, these trains are supplemented with higher speed commuter train operated with various stock, including double decker trains.
The replacement of steam locomotive
with diesel multiple unit
s started in 1935, but was first completed in 1965. Originally the Coast Line was operated by litra K and litra O steam engines and later by litra S engines that were acquired in the 1920s. From about 1960 the main stock was the diesel electric locomotives MX, MY and later MZ and ME.
Electrification of the railway started in Nivå
in 1982 and was completed on 19 March 1986 when the electric operation was initialized with litra EA locomotives.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. It was opened in 1897, and it is today the busiest railway line in Denmark. As of 2009, the Coast Line, along with an extensive network of railroads in Scania
Scania
Scania is the southernmost of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden, constituting a peninsula on the southern tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, and some adjacent islands. The modern administrative subdivision Skåne County is almost, but not totally, congruent with the...
, are run by DSBFirst
DSBFirst
DSBFirst is a Danish-British railway company that since January 2009 is an operator on the Oresundtrains, serving Denmark and southern Sweden. The company is an alliance between Danish DSB and British FirstGroup, its headquarters being located in Malmö, southern Sweden. From december 11 2011...
, a joint venture between FirstGroup and DSB, the government owned railroad company which previously were solely in charge of operating the line.
Its original terminus was Østerport Station
Østerport station
Østerport station is a railway station in Østerbro, Copenhagen, Denmark. It is served by most S-trains, Kystbanen and other regional trains, as well as some InterCity trains.The station is used by approximately 30,000 passengers each day.-History:...
, but when the station was connected with Copenhagen Central Station in 1917, the terminus moved there. When the Oresund Bridge
Oresund Bridge
The Øresund or Öresund Bridge is a combined twin-track railway and dual carriageway bridge-tunnel across the Øresund strait.The bridge connects Sweden and Denmark, and it is the longest road and rail bridge in Europe. The Øresund Bridge also connects two major Metropolitan Areas: those of the...
opened in 2000, service extended to Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, though the section between Copenhagen and Malmö is a separate railway, the Oresund Line.
The railway services some well-known sights and locations such as Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is an art museum located directly on the shore of the Øresund Sound in Humlebæk, north of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the most visited art museum in Denmark with an extensive permanent collection of modern and contemporary art, dating from World War II and up...
in Humlebæk, Kronborg Castle
Kronborg Castle
Kronborg is a star fortress situated near the town of Helsingør on the extreme northeastern tip of Zealand at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the sound between Denmark and Sweden...
in Elsinore
Elsinore
Helsingør is a city and the municipal seat of Helsingør municipality on the northeast coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. Helsingør has a population of 46,279 including the southern suburbs of Snekkersten and Espergærde...
, and Dyrehavsbakken
Dyrehavsbakken
Dyrehavsbakken , commonly referred to as Bakken , is the world's oldest operating amusement park. It is located near Klampenborg but belongs under Lyngby-Taarbæk Kommune, Denmark about 10 km north of Copenhagen...
in Klampenborg
Klampenborg Station
Klampenborg Station is an S-train station in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the terminus of the Klampenborg radial. It also serves Kystbanen between Helsingør and Malmö...
.
Kystbanen is now an integrated part of (and served only by) the Oresundtrain
Oresundtrain
Oresundtrain or Øresundståg is a regional rail network serving the Oresund Region. The train consists of multiple units manufactured by Bombardier Transportation in Kalmar, previously known as Kalmar Verkstad and lately in Hennigsdorf by LEW Hennigsdorf...
network which also serves southern Sweden.
History
Plans for a railway between Copenhagen and Helsingør (Elsinor) had been proposed since the childhood of railways. The North LineNordbanen
Nordbanen is one of six radial S-train lines in Copenhagen. It connects Copenhagen with the city of Hillerød, and with several northern suburbs.-Stations:-Service patterns:...
was built though Helsingør in 1864 and in 1863 the connection between Copenhagen and Klampenborg Station
Klampenborg Station
Klampenborg Station is an S-train station in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the terminus of the Klampenborg radial. It also serves Kystbanen between Helsingør and Malmö...
as a sort of daytrip and tourist route. In 1890 the Minister of the Interior, Hans Peter Ingerslev (Conservative People's Party
Conservative People's Party (Denmark)
The Conservative People's Party , also known as Conservatives is a Danish political party.-History:The party was founded 1915 based mostly on its predecessor, Højre , but also on the Free Conservatives and a moderate faction of Venstre , the liberals.The party has participated in several coalition...
), a proposition of a state railway between Klampenborg and Helsingør, but it went four years of discussion and negotiations before the surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
s could stop their work and the construction workers enter the field.
The Ministry of War
Ministry of Defence (Denmark)
The Ministry of Defence of Denmark is a ministry in the Danish government. It is charged with overall planning, development, and strategic guidance of the entire area of responsibility of the Danish Defence minister, including the armed forces and the emergency management sector...
wanted to have a railway to Vedbæk
Vedbæk
Vedbæk is a small town in the municipality of Rudersdal , Denmark. It is located on the Øresund coast of Zealand, between Rungsted to the north and Skodsborg to the south. The town has a station on the busy Kystbanen railway line, approximately midway between Copenhagen and Helsingør...
, as long as it wasn't built so close to the coast that it could be bombarded by a foreign naval fleet
Naval fleet
A fleet, or naval fleet, is a large formation of warships, and the largest formation in any navy. A fleet at sea is the direct equivalent of an army on land....
in Øresund, and as long as the railway could be removed quickly. The Forestry Department didn't have any objections against the railway as long as not even a single tree was cut down. A number of citizens also were active in the debate about the choice of route and placing of stations.
Because of rules decided by the Ministry of War, the railway had to go in a large curve out over the lakes to Nørrebro
Nørrebro
Nørrebro is one of the 10 official districts of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is northwest of the city centre, beyond the location of the old Northern Gate , which, until dismantled in 1856, was near the current Nørreport station.-Geography:...
and onwards towards the Øresund Coast at Hellerup
Hellerup
Hellerup is a Danish town of Region Hovedstaden, located in the Gentofte Municipality in Denmark. It is bordered to the east by the sound Øresund and to the South by Copenhagen and counted among the most affluent areas in Denmark....
. Hellerup station
Hellerup Station
Hellerup Station is a railway station in Copenhagen, Denmark, serviced by S-trains on the B, C, E, and F services, and by Kystbanen regional trains. The station was designed by V.C.H. Wolf and opened on 22 July 1863, simultaneous with the start of service on the Klampenborg line....
was built in the 1860s because it was were the North Line and the Klampenborg Line split, and not because there as such was a need for a station at the place.
The stretch between Østerport and Hellerup was first taken into use with the opening of the Coast Line in 1897. Østerport was the initial terminus
Terminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
of the line, was originally called Kystbanestationen, Østerbro, København Ø and Østbanegaarden. Architect Heinrich Wenk, who drew many of the stations on the railway, was also responsible for the Eastern Station, that after decree from the Ministry of War was constructed as a temporary building. First 20 years later the line between Copenhagen Central Station and Østerport was taken into use, and the Coast Line got its present form on 1 December 1917.
Change to DSBFirst
In 2007 the Danish government in cooperation with SkånetrafikenSkånetrafiken
Skånetrafiken is the regional public transportation authority and operator in Skåne län, in the south of Sweden.Skånetrafiken was founded in 1999 when the two counties Kristianstads län and Malmöhus län were merged into one region. During this merger the two respective transport authorities were...
announced a that they would make a bid for transportation companies to bid on taking over the Coast Line. Several European operators most notably SJ
SJ AB
SJ is a government-owned passenger train operator in Sweden. SJ was created in 2000, out of the public transport division of Statens Järnvägar, when the former government agency was divided into six separate government-owned limited companies.-Overview:SJ's operations fall broadly into subsidised...
, Arriva
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
, Connex, and DSBFirst
DSBFirst
DSBFirst is a Danish-British railway company that since January 2009 is an operator on the Oresundtrains, serving Denmark and southern Sweden. The company is an alliance between Danish DSB and British FirstGroup, its headquarters being located in Malmö, southern Sweden. From december 11 2011...
. DSBFirst won this bid due to their plan of introducing 7-Eleven
7-Eleven
7-Eleven is part of an international chain of convenience stores, operating under Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd, which in turn is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co...
to the majority of stations, keeping the current system of permanently staffed trains, and promising better scheduling. Moreover, there was a sense that it was more convenient because DSB already had trains suited to operate under the two different volt systems used for railroad electrification in Denmark and Sweden. Despite serving food and coffee for passengers on their first Monday of operation, they did not win over passengers as the trains were delayed and packed. For the next few months the trains had an average delay percentage of 10, causing outcry among frequent passengers and a massive drop in rating. As of June 2009, DSBFirst has managed to regain much passenger support through fewer delayed trains due to a change in timetables and better education of the train mangers.
Rolling stock
The unique feature of the Coast Line is that despite that there is only between three and six minutes between each station, it has not been operated by S-trainS-Train
The S-train network is a combined urban rapid transit and suburban rail network of Metropolitan Copenhagen, Denmark. It connects the city center with the inner suburbs of Copenhagen, and has close to half of the stations within the urban city. The first line was opened in 1934...
s. Lately the line has been operated by modern and comfortable trains, including DSB's first electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
s, litra EA (on the Coast Line since 1986) and the new electric regional train litra ER and litra IR4, that both started service the Coast Line in the mid 1990s. Today the main service on the line is Oresund trains that operate between Helsingør via Copenhagen and Copenhagen Airport
Copenhagen Airport
Copenhagen Airport is the main international airport serving Copenhagen, Denmark and the Oresund Region. It is located on the island of Amager, south of Copenhagen city centre, and west of Malmö city centre on the other side of the Oresund Bridge. The airport lies mainly in the municipality...
to Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
in Sweden and ER trains between Nivå
Nivå
Nivå is a town with a population of 7,869 in the municipality of Fredensborg on the island of Zealand in Denmark. Nivå is a residential town on the coast of the Øresund...
and Kastrup
Kastrup
Kastrup is a suburb of Copenhagen, on the east coast of Amager in the Tårnby Municipality.Kastrup is best known as the site of Copenhagen Airport. In Danish, the airport is often called Kastrup Lufthavn or Københavns Lufthavn, Kastrup .Scandinavian Airlines System has its Denmark offices in Kastrup...
. In rush hour
Rush hour
A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
, these trains are supplemented with higher speed commuter train operated with various stock, including double decker trains.
The replacement of steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
with diesel multiple unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
s started in 1935, but was first completed in 1965. Originally the Coast Line was operated by litra K and litra O steam engines and later by litra S engines that were acquired in the 1920s. From about 1960 the main stock was the diesel electric locomotives MX, MY and later MZ and ME.
Electrification of the railway started in Nivå
Nivå
Nivå is a town with a population of 7,869 in the municipality of Fredensborg on the island of Zealand in Denmark. Nivå is a residential town on the coast of the Øresund...
in 1982 and was completed on 19 March 1986 when the electric operation was initialized with litra EA locomotives.
Stations
- Helsingør
- Snekkersten
- Espergærde
- Humlebæk
- Nivå
- Kokkedal
- Rungsted KystRungsted Kyst stationRungsted Kyst Station is one of the stops on one of the northern Zealand railways in Denmark. The City of Rungsted Kyst is one of the outermost suburban areas of Copenhagen situated on the coast north of the Copenhagen Municipality.Rungsted Kyst is famous due to a range of Danish celebrity who...
- Vedbæk
- Skodsborg
- KlampenborgKlampenborg StationKlampenborg Station is an S-train station in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the terminus of the Klampenborg radial. It also serves Kystbanen between Helsingør and Malmö...
- HellerupHellerup StationHellerup Station is a railway station in Copenhagen, Denmark, serviced by S-trains on the B, C, E, and F services, and by Kystbanen regional trains. The station was designed by V.C.H. Wolf and opened on 22 July 1863, simultaneous with the start of service on the Klampenborg line....
- ØsterportØsterport stationØsterport station is a railway station in Østerbro, Copenhagen, Denmark. It is served by most S-trains, Kystbanen and other regional trains, as well as some InterCity trains.The station is used by approximately 30,000 passengers each day.-History:...
- NørreportNørreport stationNørreport Station is a mainline railway, S-train and Copenhagen Metro station located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the busiest train station in the country, serving 300,000 people daily, including passengers not stepping off. There are 165.000 leaving or entering trains including the metro...
- Copenhagen Central Station