South Line (Denmark)

The South Line ( da, Sydbanen) is a government-owned railway line in Denmark. Technically, the line connects Ringsted with Nykøbing Falster, from which it branches to Gedser and Rødbyhavn.

The railway is part of the Vogelfluglinie from Copenhagen to Hamburg. On Sydbanen's southwestern end at Rødby, a Scandlines ferry line exists to the German coastal town of Puttgarden, from where the Lübeck–Puttgarden railway and Lübeck–Hamburg railway lead to Hamburg. The Fehmarn Belt Tunnel, to be completed in 2029, will replace the ferry service. From 2020 until 2028 trains go only to Nykøbing, with frequent closures due to rebuilding.

History

The original Zealand South Line was completed for the privately owned Zealand Railway Company ( da, Det Sjællandske Jernbaneselskab) and opened on 4 October 1870. It connected (and thus Copenhagen via the West Line) with on the south coast of Zealand via , and . From Masnedsund there was a steamship connection across the Storstrømmen strait to on the north coast of the island of Falster.

In 1880, the Zealand Railway Company was taken over by the Danish state, and in 1885 became part of the national railway company DSB.

After the opening of the Ringsted-Næstved Line in 1924, most trains between Copenhagen and South Zealand used the route via instead of the original route via . The rump section between and via became known as the Little South Line ( da, Lille Syd).

Future developments

The line is being upgraded to ERTMS, (Køge-)Næstved-Nykøbing in 2021, and the rest in 2028. Furthermore, 55 km of new tracks are being laid, to smooth out curves, allowing for 200 km/h when done. These works are expected to finish in 2021. Afterwards, the line will be electrified, slated for partial introduction in 2024, and completion all the way in 2027 when a new Storstrøm Bridge will open. The railway Nykøbing–Rødby will be in operation only when the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel is opened around 2029.

Route

Between Copenhagen and Næstved there are four routes that trains can use:
*over and
*over and
*over and (as of 2023 most used)
*over and

Stations

Stations with passenger stops from Ringsted and southbound are:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*, was closed for traffic 2021
*Holeby (might also be named Rødby), will open for traffic 2029

References

Citations

Bibliography

*

External links

Banedanmark
– government agency responsible for maintenance and traffic control of most of the Danish railway network

DSB
– largest Danish train operating company

Danske Jernbaner
– website with information on railway history in Denmark

Railway lines in Denmark
Rail transport in Region Zealand

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