Completion of the M3 line
Work on the M3 line is now in its final phase, and efforts are being made to get the new M3 metro line ready for opening next summer. At the stations, the architectural design and mechanical and electrical installations are being finalised to ensure the subsequent test run and final safety approval for passenger operations.
Work is progressing and several metro stations have had wall cladding, escalators, lift towers, automatic platform doors, skylights, ceiling and floor cladding and many of the other elements that need to be installed before the M3 line can open.
However, the architectural work must be kept at a high pace in the coming months so as not to jeopardise the progress of the subsequent work. The M3 line's construction contractor, CMT, has put more people on the job. At the same time, Metroselskabet and the contractors have decided to reschedule a number of street-level works in order to prioritise the work underground.
"We estimate that we can open in summer 2019. We have four milestones leading up to next summer and have identified four risks: the architectural completion of the stations, mechanical and electrical work, test runs and safety approvals. This requires a focused effort and requires the entire organisation to closely monitor risks and progress. When problems arise, we must quickly find solutions together with CMT and Ansaldo STS so that the M3 line can open as planned," says Jørn Neergaard Larsen, Chairman of the Board of Metroselskabet.
The biggest risks are currently the following:
- architectural works
- mechanical and electrical works
- test runs
- safety approvals
In order to open the M3 line, Metroselskabet and its contractors must reach four milestones. A number of goals must be achieved at each milestone. The final milestone is the final safety approval, where the authorities authorise the metro to start carrying passengers. This approval can only be given close to the time of opening. The reason is that before the approval can be granted and the metro can run with passengers, the train system must be tried and tested in normal operation with staff but without passengers for a period of time.
"We get a lot of questions about when we'll open the M3 line, and we know that many people are looking forward to using the M3 line. That's why we've decided to keep our owners and the public informed about the progress towards the opening. We have important milestones to reach before next summer, and unforeseen challenges may arise. Only when we have the final safety approval from the authorities to carry passengers can we actually set an opening date," says Jørn Neergaard Larsen.