Future Operation and Maintenance of Copenhagen Metro Sent Out for Tender

Posted: 1. juli 2025Reading time: 5 min.
In 2027, Metroselskabet's current contract with the operator for the operation and maintenance of the four metro lines M1-M4 in Copenhagen expires. The task has therefore been sent out for an EU tender to establish a new contract that will ensure continued high stability and quality in operations.

The Metro in Copenhagen is operated by a private operator, responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of trains and systems on the four metro lines. In 2024, the Metro set a passenger record with 126 million passengers. Additionally, 99% of all departures went as planned.

The current operations and maintenance contract for the metro lines expires on September 28, 2027, and therefore Metroselskabet is now tendering a new contract with operations starting on September 29, 2027.

It is our ambition for the upcoming contract to maintain the high stability in operations and ensure a good experience for our increasing number of passengers. In the preparation of the tender, we have had good dialogues with the market, and we look forward to the continued tender process,"
Søren Boysen, Director of Operations and Maintenance at Metroselskabet.

Facts about the Metro in Operation:

  • The Metro has four lines in total: M1 (opened in 2002), M2 (2002), M3 (2019), M4 (2020/2024)
  • The metro system consists of a total of 44 stations and 43 kilometres of track.
  • The Copenhagen Metro was among the first systems in the world with driverless trains.
  • M4 will be extended with two stations to Outer Nordhavn in 2030.
  • The Metro has intervals as short as 1½ minutes between departures during peak hours.
  • In 2024, the average operational stability was 99 pct.
  • The Metro has approximately 400,000 travellers per weekday.
  • In 2024, 126 million passengers travelled with the Metro, which is the highest number of passengers in the Metro's history.

Metroselskabet, which is owned by the State, the City of Copenhagen, and the Municipality of Frederiksberg, has overall responsibility for the operation of the Metro but is required by law to tender the operation to a private operator.

The EU tender is conducted with negotiation with prequalification. The tender is published via TED (Tenders Electronic Daily), which is the EU's common portal for tender announcements.

The tender material is available through the tender platform Byggeprojekt.dk.

The deadline for applying for prequalification is July 31, 2025, at 13:00 CEST after which initial offers, negotiations, and revised/final offers are submitted before the winner of the tender is expected to be announced in September 2026. The upcoming contract runs until 2039 with an option for an additional three years.

Facts about the Tender Process: 

  • It is an EU tender conducted with negotiation with prequalification.
  • The deadline to apply for prequalification is July 31, 2025, at 13:00 CEST.
  • Invitation to participate in the tender is expected to be sent to the prequalified tenderers at the end of August 2025
  • This will be followed by the submission of the first bid, continued negotiations, and submission of revised bids
  • Metroselskabet expects to sign the contract in September 2026

More information

If you are a potential tenderer for the upcoming operations and maintenance contract and have questions regarding the tender, please contact us via the tender platform. 

For other inquiries, Metroselskabet's communications department can be contacted at presse@m.dk or +45 7242 4901.