Higher profits and more passengers than expected in 2018
The year in figures
‘Throughout 2018, the number of metro passengers has continued to grow. It is gratifying that so many people choose to use the Metro. Especially when you realise that other public transport is challenged by declining passenger numbers. This growth is worth noting, also in light of the fact that we have succeeded in creating this passenger growth in the Metro without public operating subsidies,’ says Jørn Neergaard Larsen, Chairman of the Board of Metroselskabet.
To increase capacity, the company is working on new seating arrangements in Metro trains, more frequent departures during rush hour and campaigns to help Metro passengers adopt more appropriate behaviour to maintain high operational stability and make room for the many new passengers.
In 2018, for the third consecutive year, the Metro operator managed to maintain operational stability of 99.2 per cent. This is a remarkable level - even by international standards - and it was achieved in a year when the Metro carried 1.2 million more passengers than the year before.
99.2 per cent of scheduled departures were on time. On a typical day in 2018, there were 13,567 scheduled departures.
The many passengers are to thank for the strong bottom line result, and we look forward to giving them more Metro and more space this year. In 2018, we have therefore initiated a number of capacity improvement measures to create space for more passengers in the future, so we can maintain a good service,
In addition to the focus on improving conditions for passengers on the existing M1 and M2 metro lines, the Metroselskabet, its owners and the public are focusing sharply on the anticipated opening of the M3 line.
After 8 years of metro construction in the capital city, the opening of the new metro line M3 is being looked forward to. Progress on the metro construction project was satisfactory in 2018, and work continues on opening the M3 line this summer.
The upcoming M4 is also progressing according to plan, and the Nordhavn line is still expected to open in early 2020. Finally, 2018 also saw the ground-breaking ceremony for the southern part of the M4 - the line to Sydhavn.
‘In 2018, there has been full focus on our construction activities in the final phase, and with the M3 line expected to open this summer, it is natural that this project in particular attracts a lot of attention. Towards the end of 2018, construction of the M3 line was progressing satisfactorily, and in the autumn the construction passed a crucial milestone. We are following the project closely, and we will keep our owners and the public informed about the progress of the M3 line and our other construction projects,’ says Jørn Neergaard Larsen.