As part of a major effort to accommodate the many thousands of passengers who use the Metro every day, Metroselskabet has purchased more trains for the M1 and M2 metro lines. The new trains - which are expected to increase the capacity of the Metro by 20% - are part of an investment programme decided by the Metroselskabet board in 2017. The aim is to meet the expected increase in passenger numbers up to 2035, so that customers will continue to experience a high-quality journey in the future.

‘The capital is gaining more and more citizens, and many are choosing to travel on the Metro. Of course, we're happy about this, which is why we want to ensure that there is room for passengers in the future and that they will continue to experience a high level of service and stable operations. The M1 and M2 metro lines are used by around 200,000 travellers every day, and the trains are almost 20 years old. Therefore, we are currently making a number of major investments in the Metro - both to maintain it and to create better space for the many new passengers,’ explains Metroselskabet CEO Rebekka Nymark.

Due to Covid-19, there has been a large decrease in the number of customers in the Metro. However, the Metroselskabet's analyses still show that there will be a large growth in passenger numbers in the future. Although passenger numbers are expected to increase more slowly than originally planned until 2025, it is still expected that passenger numbers will be back at the expected growth level from 2025 onwards at the latest.

The new trains for M1 and M2 are produced in Italy and arrive by ship to Denmark. The first two trains were delivered earlier this week. When the trains enter service, they will increase the number of trains during rush hour by almost 20 per cent, resulting in more frequent departures on both lines. There will be as little as 90 seconds between trains during rush hour on the lines with the highest number of travellers.

In the new trains, the layout has been changed so that the seats are placed along the windows of the train, as in other countries' metro systems, with more folding seats and fewer fixed seats. This will allow passengers to sit more flexibly and make better use of the floor space. At the same time, it will ensure a better flow of passengers and optimal utilisation of space in the train carriages. The new seating arrangement is also currently being tested in three of the existing trains on M1 and M2.

‘At Metroselskabet, we are continuously working to optimise the capacity of the Metro so that we can continue to ensure a comfortable journey for our customers and trains that run on time. In the new trains, we have changed the seating arrangement so that more passengers can travel and fewer are left behind on the platform. We have also chosen to test the same seating arrangement in three of the existing trains on M1 and M2. If the changed setup has the desired and expected effect, the remaining trains will undergo the same change,’ says Rebekka Nymark.

It is expected that the 8 new trains can be put into operation during autumn 2021 and winter 2021/2022. Before that, they will undergo a series of tests, including on the tracks and at stations, to ensure that they run well and safely before passengers can use them. The test runs are planned to minimise disruption to customers. Therefore, the majority will be carried out on the line between Christianshavn and Vestamager in the evening and/or at night in the coming year.

Due to Covid-19, there have been very few passengers in the Metro. After the authorities announced a gradual reopening of society, passenger numbers have increased and are now around 70 per cent of the normal level for the time of year. The Metro is running around the clock again. However, there are still recommendations to maintain a high level of hygiene, keep your distance, travel outside rush hour if possible and avoid travelling if you are ill.