Passengers flocked to the inauguration of new metro stations
Today, Mozarts Plads in the heart of Sydhavnen was the setting for the official inauguration of the five new metro stations on the M4 metro line. Several thousand Copenhageners, visitors from the rest of the capital and other guests turned up to take part in the festivities marking the inauguration.
"This is one of the days I will never forget as Lord Mayor of Copenhagen. With each new metro station, we lift the city, make everyday life easier and give everyone the opportunity to get from A to B in one of the most climate-friendly modes of transport. The metro makes the city bigger and smaller at the same time. Congratulations to Sydhavnen and Valby - and to all of Copenhagen," says Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, Lord Mayor of the City of Copenhagen.
The festivities kicked off at 11am in Mozart's Square with entertainment, live music and activities, and various artists entertained on stage throughout the day. At 12.30 pm, HM the King declared the M4 line to Sydhavn and Valby open, and passengers were ready at the stations to take the first trip.
Facts: M4 to Sydhavn and Valby
- The M4 extension consists of five new metro stations in Copenhagen: Havneholmen, Enghave Brygge, Sluseholmen, Mozarts Plads and Copenhagen South.
- With the new southern section of the M4, passengers can travel directly between Orientkaj in Nordhavn to Copenhagen South in Valby via Østerbro, City, Vesterbro and Sydhavn. Along the way, it is possible to transfer to the M3 Cityring at six stations and to the M1 and M2 lines at Kongens Nytorv.
- With the opening, it will be possible to switch between Metro and S-trains at eight stations and between Metro and regional trains at six stations.
- After opening, the total metro network will consist of 44 metro stations and 43 kilometres of track.
- The journey time between Copenhagen South and Rådhuspladsen will be approximately 10 minutes and between Mozarts Plads and Kongens Nytorv approximately 11 minutes.
- The metro line runs around the clock with high frequency and will better connect the new urban development areas and existing urban areas in Sydhavn and Valby.
- From 2030, the five new stations are expected to have approximately eight million passengers annually. In the first few years after opening, the annual passenger numbers will be lower because experience shows that it takes time to get people used to a new line.
- In 2023, almost 120 million passengers travelled on the metro, which is almost 12 million more than the year before.
"The extension of the M4 to Sydhavn and Valby will also benefit Frederiksberg, as it makes it easier for our citizens to get around when the city is tied closer together and the public transport offer is strengthened. For example, after the opening of the new metro stations, it will only take 10 minutes to travel from Frederiksberg Allé to Enghave Brygge. This is important to create a coherent, efficient and, not least, green public transport system throughout the metropolitan area," says Michael Vindfeldt, Mayor of Frederiksberg.
With the opening, the stations Havneholmen, Enghave Brygge, Sluseholmen, Mozarts Plads and Copenhagen South will be added to the capital's overall metro network, enabling passengers to travel directly between Orientkaj in Nordhavn and Copenhagen South in Valby. Here, the new traffic hub, Copenhagen South, will make it easy for passengers to transfer to bus, regional and S-trains. With the extension of the M4 to Sydhavn and Valby, passengers will have several new connections in and out of the city, to the rest of the region and country, and in the longer term to Europe.
"Copenhagen South Station will be one of Denmark's busiest stations, where you can switch between Intercity trains, regional trains, S-trains and now also the metro. There are multi-storey train connections, and it's an impressive construction that is both within budget and on time," says Minister of Transport Thomas Danielsen.
The opening of the M4 extension will not only create new connections in the capital, open up new neighbourhoods for city residents and make everyday life easier for commuters in the region and the rest of the country. The metro line is also expected to boost ridership on the M3/M4, contributing positively to the Metro's overall passenger numbers.
"It's always a historic day when new metro stations open, and we are very happy to finally be able to open the doors to passengers and welcome them to the Metro. With more metro in the capital, we not only ensure a stronger and more efficient transport network in the capital - we also create new, fast connections from Copenhagen to the rest of the region and the country," says Carsten Riis, CEO of Metroselskabet.