The Metro kept the wheels turning
The facts
- The Company's profit before depreciation, amortisation and impairment amounted to a profit of DKK 381 million, which is in line with expectations, as the Company has been compensated by the Danish state for losses due to COVID-19. The Company's operating margin was 22 per cent.
- Metro recorded a total of 73.4 million passengers in 2021, far below the original expectation - but still an increase of approximately 10 million passengers compared to 2020. The state has compensated Metroselskabet for the lost passenger revenue due to the Corona pandemic.
- Metro's Net Promoter Score measures customers' willingness to recommend Metro to others on a scale from -100 to +100. The result for 2021 was +64 and thus on par with 2020. Compared to other public transport and many other industries, Metro's NPS is very high, and this is ensured by delivering the core task; providing customers with fast, high-frequency, reliable and sustainable transport around the clock.
- In 2021, the Metro maintained a high level of overall operational stability at 99.3 per cent. Operational stability is calculated as actual departures running in accordance with planned departures, and the stability exceeded the target of 98 per cent, which was also an improvement from 2020, when the figure was 99.1 per cent.
- At the end of 2021, contractors on the M4 Sydhavn began laying track and installing electrical and mechanical systems as well as equipping the stations with wall panels, lighting etc. Work will continue in 2022 before the expected test runs can begin in 2023. The new metro line will be 4.5 kilometres long, have five stations and is expected to carry around 9 million passengers per year by 2030. The extension of the M4 line will run from Copenhagen Central Station to København Syd and is expected to open its doors to passengers in 2024 as planned.
During the pandemic lockdowns, Metro's main task was to ensure safe transport for the approximately 200,000 daily passengers who, despite working from home and restrictions, needed to get around quickly and safely.
‘The challenges of the Corona pandemic have naturally left their mark on our activities and results here at Metroselskabet, but approximately 200,000 passengers still used the Metro every day in 2021. Passenger numbers have been about half of what was expected, which is why we are grateful that we have been compensated by the state for the missing passenger revenue. We are also confident that we will see a return of passengers, as we continue to enjoy very high passenger satisfaction,’ says Jørn Neergaard Larsen, Chairman of the Board of Metroselskabet.
A total of 73.4 million passengers travelled on the Metro in 2021, and although this is far below what The Company had expected, it was still 10 million more passengers than in 2020. In total, more than 1 billion passengers have now travelled on the Metro since it opened in 2002, and passenger growth has continued into 2022.
‘As soon as the restrictions are removed, we can see that passengers are returning to the Metro when travelling to and from work or education or around the city in general. The Metro plays an important role for many thousands of people who want to contribute to a more sustainable city and better air quality every day,’ says Jørn Neergaard Larsen.
The Metro operator ensured a high level of operational stability in 2021, and passengers responded with a very high level of user satisfaction.