The Metro reaches one billion passengers
Timeline for the Metro in Copenhagen
- On a typical week, the Metro accounts for more than two million journeys. Shortly into 2022, the Metro reached a total of 1 billion journeys. In addition to the many passenger journeys, the Metro has also transported approximately 700,000 large dogs (small dogs travel free) - AND 1 horse!
- The Metro opened on 19 October 2002 with transport between Nørreport and Vestamager (M1) and Nørreport and Lergravsparken (M2).
- In 2003, the lines were extended from Nørreport to Frederiksberg and later that year from Frederiksberg to Vanløse.
- In 2007, line M2 was extended from Lergravsparken to Copenhagen Airport.
- In 2009, the Metro began operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, something few Metro systems in the world can offer its passengers.
- In 2019, the M3 line opened, connecting the city centre, Vesterbro, Frederiksberg, Nørrebro and Østerbro.
- The Metro last set a new passenger record (measured in one day) on 29 November 2019 with just over 530,000 passengers - a few months before the corona pandemic hit Denmark.
- In 2020, after the M4 opened from Orientkaj across Nordhavn and via the M3 line to Copenhagen Central Station.
- The M4 line will be extended in 2024 with five new stations from Copenhagen Central Station to Ny Ellebjerg.
According to forecasts, the Metro in Copenhagen will reach one billion journeys over the next seven years.
The number of passengers travelling on the Copenhagen Metro has been steadily increasing almost since it opened in 2002. With a total of one billion travellers, the Metro has now reached a gigantic milestone.
‘Our Metro is fantastic, and it has helped make Copenhagen the unique city it is today. The Metro is socially and climatically sustainable because it makes it possible to live in a well-functioning city without owning a car and it brings us all closer together. We need a lot more of that in the future,’ says Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen.
The popularity of the Metro has led to two new lines being built since its opening. In 2019, the M3 line M3 opened, and in 2020, line M4 opened - all four lines have driverless operation, around the clock, all year round. A system that has inspired metro systems abroad and is also being considered for the S-train in Denmark.
‘One billion journeys in just under 20 years - that's impressive. Thank you to all of you who travel by public transport. And not least, a billion thanks to the Metro's employees for ensuring that the Metro keeps running smoothly to the delight of Metro passengers all year round,’ says Minister of Transport Benny Engelbrecht.
Frederiksberg Municipality's newly elected mayor sees the Metro as a great asset for his city and the capital in general. A sustainable form of transport that makes the city a better place to live.
‘It's a huge milestone that the Metro is now reaching one billion travellers. The Metro is easy to combine with walking or cycling, and in this way you help ensure better air quality in our city by travelling sustainably. That's why we need even more Metro in the coming years - also in Frederiksberg,’ says Michael Vindfeldt, Mayor of Frederiksberg Municipality.
In 2024, the Metro's M4 line will be extended southwards when five new Metro stations open between Copenhagen Central Station and Ny Ellebjerg. An extension of line M4 towards Ydre Nordhavn and a completely new line M5 are also on the drawing board. For the benefit of the many Metro passengers today - and in the future.
‘I would like to say a billion thanks to our passengers. We are building the Metro, not because we can, but because it will be used by all of you who go to work, school, etc. It is with you in mind that we go to work every day - both when we build the Metro and when we make the Metro run around the clock, all year round,’ says Henrik Plougmann Olsen, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Metroselskabet.