Øresund platforms and pedestrian tunnel under the tracks

Rules for compensation on Copenhagen South

Working at different times

In connection with the construction of platforms for the Øresund trains and the pedestrian tunnel under the Øresund railway, some of the work will be carried out outside normal working hours. Some of the work is also noisy.

Different legal bases

The construction of the Øresund platforms and the pedestrian tunnel under the Øresund Railway are being carried out under two different legal bases, and therefore there is also a difference in whether the noisy work outside normal working hours entitles you as a neighbour to compensation.

The construction of the Øresund platforms is carried out for Banedanmark and is regulated by the Railway Act. The construction of the pedestrian tunnel under the Øresund railway at Følager is regulated by the Cityring Act.

The Cityring Act includes the Neighbourhood Package Order, which is specific to the Cityring Act - and it is this that allows for compensation.

So there is noisy work going on simultaneously, some of which entitles someone to compensation and some of which does not. It may seem confusing, but it is the legal basis that determines whether the noisy work qualifies for compensation or not.

Noise from the construction of platforms for the Øresund railway

Noise from the construction of platforms for the Øresund Line, which is carried out for Banedanmark and in accordance with the Danish Railway Act. Railway Act, is regulated by the City of Copenhagen's building and construction regulations. This states that noisy work may only take place on weekdays Monday to Friday between 7am-7pm and Saturdays 8am-5pm.

These works are not covered by the Cityring Act and the Neighbourhood Package Order, which is why they are not eligible for compensation.

When construction work requires noisy work outside these periods, an exemption from the regulation must be sought from the City of Copenhagen's environmental authority. The construction work requires that exemptions are granted on an ongoing basis so that the work can be carried out in full during track closure periods and to minimise the disruption to train traffic.

During periods when we have dispensation to work outside the above times, we will inform you in advance.

Noise from the construction of a pedestrian tunnel under the Øresund railway

The construction of the pedestrian tunnel under the Øresund Line is carried out under the Cityring Act. The working hours and noise limits for this construction are regulated by the Construction Site Order, which means that compensation to the neighbours will be paid based on the rules in the Neighbour Package Order. The limits in the Construction Site Order relate to the average value for noise over the noisiest ½ hour at night, the noisiest 1 hour in the evening and the noisiest 8 consecutive hours during the day, which can be seen in the noise measurements as 3 light blue areas on the graph. This means that loud noises or peaks can easily be measured without exceeding the limits. In addition, there are individual cases where work can be carried out for short periods during the evening or night hours without the residents of the metro construction sites being entitled to compensation, cf. Appendix 3E of the Construction Site Order and Appendix 2E of the associated amending order. These one-off works will be notified in advance by SMS to the publicly available mobile phone numbers in the area.

Evening and night-time noise rules

  • During the evening and night period (18:00-7:00), Metroselskabet's contractor must always carry out work with an average noise level of 40 dB(A).
  • The Neighbourhood Package Order states that compensation is paid to a household if the permissible noise level at the household's façade with window is calculated to exceed 60 dB(A) in the evening hours (18:00-22:00) or 55 dB(A) at night (22:00-07:00).
  • Daytime work (7:00-18:00) does not qualify for compensation. The noise limits are average noise levels.

Compensation

Compensation is paid based on the calculated permissible noise level, which appears from the noise maps prepared under the Construction Site Order.
See the noise maps for Copenhagen South.

The permitted noise during the different construction phases may vary and for each construction period we clarify which households are eligible for compensation. If you are eligible for compensation, Metroselskabet will send you a letter with an offer of compensation or an information letter regarding the activation of an already signed offer.

You will automatically hear from us if you are eligible for compensation for a period of time.

Overruns
Regardless of whether the work is carried out according to the Railway Act or the Cityring Act, the City of Copenhagen is the environmental authority that continuously follows up on any exceedances. If the contractor exceeds the permitted noise level, the environmental authority must report it in order to reduce the noise level.

It does not change whether you are eligible for compensation or the amount of compensation you receive.