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{{short description|none}}
:''This article is part of the [[history of rail transport by country]] series''
{{refimprove|reason=In-line citations to the sources are needed. Contradictory information needs to be corrected.|date=October 2014}}
[[File:Denmark Railways 1932 DSB.JPG|thumb|Railways in Denmark in 1932 <br>(DSB lines shown in red)]]
{{multiple image
The '''history of rail transport in Denmark''' began in 1847 with the opening of a railway line between [[Copenhagen]] and [[Roskilde]]. The [[Kiel]]-[[Altona, Hamburg|Altona]] line in [[Holstein]] was completed three years earlier, but the region had been lost to the [[German Confederation]] in the [[Second War of Schleswig]].
| footer = A large part of the main railway lines in Denmark has been steadily privatized and outsourced from state owned (red) to privately owned (green) over the years, in particular in the 1990s. During this process, many lines have been abandoned.
| align = right


| image1 = Denmark Railways 1932 DSB.JPG
The Danish national railway company, [[Danske Statsbaner|DSB]], was established in 1885. Until recently, DSB administered most aspects of rail operations in Denmark proper, but the politically decided [[privatization]] efforts during the 1990s, has resulted in several local lines and tasks being [[outsourcing|outsourced]] into a number of privately owned companies. The multinational company of [[Arriva]], is currently among the largest of these, operating c. 17% of the Danish rail network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arriva.co.uk/arriva/en/business_activities/transport_services/denmark/|title=Arriva Denmark|publisher=Arriva plc|accessdate=4 October 2014}}</ref>
| width1 = 200
| alt1 = DSB 1932
| caption1 = Major railway lines in 1932.

| image2 = DK 2018 DSB.png
| width2 = 200
| alt2 = DSB 2018
| caption2 = Major railway lines in 2018.
}}
The '''history of rail transport in Denmark''' began in 1847 with the opening of a railway line between [[Copenhagen]] and [[Roskilde]]. The [[Kiel]]-[[Altona, Hamburg|Altona]] line in [[Holstein]] was completed three years earlier, but the region was later lost to the [[German Confederation]] in the [[Second War of Schleswig]].

The Danish national railway operator, [[Danske Statsbaner|DSB]], was established in 1885. Until recently, DSB administered most aspects of rail operations in Denmark proper, but the politically decided [[privatization]] efforts during the 1990s, has resulted in several local lines and tasks being [[outsourcing|outsourced]] to a number of privately owned companies. The multinational company of [[Arriva]], is currently among the largest of these, operating c. 17% of the Danish rail network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arriva.co.uk/arriva/en/business_activities/transport_services/denmark/|title=Arriva Denmark|publisher=Arriva plc|accessdate=4 October 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914193347/http://www.arriva.co.uk/arriva/en/business_activities/transport_services/denmark/|archivedate=14 September 2008}}</ref>


==Early steps==
==Early steps==
In the 1830s, England and North Germany planned to construct a railway line between the cities of [[Hamburg]] and [[Lübeck]] to ease transport between the [[North Sea]] and the [[Baltic Sea]]. The Copenhagen government frowned on this, as they wanted to retain waterway traffic through [[Oresund]], but to preempt these efforts, the Danish government set up the first Danish railway commission in 1835 to establish the layout of a railway line through the Duchy of [[Holstein]]. Consequently, the railway between [[Altona, Hamburg|Altona]] and [[Kiel]] was opened by King [[Christian VIII of Denmark|Christian VIII]] on September 18, 1844. However, the Duchy of Holstein was only in [[personal union]] with Denmark, with the King of Denmark being Duke of Holstein, and as a result of the [[Second War of Schleswig]], Holstein was ceded to the [[German Confederation]] in 1864. The railway line was not the first in what constituted Denmark at the time (as Holstein was part of the German Confederation), but it was nonetheless the first to be built under the Danish monarchy.
In the 1830s, England and North Germany planned to construct a railway line between the cities of [[Hamburg]] and [[Lübeck]] to ease transport between the [[North Sea]] and the [[Baltic Sea]]. The Copenhagen government frowned on this, as they wanted to retain waterway traffic through [[Øresund]], but to preempt these efforts, the Danish government set up the first Danish railway commission in 1835 to establish the layout of a railway line through the Duchy of [[Holstein]]. Consequently, the railway between [[Altona, Hamburg|Altona]] and [[Kiel]] was opened by King [[Christian VIII of Denmark|Christian VIII]] on 18 September 1844. However, the Duchy of Holstein was only in [[personal union]] with Denmark, with the King of Denmark being Duke of Holstein, and as a result of the [[Second War of Schleswig]], Holstein was ceded to the [[German Confederation]] in 1864. The railway line was not the first in what constituted Denmark at the time (as Holstein was part of the German Confederation), but it was nonetheless the first to be built under the Danish monarchy.


In 1840, technician [[Søren Hjorth]] and accountant [[Johan Christian Gustav Schram]] published the paper ''Jærnbane mellem Kjøbenhavn og Roeskilde'', in which they argued that a railway between [[Copenhagen]] and [[Roskilde]] would be profitable. However, there was no further interest in this project until 1841, when cooperation with [[Industriforeningen]] had been established. In 1843, after substantial financial recalculations, they applied for a concession to construct a railway from Copenhagen via Roskilde to a coastal town on West [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]]. This was granted about a year later, albeit not with the same level of governmental economic support as the Kiel-Altona line.
In 1840, technician [[Søren Hjorth]] and accountant [[Johan Christian Gustav Schram]] published the paper ''Jærnbane mellem Kjøbenhavn og Roeskilde'', in which they argued that a railway between [[Copenhagen]] and [[Roskilde]] would be profitable. However, there was no further interest in this project until 1841, when cooperation with [[Industriforeningen]] had been established. In 1843, after substantial financial recalculations, they applied for a concession to construct a railway from Copenhagen via Roskilde to a coastal town on West [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]]. This was granted about a year later, albeit not with the same level of governmental economic support as the Kiel-Altona line.


On July 2, 1844, ''Det Sjællandske Jernbaneselskab'' (The [[Railway Company of Zealand]]) was established with Hjorth and Schram among the board of directors. Amidst considerable resistance from landowners, trouble with unstable labour and excessive expenditures, the economic resources necessary to complete the line were provided, and the Copenhagen-Roskilde line was opened, as the first in Denmark, on June 26, 1847. English engineer [[William Radford (engineer)|William Radford]] led construction. [[Sharp Brothers and Company]], in [[Manchester]], England built the initial batch of locomotives, the first of which was named 'Odin'.
On 2 July 1844 ''Det Sjællandske Jernbaneselskab'' (The [[Railway Company of Zealand]]) was established with Hjorth and Schram among the board of directors. Amidst considerable resistance from landowners, trouble with unstable labour and excessive expenditures, the economic resources necessary to complete the line were provided, and the Copenhagen-Roskilde line was opened, as the first in Denmark, on 26 June 1847. English engineer [[William Radford (engineer)|William Radford]] led construction. [[Sharp Brothers and Company]], in [[Manchester]], England, built the initial batch of locomotives, the first of which was named 'Odin'.


==Expanding the main lines==
==Expanding the main lines==
{{see also|Narrow gauge railways in Denmark}}
{{see also|Narrow gauge railways in Denmark}}
[[File:Kbh ingenioerkasernen.jpg|Railway line in Denmark at the turn of the 1900s|thumb]]
[[File:Kbh ingenioerkasernen.jpg|Railway line in Denmark at the turn of the 1900s|thumb]]
Following ratification of the [[Constitution of Denmark|Danish Constitution]] in 1849, there was political will to improve trade routes to England and provide better connections between Copenhagen and the rest of the country. The primary means for this was to extend the Copenhagen-Roskilde line to [[Korsør]], on the west coast of Zealand. During the 1850s, sufficient funding to extend the line to Korsør was secured, and the new segment was opened on April 26, 1856.
Following ratification of the [[Constitution of Denmark|Danish Constitution]] in 1849, there was political will to improve trade routes to England and provide better connections between Copenhagen and the rest of the country. The primary means for this was to extend the Copenhagen-Roskilde line to [[Korsør]], on the west coast of Zealand. During the 1850s, sufficient funding to extend the line to Korsør was secured, and the new segment was opened on 26 April 1856.


Before the [[First War of Schleswig]], plans had been made in Schleswig to construct a railway from [[Flensburg]], via [[Husum, Germany|Husum]], to [[Tönning]] to limit German influence on trade. However, these plans were hampered by the war and the new political system. In 1852, the construction company [[Peto, Brassey and Betts]] (represented in [[Scandinavia]] by [[Samuel Morton Peto]]) was granted concession to build the line, which opened on October 6, 1854. The railway was very successful, carrying English transit goods until 1857, when the [[Oresund toll]] was abolished.
Before the [[First War of Schleswig]], plans had been made in Schleswig to construct a railway from [[Flensburg]], via [[Husum, Germany|Husum]], to [[Tönning]] to limit German influence on trade. However, these plans were hampered by the war and the new political system. In 1852, the construction company [[Peto, Brassey and Betts]] (represented in [[Scandinavia]] by [[Samuel Morton Peto]]) was granted concession to build the line, which opened on 6 October 1854. The railway was very successful, carrying English transit goods until 1857, when the [[Øresund toll]] was abolished.


=== Zealand ===
=== Zealand ===
The railway lines on Zealand had been constructed by the private "Det Sjællandske Jernbaneselskab" (lit.: ''The Zealandic Railway Company'') until this company was taken over by the state in 1880. This had not been without issues, and in several cases the company refused to build additional lines or make necessary upgrades without financial guaranties. The last lines to be built by this company was “Nordvestbanen” (roughly “The Northwest Line” - Roskilde Holbæk - Kalundborg), and “Sydbanen” (roughly “The South Line” Roskilde Køge Næstved Vordingborg Nykøbing Falster (this last bit on the island of Falster was sold almost as soon as it opened for traffic)).
The first railway lines on [[Zealand]] was constructed by the privately owned company of "Det Sjællandske Jernbaneselskab" DSJ (lit.: ''The Zealandic Railway Company''), until it was taken over by the state in 1880.{{citation needed|reason=The year 1880, does not correspond with information on this page, which claims the company to be on private hands until its merging with "De Jydsk-Fynske Statsbaner" in 1885.|date=October 2014}} This ownership change was not without issues, and in several cases DSJ refused to build additional lines or make necessary upgrades, without financial guaranties. The last lines to be built by DSJ was "Nordvestbanen" (lit.: ''The Northwest Line'') connecting [[Roskilde]], [[Holbæk]] and [[Kalundborg]], and "Sydbanen" (lit.: ''The South Line'') connecting Roskilde, [[Køge]], [[Næstved]], [[Vordingborg]] and [[Nykøbing Falster]]. The last parts of the line on the island of [[Falster]], was sold almost as soon as it opened for traffic.


=== Jutland and Funen ===
=== Jutland and Funen ===
In [[Jutland]] and on [[Funen]], the state decided on a somewhat different approach to built the railways. Here the state financed and owned the lines and infrastructure right from the start, whilst trusting the daily administration of lines and trains to the private company of “Det danske Jernbanedriftsselskab” (lit.: ''The Danish Railway Operations Company''). In 1862, the first line in Jutland was inaugurated, connecting the towns of [[Aarhus]] and [[Randers]]. Other lines criss-crossing Jutland north-south and east-west - including the island of Funen -, soon followed. The last railways to be laid, before major changes were made, connected the north–south mainline on the east coast known as “Den Østjydske Længdebane” (lit.: ''The East Jutlandic Longitude Line'') and the north-south mainline on the west coast known as "Den Vestjydske Længdebane" (lit.: ''The West Jutlandic Longitude Line''). The line connected the towns of [[Lunderskov]] and the new port of [[Esbjerg]] specifically.
In [[Jutland]] and on [[Funen]], the state decided on a somewhat different approach to build the railways. Here the state financed and owned the lines and infrastructure right from the start, whilst trusting the daily administration of lines and trains to the private company of "Det danske Jernbanedriftsselskab" (lit.: ''The Danish Railway Operations Company''). In 1862, the first line in Jutland was inaugurated, connecting the towns of [[Aarhus]] and [[Randers]]. Other lines criss-crossing Jutland north-south and east-west - including the island of Funen -, soon followed. The last railways to be laid, before major changes were made, connected the north–south mainline on the east coast known as "Den Østjydske Længdebane" (lit.: ''The East Jutlandic Longitude Line'') and the north-south mainline on the west coast known as "Den Vestjydske Længdebane" (lit.: ''The West Jutlandic Longitude Line''). The line connected the towns of [[Lunderskov]] and the new port of [[Esbjerg]] specifically.

By 1880, all major railway lines and companies in Denmark proper, had been bought up by the company of "De Jydsk-Fynske Statsbaner" (lit.: ''the Jutlandic – Fuenic State Railways'') owned by the state and the company of "De Sjællandske Statsbaner" on private hands. In 1885 these two companies merged to form the state owned company of "De Danske Statsbaner" (it.: ''the Danish State Railways'') also known as DSB.


== See also ==
By 1880, all major railway lines and companies in Denmark proper, had been bought up by the company of “De Jydsk-Fynske Statsbaner” (lit.: ''the Jutlandic – Fuenic State Railways'') owned by the state and the company of “De Sjællandske Statsbaner” on private hands. In 1885 these two companies merged to form the state owned company of “De Danske Statsbaner” (it.: ''the Danish State Railways'') also known as DSB.
* [[History of rail transport]]
* [[Rail transport in Denmark]]


== References ==
== References ==
Line 31: Line 49:


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Koed, Jan (1997). ''Danmarks Jernbaner i 150 år''. Forlaget Kunst og Kultur. ISBN 87-7600-199-7.
* Koed, Jan (1997): ''Danmarks Jernbaner i 150 år''. Forlaget Kunst og Kultur. {{ISBN|87-7600-199-7}}. {{in lang|da}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.bane.dk/visArtikel.asp?artikelID=256 Danish railway history] from [[Banedanmark]] ''(in Danish)''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050203185250/http://bane.dk/visArtikel.asp?artikelID=256 Danish railway history] from [[Banedanmark]] ''(in Danish)''
* [http://www.dsb.dk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Millennium%2FPage%2FIndholdsside_med_sidemenu_og_introindhold&c=Page&cid=1002806878241 DSB: History and nostalgia] ''(in Danish)''
* [http://www.dsb.dk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Millennium%2FPage%2FIndholdsside_med_sidemenu_og_introindhold&c=Page&cid=1002806878241 DSB: History and nostalgia] ''(in Danish)''
* {{citation |url=http://www.railwaywondersoftheworld.com/denmarks-rail-transport.html |chapter=Denmark's modern transport |title=Railway Wonders of the World |year=1936 |pages=1369-1374 |editor-first=Clarence |editor-last=Winchester }} illustrated description of Denmark's railways in the 1930s
* {{citation |url=http://www.railwaywondersoftheworld.com/denmarks-rail-transport.html |chapter=Denmark's modern transport |title=Railway Wonders of the World |year=1936 |pages=1369–1374 |editor-first=Clarence |editor-last=Winchester }} illustrated description of Denmark's railways in the 1930s


{{History of rail transport in Europe}}
{{History of rail transport in Europe}}


[[Category:History of rail transport by country|Denmark]]
[[Category:History of rail transport by country|Denmark]]
[[Category:History of Denmark|Rail transport]]
[[Category:Economic history of Denmark|Rail transport]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Denmark]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Denmark]]
[[Category:History of transport in Denmark|Rail]]

Latest revision as of 22:46, 24 October 2024

DSB 1932
Major railway lines in 1932.
DSB 2018
Major railway lines in 2018.
A large part of the main railway lines in Denmark has been steadily privatized and outsourced from state owned (red) to privately owned (green) over the years, in particular in the 1990s. During this process, many lines have been abandoned.

The history of rail transport in Denmark began in 1847 with the opening of a railway line between Copenhagen and Roskilde. The Kiel-Altona line in Holstein was completed three years earlier, but the region was later lost to the German Confederation in the Second War of Schleswig.

The Danish national railway operator, DSB, was established in 1885. Until recently, DSB administered most aspects of rail operations in Denmark proper, but the politically decided privatization efforts during the 1990s, has resulted in several local lines and tasks being outsourced to a number of privately owned companies. The multinational company of Arriva, is currently among the largest of these, operating c. 17% of the Danish rail network.[1]

Early steps

[edit]

In the 1830s, England and North Germany planned to construct a railway line between the cities of Hamburg and Lübeck to ease transport between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The Copenhagen government frowned on this, as they wanted to retain waterway traffic through Øresund, but to preempt these efforts, the Danish government set up the first Danish railway commission in 1835 to establish the layout of a railway line through the Duchy of Holstein. Consequently, the railway between Altona and Kiel was opened by King Christian VIII on 18 September 1844. However, the Duchy of Holstein was only in personal union with Denmark, with the King of Denmark being Duke of Holstein, and as a result of the Second War of Schleswig, Holstein was ceded to the German Confederation in 1864. The railway line was not the first in what constituted Denmark at the time (as Holstein was part of the German Confederation), but it was nonetheless the first to be built under the Danish monarchy.

In 1840, technician Søren Hjorth and accountant Johan Christian Gustav Schram published the paper Jærnbane mellem Kjøbenhavn og Roeskilde, in which they argued that a railway between Copenhagen and Roskilde would be profitable. However, there was no further interest in this project until 1841, when cooperation with Industriforeningen had been established. In 1843, after substantial financial recalculations, they applied for a concession to construct a railway from Copenhagen via Roskilde to a coastal town on West Zealand. This was granted about a year later, albeit not with the same level of governmental economic support as the Kiel-Altona line.

On 2 July 1844 Det Sjællandske Jernbaneselskab (The Railway Company of Zealand) was established with Hjorth and Schram among the board of directors. Amidst considerable resistance from landowners, trouble with unstable labour and excessive expenditures, the economic resources necessary to complete the line were provided, and the Copenhagen-Roskilde line was opened, as the first in Denmark, on 26 June 1847. English engineer William Radford led construction. Sharp Brothers and Company, in Manchester, England, built the initial batch of locomotives, the first of which was named 'Odin'.

Expanding the main lines

[edit]
Railway line in Denmark at the turn of the 1900s

Following ratification of the Danish Constitution in 1849, there was political will to improve trade routes to England and provide better connections between Copenhagen and the rest of the country. The primary means for this was to extend the Copenhagen-Roskilde line to Korsør, on the west coast of Zealand. During the 1850s, sufficient funding to extend the line to Korsør was secured, and the new segment was opened on 26 April 1856.

Before the First War of Schleswig, plans had been made in Schleswig to construct a railway from Flensburg, via Husum, to Tönning to limit German influence on trade. However, these plans were hampered by the war and the new political system. In 1852, the construction company Peto, Brassey and Betts (represented in Scandinavia by Samuel Morton Peto) was granted concession to build the line, which opened on 6 October 1854. The railway was very successful, carrying English transit goods until 1857, when the Øresund toll was abolished.

Zealand

[edit]

The first railway lines on Zealand was constructed by the privately owned company of "Det Sjællandske Jernbaneselskab" DSJ (lit.: The Zealandic Railway Company), until it was taken over by the state in 1880.[citation needed] This ownership change was not without issues, and in several cases DSJ refused to build additional lines or make necessary upgrades, without financial guaranties. The last lines to be built by DSJ was "Nordvestbanen" (lit.: The Northwest Line) connecting Roskilde, Holbæk and Kalundborg, and "Sydbanen" (lit.: The South Line) connecting Roskilde, Køge, Næstved, Vordingborg and Nykøbing Falster. The last parts of the line on the island of Falster, was sold almost as soon as it opened for traffic.

Jutland and Funen

[edit]

In Jutland and on Funen, the state decided on a somewhat different approach to build the railways. Here the state financed and owned the lines and infrastructure right from the start, whilst trusting the daily administration of lines and trains to the private company of "Det danske Jernbanedriftsselskab" (lit.: The Danish Railway Operations Company). In 1862, the first line in Jutland was inaugurated, connecting the towns of Aarhus and Randers. Other lines criss-crossing Jutland north-south and east-west - including the island of Funen -, soon followed. The last railways to be laid, before major changes were made, connected the north–south mainline on the east coast known as "Den Østjydske Længdebane" (lit.: The East Jutlandic Longitude Line) and the north-south mainline on the west coast known as "Den Vestjydske Længdebane" (lit.: The West Jutlandic Longitude Line). The line connected the towns of Lunderskov and the new port of Esbjerg specifically.

By 1880, all major railway lines and companies in Denmark proper, had been bought up by the company of "De Jydsk-Fynske Statsbaner" (lit.: the Jutlandic – Fuenic State Railways) owned by the state and the company of "De Sjællandske Statsbaner" on private hands. In 1885 these two companies merged to form the state owned company of "De Danske Statsbaner" (it.: the Danish State Railways) also known as DSB.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Arriva Denmark". Arriva plc. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2014.

Sources

[edit]
  • Koed, Jan (1997): Danmarks Jernbaner i 150 år. Forlaget Kunst og Kultur. ISBN 87-7600-199-7. (in Danish)
[edit]