Copenhagen Metro is one of the youngest subways in the world. It is hard to imagine, but until 2002, this capital did without such a transport. Therefore, to date, the Copenhagen metro is very short and has only 22 stations.
This is the only subway in Denmark. It serves the city itself, its agglomeration, as well as the surrounding communities - Thornby and Frederiksberg. Despite its "young age", the Danish metro was recognized in 2008 as the best in Europe.
Location of the Danish capital
Before talking about the subway, you need to start with where Copenhagen is located. This largest city of Denmark is located on the territory of two large islands - Zealand and Amager.
Historically, it is located near the strait with a neighboring country, Sweden, which determined its fame at first as a trading city, and then the capital. Within Copenhagen there are plenty of rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs, not to mention the sea!
The islands are connected to each other by several bridges on which transport runs. The Öresund Strait connects the Baltic and North Sea. In addition, there are many more artificial islands within the city.
How to build
Back in the 90s of the last century, Denmark faced the problem of building underground public transport. The first subway tunnels began to be laid in 1997 with two Wert shields. They had female names - “Liva” and “Betty”. The subway itself was not built too deeply.
Tunnels are laid 20 or 30 meters from the surface. There are many land plots. After all, if you look at where Copenhagen is located, you can see that it consists of islands. Therefore, it was necessary that trains could also go along bridges connecting different areas.
The first cars for this metro were built in Italy. In 2000, they were tested, and in 2001, tunneling of underground tunnels was completed. By 2002, all metro stations had already been built.
In October of that year, the first section of the subway opened. Currently, 10 kilometers of rails are laid below the surface, and 11 pass outside and along overpasses.
Public transportation system
The capital of Denmark is well suited for tourists and citizens who do not have cars or do not want to use them outside the countryside. Public transport in Copenhagen is a system of buses, railways and subways. All of them serve not only the city itself. Thus, you can move around the so-called Greater Copenhagen, that is, a community with that name.
Buses run from the city center to the surrounding and sleeping areas; stops are marked with yellow signs. There are day and night routes.
There are even bus-boats with which you can move around the canals. In the vicinity, it is best to travel by commuter trains. Tourists believe that traveling around the capital by public transport is a pleasure.
Copenhagen Metro: opening hours
The underground of the capital of Denmark, although small, is very convenient for tourists in every way. She works around the clock, seven days a week. The difference exists only in the range of motion.
During the day, trains run every 4-5 minutes, and at night 15 (on weekends) and 20 (on weekdays). Although, it happens, you have to wait up to half an hour. At peak hours, that is, from seven to ten in the morning and from three to six in the evening, the intervals between trains are reduced to 2 minutes.
The trains
Copenhagen metro cars, as mentioned above, were designed by Italian designers. And this project was recognized so successful that it was decided to use the same trains in the transport systems of Milan and Rome, as well as in Thessaloniki (Greece).
Each train has three wagons. They are articulated so that passengers can move from one to another. The maximum speed is up to 80 kilometers per hour. Each composition can fit 300 people. 100 seats - seated, there are also areas for people with disabilities, as well as passengers with strollers, bicycles or large luggage.
On each side of the train there are six doors equipped with a system that prevents the train from starting if one of them is not closed. There are also two displays in the cars, which contain information about the next station, as well as which bus or commuter train you can take.
Lines and stations
The Copenhagen subway consists of only two lines. Their length is only 21 kilometers. In the Copenhagen metro map, these branches are indicated by yellow and green colors. This year, two more lines will be opened in the Danish capital, which will connect the stations in a ring.
Now let's see how the branches are located. The green line, or the M1 on the map, connects the central Vanles station and the suburb of Erestad. It is located on the island of Amager. The final station is called Westamager.
The yellow line is indicated on the Copenhagen metro map as M2. It also begins in the center, on the Vanles. This line almost coincides with the green line to the Christianshown station.
Then they fork, and M2 goes to the airport. The terminal station is called "Lufthown." There is an exit to Terminal 3 of Kastrup Airport.
Out of 22 stations, only nine are underground. Therefore, some confuse regional trains and subway cars. Because sometimes their stations are interconnected.
Zones and Cost
Subway branches are divided into zones. At each stop you can see which sector you are in. There are 9 zones in the city. The metro covers four of them. For travel within the city center, two zones are enough.
The third sector is the shopping center on Amager and the artificial Strand beach. But if you want to get to the airport, you will already need the fourth zone. About this part of the city is covered by the metro.
The effect of the ticket and its cost depends on the number of zones. Metro in Copenhagen is loved by families with children. Younger passengers under 12 years old can travel there for free. But adults pay 24 crowns (237 rubles) for one ticket for two zones.
This is a basic travel document. Its duration is 60 minutes. With this ticket you can change to any type of public transport. The main thing is not to exceed the time limit.
Prices for other tickets
If you stayed for several days in Copenhagen and expect to travel often, including to the airport, it is better to buy a Citypass. It will be much cheaper for you. Some of these tickets are valid for a day and cost 80 CZK or 790 rubles.
A ticket for 72 hours will cost 200 crowns (1974 rubles). Supervisors often walk the subway, so it’s better not to ride with a hare. If you are caught, you will pay a fine of 750 crowns (7400 rubles).
Do you want to have a ticket to all areas with the possibility of transfer to different types of public transport? Then buy a travel document for 108 CZK (1066 rubles). Children under 16 pay half the price of an adult ticket.
If you are traveling with a dog or a bicycle, you will have to buy a ticket for them at a special rate. But if your pet fits in a cage or bag, you can carry it for free. At night - from one to five in the morning - there is a double tariff.
How to use the Copenhagen metro
First of all, you need to buy tickets. They are sold at vending machines or at the box office. You can buy them both with a card and cash.
You need to go down to the Copenhagen metro in special glass elevators that can accommodate 10 people, as well as in the usual way - on stairs and escalators. Passenger flows of people who enter the subway, due to a successful layout, do not intersect, so the flea market is not created.
A one-time ticket must be validated in the validator. They are easy to recognize by their yellow color. Validators are located in the lobby of the stations or at the entrance to the platform. The second option occurs when the subway is laid above the ground.
The platforms are separated from the tunnels by a wall of transparent material, therefore it is impossible to fall from it into the tunnel, and even more so to fall. When a train approaches, its doors and partitions are parted in sync.
At the central stations special stewards are on duty who monitor the order. Near each exit there is a parking for bicycles.
Dogs must not be transported in the first six places of the car, as well as in its tail. This space is reserved for allergy sufferers.
Specificity
Copenhagen's subway has also been recognized as the best in Europe for safety and comfort. It is fully computerized. Trains move and operate without the participation of the driver.
Automation almost completely eliminates errors inherent in the human factor, and is also responsible for accelerating and braking compositions. Each station has special monitoring systems, video surveillance and alarm systems.
Fire safety is also on top. All trains are made of materials that do not burn and do not emit toxins. Glass pyramids that stand at the stations and emit daylight also serve as spindles that will automatically remove smoke if a fire suddenly arises.
Any Copenhagen subway tunnel is equipped with safe footpaths if you have to suddenly evacuate passengers. Every 20 meters there is a sign that shows the direction to the safe emergency exit.
On the platforms there are stands for emergency communication with the attendants, as well as background information.
Where to get on the subway
Travelers come to Copenhagen for a different purpose - on business, visiting relatives and relatives, and also want to see the sights that all the guidebooks tell about - the Little Mermaid sculpture, Hristianborg Palace, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts ...
Many people prefer to walk around the city on foot. It’s really better to go to most places of interest on your own or on the bus. And where can you get closer on the subway?
First of all, to the monument to the Little Mermaid. You board the Norreport station and get off at Osterport. From there, go to the promenade and then follow the signs. Not far from there is the Castellet fortress and the Gefion fountain. But it’s better to get to the train station by suburban train.
Reviews and about the work of the subway in the Danish capital and useful tips
Most travelers consider the Copenhagen metro to be the safest and most high-tech. Although it is not too branched, it is fast, convenient and modern. Stations are very easy to recognize by silver columns with the letter “M”.
On platforms there is a board on which it is displayed when a train of one or another branch departs. Since the train without a driver, it is very exciting to sit near the windshield and look forward.
When buying tickets, you need to correctly select the number of zones. If in doubt, it is best to ask the metro worker. They can be fined not only for the lack of a ticket, but also for an incorrectly defined number of zones.
When you buy a travel document in the machine, you must first select the sector where you are going. Then you will see the cost of the trip and you can "feed" money to the hole or insert a payment card.
Although getting lost in the Danish metro is completely impossible, do not forget that it is combined with the S-ban suburban train system. Tourists are also advised to be careful when traveling to the Copenhagen hub and not to confuse the Kastrup station with access to the airport.