Banedanmark to renew overhead line system on busy S-train section

In 2026, Banedanmark will begin replacing the worn-out overhead line system on one of the S-train network’s busiest sections between Nordhavn and Svanemøllen Station. The project is the first phase of a larger renewal of the overhead line systems between Østerport and Holte, which will run from 2026 to 2029.

The replacement includes masts, mast foundations and overhead wires, which will be upgraded to modern standards. With approximately 500 trains passing through Svanemøllen Station every day, this is a key section of the Capital Region’s S-train network.

-“About 500 trains pass through Svanemøllen Station every day, so it is important that the overhead line systems are up to date and modern. The S-train network is among the most efficient urban rail systems in the world, and with the new overhead line systems, which have a service life of 50 years, the section will be ready for future train operations on a very central route for the Greater Copenhagen area,” says Banedanmark project manager Reyhaneh Razeghi Hosseini.

The work will begin in January 2026 and is expected to be completed in September the same year. During certain periods, the work will cause noise nuisance for neighbours living near the railway. The foundations for the new masts will be driven into the ground, as this has been chosen as the most gentle method in terms of noise and vibrations.

-“There will be noise when the foundations for the new overhead line masts are installed. Due to the central location of the section, with many neighbours and nearby buildings, we are driving the mast foundations into the ground, as this is the most gentle method with regard to noise and vibrations. It cannot be avoided that neighbours will be able to hear the work, but overall it has been planned so that it disturbs neighbours and passengers as little as possible. In return, S-train passengers will benefit from a new and future-proof overhead line system once the work is completed,” says Reyhaneh Razeghi Hosseini.

To minimise the impact on train operations, the work will primarily be carried out during evening and night hours as well as on weekends and public holidays. This may result in changes to the timetable, and Banedanmark therefore encourages passengers to check Rejseplanen, which is continuously updated. So far, changes in the evening hours have been registered up to and including week 5.