Premier Rail

Cityringen Metro

Cityringen Metro
Written by Roma Publications

Cityringen Metro: On track

Constructed on the same principles as the existing Copenhagen Metro network, Cityringen is a completely new and exciting metro line for Copenhagen. Once complete, the Cityringen circle line will provide accessibility throughout the capital, through the arrival of a 15.5km underground railway under downtown Copenhagen, the “bridge quarters” and Frederiksberg.

Opening in July 2019, Cityringen will have 17, next generation underground Metro stations.

The stations will follow the now familiar Copenhagen model welcomed by Metro users, ensuring they are spacious, open, subterranean stations with easy access from the street to the platform.

The design draws natural daylight into the stations and the fundamental qualities of the present Metro – the experience of being in a safe, light, airy, well, organised space – will be carried over into the new stations.

 

The design & construction

The design of the Metro fittings in the station area will be taken in new directions. It is imperative that the diversity of the urban spaces into which Cityringen’s stations will be integrated is respected and taken into account. Designers are working on new forms, colours and materials for wall coverings, platforms flooring and fittings such as railings and elevators.

While the existing stations are more or less identical, there will be more variation between the Cityringen stations. Local variations will affect the design of elements, such as stairways and skylights.

In addition to providing the subterranean city space of the Metro with daylight, at some locations, skylights will be designed to functions as integrated and attractive features of the cityscape above ground.

Cityringen Metro is working alongside Cool Construction throughout this construction process. Cool Construction turns construction site hoarding into temporary urban labs for the benefits of neighbours and passers-by.

Cool Construction is financed by the sale of advertising space on dedicated parts of hoardings. The worksite fences have given space to several hundred street artworks all around inner Copenhagen, providing a visually appealing look throughout.

 

New stations

Cityringen’s 17 new metro stations will give the capital 17 new urban spaces. The proposals are the first stages of a long process that will extend over the coming years. They present the overall layout of the areas around the new Metro stations and their function, traffic solutions and landscaping. Later, more work will be done on the urban spaces character and materials, such as their surfacing, illumination, urban furniture and additional landscaping – in brief all of the elements that help to create a good urban space that are exciting to us.

A large number of changes to the city’s gird had to be implemented before work began and this work was undertaken primarily in 2010 and 2011. Around the time, archaeologists from The Museum of Copenhagen worked on what the museum terms “Northern Europe’s largest archaeological excavation to date.”

Once Cityringen’s two new lines, M3 and M4 are in service, passengers will be able to transfer from the existing metro at the Kongens Nytorv and Frederiksberg stations. It will also be possible to transfer to the regional rail and commuter network at Copenhagen Central, Østerport and Nørrebro stations. Cityringen will reduce travel times dramatically. To take just a few examples, a journey from Nørrebro Runddel to Enghave Plads will take seven minutes; from Nørrebro stations to Trianglen, Six minutes; and from Poul Henningsens Plad to Rådhuspladsen, eight minutes.

Building a new circle line at the centre of a large city is not without challenges, with everyone using the city affected in some way. At all times during the construction phase, there will be a number of active construction sites. Construction has meant changes in traffic patterns, bus routes and the retail trade. As Cityringen will have 17 stations, there are 17 construction sites. In addition there are three tunnel construction sites and two tunnel work sites.

For more information about the extensive work taking place on the Cityringen project, please visit: www.m.dk/cityringen

 

 

 

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Roma Publications