Togfond was originally unveiled in 2013 with the objective of electrifying most of the main line network and substantial reductions in journey times.
With falling oil prices and the current government’s reluctance to invest in rail, Togfond ran into political difficulties last year. However, one political party, which normally supports the government but was part of the original Togfond alliance, has opted to respect the agreement and this will enable the programme to continue, albeit in an amended form.
These revisions have been made because less money is available and new and more detailed costings by Danish infrastructure manager Banedanmark have exposed a 20% increase in prices.
In principle, the revision splits to programme into two phases. The goal of electrification and the one-hour model remains, but the completion date has been pushed back. The postponed sections will be debated again in 2019 after the next general election.
The DKr 15bn ($US 1.84bn) first phase of the programme comprises:
- a 35km high-speed link between Odense and Middelfart (Kauslunde) on the island of Funen (DKr 4.5bn)
- line speed increases between Fredericia and Aalborg (DKr 2.7bn)
- electrification of the Fredericia - Aalborg (Lindholm/Aalborg Airport) line (DKr 5.4bn)
- electrification of the Roskilde - Holbaek - Kalundborg line, the last remaining diesel-operated regional route in the Copenhagen area (DKr 1.2bn)
- Ny Ellebjerg flyover to enable grade separation of passenger trains using the Copenhagen - Ringsted high-speed line and Sweden - Roskilde freight trains, with new platforms on the freight line for a new Roskilde - Copenhagen Airport service (DKr 500m), and
- Improved wi-fi coverage across the network (DKr 100m).
This means the electrification of Aalborg - Frederikshavn and Velje - Herning - Struer lines, the proposed branch to Billund Airport are pushed back into Phase 2. Construction of a new railway bridge across the Velje Fjord and the Skanderborg bypass line south of Aarhus have also been deferred. The latter projects were both important elements of the one-hour plan and key to reducing the journey time between Odense and Aarhus. They would also release capacity for improved regional services along the eastern coast of Jutland.
The national rollout of ERTMS, which to a certain extent, affects the scheduling of Togfonden projects, is already financed and continues as planned, (albeit with delays), as does the plan to purchase new electric trains.
