South Line (Denmark)

The South Line (Danish: Sydbanen) is a government-owned railway line in Denmark. Technically, the line connects Ringsted with Nykøbing Falster, from which it branches to Gedser and Rødbyhavn. In practice, Ringsted is not the terminal station, so the line is often said to continue to Copenhagen.

South Line
Overview
Native name	Sydbanen
Owner	Banedanmark
Termini	Østerport (formally Ringsted) Nykøbing Falster, Gedser, Rødbyhavn
Stations	9
Service
Operator(s)	DSB
Technical
Line length	142.3 km (88.4 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Route map

The railway is part of the Vogelfluglinie from Copenhagen to Hamburg. On Sydbanen's southwestern end at Rødby, a Scandlines ferry line exists to the German coastal town of Puttgarden, from where the Lübeck–Puttgarden railway and Lübeck–Hamburg railway lead to Hamburg. The Fehmarn Belt Tunnel, to be completed in 2029, will replace the ferry service.[1] From 2020 until 2028 trains go only to Nykøbing, with frequent closures due to rebuilding.

The line is being upgraded to ERTMS, (Køge-)Næstved-Nykøbing in 2021, and the rest in 2028.[2] Furthermore, 55 km of new tracks are being laid, to smooth out curves, allowing for 200 km/h when done. These works are expected to finish in 2021. Afterwards, the line will be electrified, slated for partial introduction in 2024, and completion all the way in 2027 when a new Storstrøm Bridge will open.[3] The railway Nykøbing–Rødby will be in operation only when the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel is opened around 2029.

Stations with passenger stops from Ringsted and southbound are:

• Ringsted
• Glumsø
• Næstved
• Lundby
• Vordingborg
• Nørre Alslev
• Eskilstrup
• Nykøbing Falster
• Rødby Færge, was closed for traffic 2021
• Holeby, will open for traffic 2029

Between Copenhagen and Næstved there are four routes that trains can use:

• over Roskilde and Ringsted
• over Roskilde and Haslev
• over Køge North and Ringsted (as of 2023 most used)
• over Køge North and Haslev