South Line (Denmark)
| South Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Native name | Sydbanen | ||
| Owner | Banedanmark | ||
| Termini |
| ||
| Stations | 9 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | High-speed rail | ||
| Operator(s) | DSB | ||
| History | |||
| Planned opening | 2024 (partial) 2027 (whole) | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 142.3 km (88.4 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| Operating speed | 200 km/h (125 mph) | ||
| Signalling | ERTMS | ||
| |||
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.
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. From 2020 until 2028 trains go only to Nykøbing, with frequent closures due to rebuilding.