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City trains to be driver-less by 2030

Christian Wenande
June 12th, 2017


This article is more than 7 years old.

New report documents many benefits for making the transition

The cat’s out of the bag on the driver-less S-train plans (photo: Kasper Høyer Scheel-DSB)

If it’s up to the transport minister, Ole Birk Olesen, the Copenhagen S-trains will be driver-less by 2030.

In a new report that Olesen sent to Parliament, it is argued that a switch to unmanned trains will lead to more affordable and punctual trains, as well as an increase in frequency.

The automatisation of the train line can increase the mobility of society, spurring on growth and productivity without having to compromise on safety. In my mind, there is no doubt that there are real benefits regarding driver-less trains,” said Olesen.

“Driver-less technology on the S-trains will enable significantly more trains than today without costing society more money. It would even be possible to let the trains drive 24 hours a day, as we are already familiar with the Metro. It would be a great benefit to many people.”

READ MORE: How the S-train got its S

F-Line pilot
According to the report, a change to driver-less trains would only require “smaller investments” if the transition were to take place in connection with the purchasing of new trains – which is the plan anyway.

The investments can also be footed using funds acquired through the financial benefits gained from making the switch – such as wage savings on train operators.

The project is expected to be completed between 2022 and 2030 – including an initial pilot phase on the Hellerup-Ny Ellebjerg line, which is also known as the F-Line.

Read the entire report here (in English).


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Moreover, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted to medicating their kids with paracetamol, such as Panodil, before sending them to school.

The FOLA parents’ organisation is shocked by the findings.

“I think it is absolutely crazy. It simply cannot be that a child goes to school sick and plays with lots of other children. Then we are faced with the fact that they will infect the whole institution,” said FOLA chair Signe Nielsen.

Pill pushers
At the Børnehuset daycare institution in Silkeborg a meeting was called where parents were implored not to bring their sick children to school.

At Børnehuset there are fears that parents prefer to pack their kids off with a pill without informing teachers.

“We occasionally have children who that they have had a pill for breakfast,” said headteacher Susanne Bødker. “You might think that it is a Panodil more than a vitamin pill, if it is a child who has just been sick, for example.”

Parents sick and tired
Parents, when confronted, often cite pressure at work as a reason for not being able to stay at home with their children.

Many declare that they simply cannot take another day off, as they are afraid of being fired.

Allan Randrup Thomsen, a professor of virology at KU, has heavily criticised the parents’ actions, describing the current situation as a “vicious circle”.

“It promotes the spread of viruses, and it adds momentum to a cycle where parents are pressured by high levels of sick-leave. If they then choose to send the children to daycare while they are still recovering, they keep the epidemic going in daycares, and this in turn puts a greater burden on the parents.”