DSB
Danske Statsbaner (DSB) is Denmark’s national railway operator and the largest train operating company in Scandinavia. While DSB is responsible for passenger train operation on most Danish railways, infrastructure maintenance and freight transport lie outside its scope. The state-owned operator carried 162 million passengers in 2023 across a 2,600 km network managed by infrastructure owner Banedanmark.
History
DSB was established in 1885 through the merger of two state-owned railway companies: De jysk-fynske Statsbaner (the Jutland-Funen Railways) and De sjællandske Statsbaner (the Zealand Railways). The Danish state had progressively taken over private railway companies since 1867, consolidating the network into a unified national operator by the mid-1880s.
The 1930s marked a period of significant modernisation, with the electrification of Copenhagen’s suburban lines and the introduction of diesel-powered lyntog (lightning trains). The S-train network, which opened in 1934, became Denmark’s first electric railway and remains a cornerstone of Copenhagen’s public transport infrastructure.
The 1990s privatisation reforms fundamentally reshaped DSB’s structure. The freight division, DSB Gods, was merged with DB Cargo in 2001, ending DSB’s involvement in goods transport. Between 2010 and 2017, DSB operated in Sweden but withdrew to focus on Danish services.
Operations
DSB runs regional and intercity trains across all five Danish regions, connecting major cities including Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense, and Aalborg. The company also operates EuroCity services to Hamburg.
The S-train network runs 170 km of electrified track serving the Copenhagen metropolitan area with 87 stations. The system carries approximately 357,000 travellers daily, making it one of Europe’s most intensively used commuter rail networks.
The S-trains run on a separate 1,650V DC overhead system and are managed by the wholly-owned subsidiary DSB S-tog A/S.
DSB recorded 162 million journeys in 2023, representing a 9 per cent increase from 2022. The first two months of 2024 showed continued growth of 7 per cent, with particularly strong performance on S-train services and Great Belt connections.
Market position and challenges
DSB holds dominant market share in Danish rail, though it faces competition from Arriva, which runs several regional routes in Jutland following tender awards in 2003. The company operates as a for-profit corporation with public service obligations defined by contracts with the Ministry of Transport.
The operator is undergoing its most significant fleet renewal in recent history. This is driven by Denmark’s climate commitments: 70 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. Denmark’s rail intensity of 722 passenger-km per capita ranks among the highest in the European Union, creating substantial operational demands on the network.
Infrastructure constraints remain. Denmark is electrifying 1,300 km of track by 2026, but some routes will remain diesel-operated. The government’s decision to delay electrification programmes until the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) rollout is complete has created coordination challenges between signalling and power supply upgrades.
Fleet modernisation
DSB is investing heavily in rolling stock replacement, with contracts worth approximately EUR 3 billion signed since 2020. The flagship procurement is a framework agreement with Alstom for up to 150 IC5 Coradia Stream electric multiple units, valued at DKK 20 billion (EUR 2.7 billion) including 15 years of maintenance. The first 100 trains were ordered in 2021, with an additional 50 confirmed in 2025.
These 200 km/h EMUs will replace aging diesel trains and enter service from 2027.
For international services, DSB ordered 16 Talgo 230 trainsets in three contracts between 2020 and 2023. The trains began testing in 2025 for planned Copenhagen-Hamburg and Aarhus-Hamburg services. The trainsets are hauled by Siemens Vectron locomotives and offer 30 per cent better energy efficiency through lightweight technology.
The locomotive fleet was modernised between 2018 and 2022 with 42 Siemens Vectron electrics (Class EB). These locomotives haul the Talgo trainsets on international routes and replaced older diesel units on electrified domestic services. The transition to a fully electric fleet is scheduled for completion by 2030 as network electrification advances.
Policy relevance
DSB’s transformation reflects broader European trends toward rail decarbonisation and competitive tendering. The company received a EUR 500 million EIB loan in 2022 to support electric train procurement. Denmark’s 70 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 significantly exceeds the EU-wide 55 per cent goal, positioning Danish rail policy at the forefront of climate action.