The Skagen railway line (Danish: Skagensbanen) is a 39.7 km (24.7 mi) long standard gauge single track railway line between Skagen and Frederikshavn in Vendsyssel, Denmark.[2] The railway links the fishing port and seaside resort of Skagen with the Danish rail network.

Skagen Line
Overview
Native nameSkagensbanen
OwnerNordjyske Jernbaner[1]
Termini
Stations10
Service
TypeRailway
SystemDanish railways
Operator(s)Nordjyske Jernbaner[1]
Rolling stockSiemens Desiro
History
Opened24 July 1890
Technical
Line length39.7 km (24.7 mi)[2]
Number of tracks1
CharacterLocal railway
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
ElectrificationNo
Operating speed100 km/h (62 mph) (Frederikshavn–Hulsig)
120 km/h (75 mph) (Hulsig–Skagen)[2]
Route map

The railway line opened as a narrow gauge railway in 1890 and was converted to standard gauge in 1924. It is currently owned and operated by the railway company Nordjyske Jernbaner (NJ) which runs frequent local train services from Skagen station to Frederikshavn station with onward connections from Frederikshavn to the rest of Denmark.[1]

History

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Work on the railway line started on 26 July 1889, and was completed on 16 March 1890.[3] It was opened on 24 July 1890 in the presence of King Christian IX, Crown Prince Frederik, and the Interior Minister Hans Peter Ingerslev.[4] Operations on the line commenced the following day with two trains daily in each direction.[5]

Until 1924 it was a narrow gauge railway, with a maximum speed of 30 km/h (19 mph).[6] In 1924 the railway line was converted to standard gauge to avoid the need to transfer cargoes of fish in Frederikshavn. As a consequence of the conversion, the layout of Skagen station was extensively changed. As part of the conversion, the right-of-way between Frederikshavn and Rimmen halt was changed so the railway line passed by the coastal town of Strandby instead of the inland village of Elling.[7]

In 2001, the operating company Skagensbanen A/S (SB) merged with Hjørring Privatbaner A/S (HP) to form the railway company Nordjyske Jernbaner (NJ).[8][9] With headquarters in Hjørring, the company is now responsible for running the Hjørring–Hirtshals and Frederikshavn–Skagen lines.[1]

In 2005 the current Siemens Desiro was introduced. The maximum speed is 100 km/h (62 mph) between Frederikshavn and Hulsig and between Skagen and Hulsig the maximum speed is 120 km/h (75 mph).[2]

Route

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Skagensbanen rail tracks at Bunken Plantation

The Skagen line runs north from Frederikshavn, following the tracks of the Vendsyssel Line out of the city. As the Vendsyssel Line branches west towards Hjørring, the Skagen Line continues north following the curve of the coast line of the Ålbæk Bay, serving the towns of Strandby, Jerup and Ålbæk. From Ålbæk the line continues north, passing through Bunken Plantation, Hulsig Heath and Skagen Plantation before passing through the western part of Skagen to reach its terminus in central Skagen.

Operations

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Local trains

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A Nordjyske Jernbaner Siemens Desiro DMU at Strandby station in June 2009

The railway company Nordjyske Jernbaner (NJ) operating in the North Jutland Region runs frequent local train services from Skagen station to Frederikshavn station with onward connections from Frederikshavn to Aalborg and the rest of Denmark.[1]

InterCity service

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For a period in the 1990s there were direct InterCity connections between Copenhagen and Skagen, operated by DSB.

Bus services

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In 2005, NJ replaced the bus connections between Skagen and Frederikshavn with more frequent train connections.

Stations

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Skagen Line
 
38.8
Skagen
 
 
NJ workshop
 
 
to Skagen Havnebane
 
38.0
Frederikshavnsvej
 
Højen
 
Sandmilen
 
28.0
Hulsig
 
24.5
Bunken
 
19.8
Ålbæk
 
15.6
Napstjært
 
13.0
Jerup
 
9.5
Rimmen
 
6.3
Strandby
 
Apholmen
 
 
 
 
to
Frederikshavn
Havnebane
 
DSB workshop
 
0.0
Frederikshavn
 
 
to
Frederikshavn
Havnebane
 
Station Distance from
Frederikshavn (km)
Distance from
Skagen (km)
Remarks
  Skagen 38.8 0
  Frederikshavnsvej 38.0 0.8 opened in 1992
  Hulsig 28.0 10.8
  Bunken 24.5 14.3
  Ålbæk 19.8 19.0
  Napstjært 15.6 23.2
  Jerup 13.0 25.8
  Rimmen 9.5 29.3
  Strandby 6.3 32.5
  Frederikshavn 0 38.8

Previous stations

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See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Om Nordjyske Jernbaner" (in Danish). Nordjyske Jernbaner. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Line information (TIB)" (in Danish). Nordjyske Jernbaner. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  3. ^ Jensen (1976), p. 24; Gregersen et al, p. 10
  4. ^ Jensen (1976), p. 21; Gregersen et al, p. 11
  5. ^ Gregersen et al, p. 11
  6. ^ Jensen (1976), p. 24
  7. ^ Jensen (1976), p. 25
  8. ^ "Nordjyske Jernbaner A/S". Central Business Register (CVR). Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Historien bag Nordjyske Jernbaner" (in Danish). Nordjyske Jernbaner. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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