Klampenborgbanen

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Klampenborgbanen is the shortest (13.3 km from København H) of six radial S-Train lines in Copenhagen. It runs parallel to the Kystbanen regional line from central Copenhagen until Klampenborg, and serves residential neighbourhoods in eastern Gentofte as well as popular recreational destinations at Klampenborg such as Dyrehavsbakken and Jægersborg Dyrehave.

[edit] Stations

Name Services Opened S-trains Comments
København H C November 30, 1911 May 15, 1934 Central station; also all other radials
Vesterport C May 15, 1934 Also all other radials
Nørreport C July 1, 1918 May 15, 1934 Also all other radials; transfer to metro
Østerport C August 2, 1897 May 15, 1934 Also all other radials; named Østerbro until 1934
Nordhavn C May 15, 1934 Also Farum and Hillerød radials
Svanemøllen C May 15, 1934 Also Farum and Hillerød radials
Hellerup C, F+ July 22, 1863 March 4, 1934 Also Hillerød radial; transfer to ring line; bus terminal
Charlottenlund C, F+ July 22, 1863 March 4, 1934
Ordrup C, F+ May 1, 1928 March 4, 1924
Klampenborg C, F+ July 22, 1863 March 4, 1924

[edit] Service patterns

The basic service on the Klampenborg radial is service C. On weekdays until about 19:00 it is supplemented with service F+, which is a ring line service south of Hellerup.

Before 1979 the main service to Klampenborg was service A.

[edit] History

Klampenborgbanen opened in 1863 as a branch line from Nordbanen. The branch was completed several months ahead of the main line, because the private railway company wanted to profit as much as possible from the summer season of 1863. The line was primarily a "picnic railway"; its terminus at Klampenborg was close to the attractions such as Dyrehavsbakken amusement park, the Jægersborg Dyrehave forest and the Bellevue beach. The expectations were met: the railway was an immense success from day one.

The original route south of Hellerup was different from the current one; see Nordbanen for details. In 1897 Klampenborgbanen between Hellerup and Klampenborg became part of Kystbanen from Copenhagen to Helsingør. Over the years it became difficult to run both the local trains to Klampenborg and the Helsingør trains on the same two tracks, and a dedicated local double track from Hellerup to Klampenborg was built in 1928.

Because of the large outing traffic (as late as 1950 Sundays were far busier than weekdays on the Klampenborg branch) Klampenborgbanen was a natural first choice when the decision to electrify the local rail traffic around Copenhagen was taken, and the first S-trains ran in 1934. Since then little has changed. As much of the population has moved out from the city center the Sunday traffic has become less important, but at the same time the line has gained a modest commuter patronage on weekdays.