Now you can take the world’s most modern tram-train light rail network in Aarhus, Denmark. It is a public transportation network that connects Aarhus with its neighbor villages and towns with a reliable service.
One of the most annoying things that I find when I am visiting a new town without any form of tram service, is that the bus services in bus-only cities and towns often are much harder to understand. Often the maps change and routes are changed without any information known where all of the bus lines are going. Also, it is very easy for the politicians and for the public transportation decision-makers in these cities and towns to change the routes as they seem fit.
So, when I travel around the world. I always look for towns that got a tram, metro, or a trolleybus network. These cities or towns is in my view much better at giving me a nice time there all in all. They all got better air to breathe in and they are less stressful as it is easy to find where the hotel is located based on the tram or metro map.
So, when Aarhus in Denmark decided to introduce a tram-train system I changed my mind about this remarkable city in Denmark completely. In the video above here, you can see how fantastic the new light rail tram-train system is, and in this article I want you to understand the importance of this type of duo tramway system that in my opinion should replace the entire local train mentality everywhere. I believe that such a duo tramway system is the future.
Flexible duo light rail tram train trains in Aarhus Denmark
In Aarhus and the Jutland area around it. The population is around 256,000 inhabitants and the town started to get lots of traffic issues. So the town decided to build its network and the first section opened back in 2017!
Here is the historic dates for Aarhus Light Rail construction
| 21 December 2017 Aarhus H – Aarhus Universitetshospitalet (Skejby) (6.5 km)
| 25 August 2018 Aarhus H – Odder (27 km) and Aarhus Universitetshospitalet – Lisbjergskolen (3.5 km)
| 30 April 2019 Aarhus H – Grenaa via Vestre Strandallé and Lisbjerg – Lystrup
In the beginning, this light rail network had issues with politicians. But once these issues were gone, Aarhus light rail was finally ready to open on the 21st of December 2017. For the light rail route going between Aarhus H and Odder. The tram-trains run to Odder and Lisbjergskolan every 30 minutes.
Because the trams are duo they run both at tramway speeds and local train speeds in the area. In the city center, they follow tram rules while outside of Aarhus they act as local trains without anyone needing to change. Some of the stops outside of the city center of Aarhus are also only signal request stops. So if there is no one at the platform, the tram-trains doesn’t stop on these.
There are Two Light Rail Lines in Aarhus Denmark
In the city center, both L1 and L2 share the stretch between Aarhus H and Skolebakken station. L1 then have one station within the city named Østbanetorvet. L2 has a mild curve to the left and then continues to run as a tram to Lisbjerg Terp.
Here are the L1 and L2 tram sections in Aaarhus
| Dokk 1 (L1 and L2)
| Skolebakken (L1 and L2)
Aarhus H is a light rail station. L1 and L2 tram-train lines divide after Skolebakken station. Then L2 goes to Nørreport (L2) and L1 continues to Østbanetorvet. After this station, L1 runs like a local train. The next station towards Grenaa is Vestre Strandallé and it is quite far.
So, you know! Østbanetorvet is the only station on L1 which is only for L1 as a tram line. Be aware of this. Easy to remember once you know this. What is cool here is that on the way to Vestre Strandallé the tram converts from a tram to a train. Here the speed increase is really noticeable as you can see on the video at the top of this article.
L2 Tram section continues to Lisbjerg Terp
This is the light rail line with the longest tramway section. L2 shares the tramway stations Dokk 1 and Skolebakken before it turns towards Nørreport as I’ve tried to describe in detail below:
| Dokk 1 (L1 and L2)
| Skolebakken (L1 and L2)
| Nørreport (L2)
| Universitetsparken
| Aarhus Universitet
| Stjernepladsen
| Stockholmsgade
| Vandtårnet
| Nehrus Allé
| Olof Palmes Allé
| Aarhus Universitetshospitalet
| GI. Skejby
| Humlehuse
| Klokhøjen
| Lisbjerg Bygade
| Lisbjerskolen | Lisbjerg Terp
It’s important to also know that L2 bypasses Aarhus H main tram-train and local train station. L1 stops here, while continues south to Odder.
Aarhus light rail is a success that other cities in the world should follow
The entire network is really good. All people that live on the outskirts of Aarhus can easily get themselves to the city center of Aarhus or to the other side of the town fast. This remarkable two-line light rail tramway network gives the people in Aarhus so many unique choices.
Also after some waiting. This network is a great income success as people in the area are using it more and more. The entire network project and motivation feels as if it really is there to help the environment in the area. Such duo tramway light rail systems can be found in Karlsruhe, Germany, and Den Haag in The Netherlands also. Aarhus ordered the same light rail tramway wagons as Bergen did and they have done what Bergen hasn’t done still.
The light rail network in Bergen should also be joined with the train network in the area. It would help the humongous car queues in rush hours a lot.
Why having several transit systems when you only need one that can be a tram, a train or even a metro at the same time. The costs building such network would be reduced a lot while all types of passengers gets the help they need to be able to travel around. This includes parents with trolleys and people that must use a wheelchair to get around. Light Rail duo systems are perfect and the system in Aarhus, Denmark shows how it should be.
Perfect!
