Native name Vendsysselbanen System Danish railway Number of tracks Single Owner Banedanmark No of tracks Single-track railway Operators DSB, Nordjyske Jernbaner | Type Railway Opened 15 August 1871 Line length 80,700 m No. of tracks Single-track railway Stations 10 | |
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Character Passenger trains
Freight trains Terminis Frederikshavn station, Aalborg station | ||
The Vendsyssel Line or the Vendsyssel Railway (Danish: Vendsysselbanen) is a 80.7 km (50.1 mi) long standard gauge single track railway line in Denmark which runs through the historical region of Vendsyssel between Aalborg and Frederikshavn. It constitutes the northernmost part of Den Østjyske Længdebane, the through route through the Jutland Peninsula from Padborg to Frederikshavn.
Contents
The section from Nørresundby to Frederikshavn opened in 1871. In 1879 the route was continued from Aalborg to Nørresundby over the Limfjord as the Limfjordsbroen railway bridge was inaugurated.
The Vendsyssel line runs north from Ålborg to Hjørring and turns east from there to Frederikshavn, making the rail distance about 80 km, where the road distance is about 60 km. The line is owned and maintained by Rail Net Denmark and served with passenger trains by the Danish State Railways (DSB) and local and freight trains by Nordjyske Jernbaner. The southernmost section from Aalborg to Lindholm is also served by the Aalborg Commuter Rail.
The line has two remaining branch lines: from Hjørring Hirtshalsbanen branches north to the town and ferry port of Hirtshals, and from Frederikshavn Skagensbanen branches north to the town and fishing port of Skagen.
History
Work on the section from Nørresundby to Frederikshavn started in May 1869. It was opened on 16 August 1871 in the presence of King Christian IX. Passengers crossing the Limfjord between Nørresundby station and Aalborg station had two opportunities: a ferry or crossing the pontoon bridge located further east on foot.
On 7 January 1879 the route was continued from Nørresundby to Aalborg as the Limfjordsbroen railway bridge spanning the Limfjord was inaugurated, and the Vendsyssel Line was connected with the Randers-Aalborg Line as well as the rest of the Danish railway network.
In 1972, several stations (including Nørresundby, Sulsted and Tylstrup) were closed. In 2003, however, two new stations Aalborg Vestby (in Aalborg, south of the Limfjord) and Lindholm (in Nørresundby, about 300 metres (980 ft) north of the old station) were opened as part of Aalborg Commuter Rail.
Route
The Vendsyssel line runs north from Aalborg, crossing the Limfjord on a 403 metres (1,322 ft) long bascule bridge, the Limfjord Railway Bridge, to Nørresundby. From Nørresundby it passes west of Lindholm Høje and Hammer hills and continues north to Brønderslev and Hjørring. From Hjørring, the Hirtshals Line branches north to the town and ferry port of Hirtshals. The main line continues east, passing through Tolne hills to its terminus at Frederikshavn. From Frederikshavn, the Skagen Line branches north to the town and fishing port of Skagen.
Operations
The line is owned and maintained by Rail Net Denmark, a government agency under the Danish Ministry of Transport. It is served with InterCity and regional trains by the Danish State Railways (DSB) and local and freight trains by Nordjyske Jernbaner. Since 2003, Aalborg Commuter Rail, operated by DSB, has also served the southernmost section from Aalborg to Lindholm.