COWI-Arup JV to help halve carbon footprint of Copenhagen’s newest metro line

Metroselskabet appoints COWI-Arup joint venture to lead design, environmental impact assessment and utility relocations of the new M5 low-carbon metro line

Sustainability drives the design of this new metro line, which aims to reduce the overall carbon footprint by 50% compared with the city’s existing lines, while prioritising the passenger experience and safety to enhance sustainable mobility across the city of Copenhagen.

In the first phase, the joint venture will develop the concept design and carry out an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to assess the possible effects of the development on residents’ health, examining noise pollution and vibration, and any likely impacts on local biodiversity – land, soil, water, air – and, the city’s cultural heritage.

The proposed engineering and architectural design for the M5 design consists of 10 stations running from Copenhagen Central Station via Islands Brygge, Amagerbrogade and Refshaleøen all the way to Lynetteholm and Østerport, as well as a bifurcation chamber to prepare for a potential Øresund metro line. The infrastructure will also safeguard a possible future extension of the line to close the ring between Østerport and Copenhagen Central.

The EIA will consider all relevant environmental aspects of the chosen alignment, stations, and reasonable alternatives, advising on utility relocation and the design of civil works. Once the concept design is completed, the team will develop the reference design and follow the project through the procurement process alongside Metroselskabet.

The new M5 metro line will serve existing areas of the capital as well as new districts, also helping to relieve congestion on the M1/M2 harbour crossing and provide sustainable mobility connection into the emerging urban districts of Kløverparken, Refshaleøen and Lynetteholm.

“We are thrilled and privileged to be part of the M5 team to jointly develop Copenhagen’s next metro line for the city’s many residents. The project is highly ambitious when it comes to its vision for sustainability, and innovation and digitalisation will be core elements as we design new solutions without compromising the customer experience or safety. We want to significantly reduce the carbon footprint and set new standards for tomorrow’s metros,” says Flemming Billeskov Nissen, Project Director at COWI.

“The new M5 metro line will set new climate standards and contribute to a greener future for Copenhagen. We look forward to working with our partners on this visionary project, which builds on our expertise in the design and development of sustainable transport systems in Copenhagen, to design a stunning, efficient, and safe passenger experience that will take the world’s best metro to the next level,” says Alison Norrish, Project Director at Arup.