Denmark trains - are these interchange times doable?

[FormerBritInMe]

On a Sunday in November my wife and I will be traveling from Hirsthals DK to Copenhagen. This requires 3 changes of train (Hjoerring, Aalborg Vestby, and Aarhus) with interchanges of 12, 8, and 7 minutes respectively. I do not know if these are simple cross platform connections or more involved. They appear at least to all be in the same stations.

I have no experience with trains in Denmark and wondered if trains there are dependable enough to schedule a trip like this. I could wait an hour and take the next train in each case, but then that delays our arrival into Copenhagen to 21:06 instead of 18:06.

 

[Mike395]

All of those should be absolutely fine - Even at Aarhus, comfortably the largest and busiest station you interchange at, you can easily interchange between the furthest platforms in under 5 minutes.

 

[Gloster]

Hjørring: if your train from Hirtshals is a terminator then with bit of luck your will not have to change platforms, but best to be at the front of the arriving train to minimise walking distance.

Aalborg Vestby has two side platforms and it is likely that you won’t have to change platform. Even if you do there appear to be both steps and lifts at the centre of the platform.

Aarhus (*): the train reverses there and there are steps at the middle of the platform and both steps and lifts at the front end of an arriving train.

All these services are hourly so I don’t see why you would be delayed three hours.

* - So it is spelled now: when I lived there it was still Århus.

N.b. It is thirty plus years since I lived and I rarely went as far north as Aalborg.

 

[dutchflyer]

First leg is I think some ´private´ operator, means only NO DSB. IN most newer trains there are screens that will show where connecting trains depart from and an indication of any delay in min.s. If not-conductor will tell.
Or in these new days all those things are also in whatever app they offer.
As such that is not really much different from about any of the west-Europe large train operators. Except K/obenhavn stations tend to be on a smaller scale.
IF you hold through tickets and due to delays in any train you miss a connection, you should be entitled to compensation/money back on the ticket price.

 

[Gloster]

I think that the first two legs will be Nordjyske Jernbaner, the last DSB.

 

[30907]

On a Sunday in November my wife and I will be traveling from Hirsthals DK to Copenhagen. This requires 3 changes of train (Hjoerring, Aalborg Vestby, and Aarhus) with interchanges of 12, 8, and 7 minutes respectively. I do not know if these are simple cross platform connections or more involved. They appear at least to all be in the same stations.

I have no experience with trains in Denmark and wondered if trains there are dependable enough to schedule a trip like this. I could wait an hour and take the next train in each case, but then that delays our arrival into Copenhagen to 21:06 instead of 18:06.

I did that journey a couple of summers ago (though without the change at Aarhus) with no problems apart from the horde of football supporters from Hjoerring

 

[WolvertonWorks]

Are you coming off of a ferry at Hirsthals?
If you are and depending on which ferry line it is it may be quicker to use the station at Lilleheden rather than Hirtshals.

We did Hamburg to Hirtshals last year changing at Hjoerring and somewhere I can't remember offhand and it was fine even though the train from Hamburg was slightly late arriving at the first station we needed to change.

 

[Gloster]

The Kristiansand terminal in Hirtshals is right down the end of Erik Sondrups Vej and Lilleheden, one station out of Hirtshals ‘main’ station, is the nearest stop: it is reached by a delightful walk though an industrial estate. However, Fjordline’s website says there is a shuttle bus to the main station in connection with sailings, but the link doesn’t work. There doesn’t appear to be a pavement all the way and it is very open: just tolerable on a nice day, but expletive awful in poor weather.

I have just found a weekday timetable until 27 May (nothing beyond): 08.15, 11.35 and 18.30. 40 DKK per adult, so have your change ready.

 

[nwales58]

The Kristiansand terminal in Hirtshals is right down the end of Erik Sondrups Vej and Lilleheden ...

Doesn't it depended on which line? The Fjord Line terminal is there, but Color Line is only about 400m from Hirtshals station.

 

[Gloster]

Doesn't it depended on which line? The Fjord Line terminal is there, but Color Line is only about 400m from Hirtshals station.

Yes, Color Line is a few minutes walk from Hirtshals main station.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The Color Line terminal has a long, covered footbridge from the station side of the road over the vehicle park.

 

[FormerBritInMe]

Yes we are arriving on a ferry, the Smyril Line from Iceland.

Using RailEurope I am able to see the itinerary (DSB's site did not, perhaps because a non DSB operator is involved?). However when I try to buy tickets I get a message "Sorry we are not able to confirm your booking". Perhaps it is too soon to reserve for a November trip? I was able to reserve trains on the DB site and Eurostar with no problem.

Thanks for the info on the stations and terminals. I will have to check to see where Smyril docks.

 

[Gloster]

Smyril Line uses the Fjord Line Terminal at Containerkajen 4, at the end of Erik Sondrups Vej (see #8). Buses from the terminal at 12.50 and 13.50 (Sunday) *. I do underline that you ought to make sure you get some Danish small notes or change on the boat if possible for the 40 DKK fare.

* - Times from 07.09.

 

[Mrwerdna1]

I think that the first two legs will be Nordjyske Jernbaner, the last DSB.

Exactly right. Nordjyske Jernbaner operate all rail services north of Aalborg. From there there are usually hourly DSB InterCity Lyn services directly through to Copenhagen, plus one hourly connection to Copenhagen with a transfer in Fredericia.

I think Rail Europe is getting things wrong. FormerBritInMe should be able to make their journey with only two transfers, that being in Hjørring St. and Aalborg Vestby St. So two NJ trains and one DSB train. The DSB InterCity Lyn service from Aalborg to Aarhus H changes route number there, hence the confusion, but carries on directly to Copenhagen. I can confirm, I've done the journey several times.

Yes we are arriving on a ferry, the Smyril Line from Iceland.

Using RailEurope I am able to see the itinerary (DSB's site did not, perhaps because a non DSB operator is involved?). However when I try to buy tickets I get a message "Sorry we are not able to confirm your booking". Perhaps it is too soon to reserve for a November trip? I was able to reserve trains on the DB site and Eurostar with no problem.

Thanks for the info on the stations and terminals. I will have to check to see where Smyril docks.

That might be because you cannot reserve your seat on NJ services or perhaps it is indeed too far in the future. DSB only allows you to book 3 months in advance I think.

Denmark's ticketing system is unfortunately a bit convoluted and tourist unfriendly. Basically all Danes use a pay-as-you-go smart card for their journeys (regardless of the operator) called RejseKort. There is now also a mobile app which works in much the same way. As far as I am aware, the new mobile app is available to everyone, but the physical card is only available to locals. You can still get regular single, return or day tickets, but sometimes only through the app of the respective local operator, or on paper, but only select places. It's a bit of a mess.

So my recommendations are:

1) For long distance trips book online via. DSB's website. They also offer discounted tickets (Orange Billeter), though with no refund. In case of delay or cancellation, it is valid for the train directly before and after the booked service. And, in my experience, DSB train crew tend to be quite understanding and forgiving. Regular tickets are valid on the day of travel (04.00 AM until 03:59 AM next day). So if you miss a train or would like to take an earlier or later train, no problem.

2) If you're not adverse to tech, I'd recommend using the RejseKort App when wanting to travel flexibly (i.e. in and around Copenhagen for instance). Here you only need to check in once at the start and then check out at the end of the journey. If you're planning to travel a lot by public transport, consider the 24h, 48h or 72h passes for either Copenhagen City (zones 1-4) or Greater Copenhagen (zones 1-99). Those can be bought at metro stations and major train stations as physical paper tickets or in the DOT app.

3) For all journey planning within Denmark, use Rejseplanen: https://rejseplanen.dk/ - It is the most comprehensive journey planner and will show you precise information on the route (such as which platform your train is leaving from) and possible disruption, delays or diversions. There is also a mobile app version.

 

[andersj]

1. You are only able to book national tickets in Denmark 2 months in advance.

2. As mentioned book the train tickets from Hirtshals to Copenhagen directly on www.dsb.dk . All tickets are protected against missed connections as long as you buy a through ticket. Of course seat reservations are locked to a specific seat on a specific train.

3. Don't change at Aalborg Vestby going south, as you risk getting stuck. The DSB trains are occasionally cancelled between Aalborg main station and Aalborg Airport if there are delays or if they need to emergency refuel or empty the toilet tanks, which are not possible at the Aalborg Airport terminus. Aalborg Vestby is located between Aalborg main station and Aalborg Airport - if your ticket says to change at Aalborg Vestby you just continue the one minute ride to Aalborg main station.

Going north it can be better to change at Aalborg Vestby, because you would know if the train is cancelled and it's the same platform, as opposed to Aalborg main station where you would have to change platforms going north - going south it's the same platform at Aalborg main station.

4. Changing at Aalborg main station will get you a bit more time, as the train for Copenhagen has a longer stop there coming from the airport.

5. There are a lot of maintenance and other rail works going on at the moment, so it's a good idea to check the booked connection for late changes to the timetable a week in advance. This is a general advise for everyone traveling by train in Europe, especially if you are traveling by night train - I have heard many stories of people left behind because the night train was rescheduled to depart sometime hours earlier than the time printed on the tickets booked months in advance.

6. The change in Hjørring is very easy, as it's a small station. There will most likely not be a change in Aarhus, just the train changing number due to construction timetables.

 

[FormerBritInMe]

I ended up changing my itinerary as I realized going to Germany via Copenhagen was not the most efficient way. Instead I will overnight in Aarhus then go directly to Hamburg from there. So I will still need DSB Hirtshals - Aalborg - Aarhus (I will hold off buying those until 2 months ahead) then the next day Aarhus - Hamburg via Kolding. I was able to buy the latter at bahn.de (I used it as I had a voucher from a cancellation of Copenhagen - Hamburg)

Thanks for all the information - it was very helpful.

 

[andersj]

You could also have bought Hirtshals-Hamburg as one ticket with layover in Aarhus (just enter a minimum change time of xx hours in Aarhus). A ticket Hirtshals-Hamburg is likely the same price as Aarhus-Hamburg.