Poster: Copenhagen (1984)

Description

From
Hønen
to HT
HT celebrated its 10th birthday on 1 October 1984 - but the transport company has roots much further back.
Copenhagen's trams - which were part of HT as the largest single company when it was established
in 1974 - can trace their origins all the way back to the
Copenhagen Railway Company, which was founded in 1863.
It established its first horse-drawn tram line on 22 October from
Frederiksberg Runddel, along Frederiksberg Allé and Vesterbrogade to Kvægtorvet - now Trommesalen.
In 1897, accumulator trams began to run on Nørrebrogade. However, they quickly became unpopular due to the
acid smell. The nickname "acid trams" was then attached to the trams. They were later converted into "ordinary" electric trams. In 1898, all the Copenhagen companies were merged into "A/S De Kjøbenhavnske Sporveje". 1899 heralded the new times.
Electric tram operations were established with a 10-øre unit rate, and horse-drawn tram operations could see their end in sight. In 1911, "Københavns Sporvej" followed as a municipal transport company by taking over "A/S De Kjøbenhavnske Sporveje". In 1913, motor bus operations began, the last horse-drawn tram "Hønen" on Nørregade disappeared in 1915 and two years later the last horse-drawn omnibus.

In 1919, Københavns Sporveje took over the red double-decker trams on Frederiksberg. They
ran until 1933 as yellow - some can still remember them from line 18. In the same year, the converted "acid cars" from 1897 made their last trip, and in 1936 the open side cars became too cold for the
Copenhagen residents. Most of them were sold to Helsingsfors.

In the 1930s, the tramways were in a period of growth with several new bus lines and the extension of
tram lines.

During the war, the trams had a large load to pull, as private cars and bicycles were almost out of action due to a
lack of fuel and rubber.

1984

Some buses ran with gas generators fired by beechwood, but it was the trams that
were the absolutely necessary means of transport for the wartime Copenhageners.

In the 1950s, Copenhagen Tramway began to acquire larger and more modern buses (now line 40).

Most of the other tram lines were "busified" in the 1960s, and on the night of 23 April 1972, tram line 5 was the last to be retired. The articulated trams ("Düsseldorferne") were sent to Egypt, where they are still running.

The formation of the Capital Region Transport Company in 1974 was a milestone, as it was now possible to coordinate bus operations in the entire capital region. In 1975, the new zone fare system was established, and in 1979, the tokens were replaced by the new clip cards. All train and bus journeys from Helsingør in the north to Køge in the south could then be made on the same ticket or card.

The development continues - disabled and telebuses have been added, and more noise-
low and energy-saving bus types are constantly being developed.

The old trams and buses - all the way back from "Hønen" in 1880 - can now be seen at HT's new
museum on Islevsdalsvej in Rødovre. You can go there with lines 13, 148 and 161 - the latter
passes Friheden, Rødovre, Husum and Lyngby S-stations. It is open Wednesday and Saturday 10 am-4 pm.

HT MUSEUM trams and buses
Islevdalsvej 119 * Rødovre
Wednesday and Saturday 10 am-4 pm
BJØRNBØL A/S 9.84