The capital's light rail in traffic (2024)
YouTube name: Hovedstadens Letbane.
Date: .
City: Copenhagen (Denmark).
The video shows
Hovedstadens Letbane
Operational
Description
Driving along the capital's light rail isn't very complicated. Follow the light regulations, and we will all pass through traffic safely. At the same time, efforts have been made to reduce the interruption of crossing traffic caused by the light rail train.
The capital's light rail has 29 stations between Ishøj and Lundtofte, with trains arriving every five minutes during the day, every 10 minutes in the evenings, and on Sundays. There are 63 traffic lights along the route, so light rail trains should ideally encounter green lights as often as possible to stay on schedule. A very advanced and intelligent signaling system at the traffic lights ensures this. The system is aware of the trains' locations on the route and the time it takes for them to pass through an intersection. It also monitors the rest of the traffic using radars and video. The system uses this information to adjust the green lights, ensuring that as much traffic as possible clears before the light rail train arrives at an intersection, and thus often receives a green light. This allows light rail trains to frequently receive the green light before reaching the intersection, letting them proceed without slowing down.
However, in some cases, light rail trains will stop at a red signal. When this happens, crossing traffic continues to have a green light before the train can get a new green and proceed. How this works in practice depends on whether the train is driving on the side of the road or in the middle, or if it is changing sides at an intersection. When the train is on the side of the road, there will be a green light for cars and bicycles going straight ahead, even if other vehicles are turning across the train’s path and are on red. When the train is in the middle of the road, both straight-going traffic and vehicles turning right from the same direction will have a green light. If the train changes sides at an intersection, only the train moves while other traffic waits. There will always be traffic signals indicating whether it is your turn or the light rail’s turn to go. This system ensures the safety of all road users as they pass through intersections on the light rail route. When the light rail reaches an intersection, its green light period ends, and crossing traffic resumes. This way, everyone can cross quickly and safely. See you in the Capital City Light Rail.
Stops
Glostrup → Ishøj → Rødovre Nord.
