Danish railway manager Banedanmark has completed the construction of two charging stations at Holstebro and Skjern for the line’s battery train operations. The milestone marks the full rollout of battery operations on the first 67-kilometre state-owned railway line, following a pilot phase in July 2025 and the start of regular passenger service in December.
Battery trains now run on the 67-kilometre route between Holstebro and Skjern, after the finalisation of 2 charging stations by Banedanmark. The project replaces diesel trains that previously operated on the line, eliminating approximately 1,900 tonnes of CO² emissions annually.
The battery trains, Siemens’ Mireo Plus B models, are operated by Midtjyske Jernbaner, and are the country’s first battery trains in operation. They already ran on the company’s own Vemb–Lemvig–Thyborøn line, where they were inaugurated in a ceremony attended by the Danish King before Christmas. Now, they also run on the longer state-owned railway section between Skjern and Holstebro, managed by Banedanmark. Midtjyske Jernbaner has purchased seven new battery trains in total.
Tested for future scalability
To gain experience with different technologies, Banedanmark has installed two distinct charging solutions. At Holstebro Station, a charging rail is embedded in the platform, allowing trains to charge from below as they stop. At Skjern Station, overhead catenary lines supply 25,000 volts to the trains.
Both systems enable suffucient charging in just 7–8 minutes for the operations while passengers get on and off. The charging infrastructure includes dedicated buildings at each station housing transformers that deliver the high-voltage power needed. The trains have a range between 80-120 km with a battery status of 100%, and a speed of 120 km/h, with top speeds of 140 km/h.
Kasper Skovbro-Hansen, project manager for charging infrastructure at Banedanmark, says it is “enormously complex and exciting to deploy new technology on an old railway”. He emphasises it is the first time Banedanmark has built charging infrastructure for battery trains.
Rails renewed for heavier trains
The line between Skjern and Holstebro was upgraded in summer 2025 to support the weight and technical requirements of the new battery trains, which weigh 93 tonnes. This included track renewal and adjustments to ensure compatibility with both charging systems.
Jette Aagaard, Programme Director at Banedanmark, highlighted the broader significance: “The Danish railway is undergoing a huge transformation in recent years, as the track is being prepared to receive the climate-friendly electric trains of the future.” She described the new service as “an important step in the green transition of the railway.”
The rollout aligns with Denmark’s Infrastructure Plan 2035, which mandates that all state rail traffic must be emission-free by that year. For non-electrified lines, battery train operation is the chosen solution. This project provides critical experience for expanding battery train use across other regional routes in the coming years.
