DSB spends millions on rail replacement buses amid record track work

Danish rail operator DSB has spent 64.4 million kroner on rail replacement buses in the first five months of 2026, a figure driven by what the company calls a “historic volume” of track maintenance work.

Passengers like 17-year-old Liv Løvenhardt Hofstedt, who commutes several times a week from Ejby to Middelfart, now rely on buses after regional train services on the Fredericia–Odense line were suspended for 47 days due to construction. Her usual 12-minute train ride now takes 35 minutes by bus.

“It’s not a great experience. I definitely prefer trains,” she said. “I get carsick pretty quickly because they bounce a bit, but I usually listen to podcasts or music while looking out the window.”

DSB’s information chief, Tony Bispeskov, acknowledged the high cost but attributed it primarily to planned track upgrades by infrastructure manager Banedanmark. He estimated that only 10–15% of annual replacement bus expenses cover unplanned disruptions, such as downed overhead lines.

“Most of it is planned work that customers are already aware of,” Bispeskov said.

If current spending continues, DSB’s 2026 bus replacement costs will exceed last year’s total of 94 million kroner. The company has faced mounting criticism over delays, with recent data showing the worst punctuality in 11 years.

For Hofstedt, the unreliable service has accelerated her plans to save for a car. “Then I won’t have to worry about train schedules, delays, or cancellations,” she said.