Lyngby mayor refuses to cut ribbon at light rail opening

Lyngby Mayor Sofia Osmani has declined to cut the ribbon when the Capital Region Light Rail opens its remaining 17 stations in the town on August 22, DR reports. She will attend the ceremony but still believes the project is the wrong solution.

After years of construction disruption and noise, the opening will mark the completion of the light rail’s construction in Lyngby. Osmani said she should not cut the ribbon because she did not vote for the project.

“I think the person cutting the ribbon should be someone who voted for the project, and I did not,” she said, according to the report.

Osmani said the light rail was too expensive and inflexible, caused problems for many people and would provide worse public transport for those who did not live near a station. She would have preferred bus routes along Ring 3.

Municipalities share the cost

Lyngby-Taarbaek Municipality is expected to pay about 40 million kroner a year for 40 years, according to Sjællandske Nyheder.

The municipality is not financing the project alone. The Capital Region Light Rail is owned by the Capital Region and 11 municipalities, including Lyngby-Taarbaek, which are liable for the company. The construction budget was increased by 1.1 billion kroner in 2023, with the additional cost assigned to the owners.

The southern section between Ishøj and Rødovre has been operating since autumn 2025. The remaining 17 stations will open on August 22.

Deputy mayor to cut the ribbon

Osmani has handed the scissors to Deputy Mayor Simon Phil Sørensen, who voted for the project.

“I am incredibly excited about it. It will be a good day,” he said.

Sørensen said the light rail would be important for Lyngby-Taarbaek, both for local businesses and for the municipality’s ability to attract employees.

“I think it will be particularly good for Lyngby, both as a shopping centre and when it comes to attracting staff to our workplaces, a care home and many other places,” he said.

He also acknowledged that the construction period had been difficult for residents and businesses.

“When you carry out such a large construction project, it is troublesome along the way. It has also been difficult for both shopkeepers and residents in Lyngby-Taarbaek Municipality,” he said.

The light rail currently runs between Ishøj and Rødovre Nord, serving 12 stations, with trains every 10 minutes. When the 17 new stations open, trains will run every five minutes during daytime on weekdays and Saturdays, and every 10 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays.

The trains have four flexible areas for wheelchairs, prams and bicycles. Passengers can bring bicycles free of charge. The light rail is expected to carry about 14 million passengers a year from 2030.