Consultant appointed for new metro line

Metroselskabet, 1 June 2023

The vital role as consultant for environmental impact assessment, utility relocations and design of the civil works for the new M5 metro line has now been filled. Metroselskabet is excited to collaborate with COWI-ARUP-JV.

The City of Copenhagen, the Danish Government and the Municipality of Frederiksberg have decided to kick off the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the new M5 metro line, and Metroselskabet has just awarded the consultancy contract covering the EIA, utility relocation works and the design of the civil works for the new metro line.

Following an EU tender, the successful tenderer is a joint venture consisting of COWI A/S and Ove Arup & Partners Denmark A/S (COWI-ARUP-JV), which will help infuse a high level of quality, starting with the EIA of the M5 metro line.

"We are delighted to have the consultants join the project and look forward to joining forces with them to perform the key public service of investigating and planning the future metro line in our capital. The EIA is a crucial part of this process," says Russell Saltmarsh, Project Director for the M5 at Metroselskabet.

Fruitful process

Four tenderers had been prequalified to tender for the consultancy contract: Artelia Aecom M5, COWI-ARUP-JV, Niras / N:E:W and Rambøll Atkins M5 JV. All four tenderers actively engaged in dialogue with Metroselskabet, improving the tender documents and securing a solid foundation for the subsequent execution and collaboration.

"Throughout the process, we've enjoyed a truly fruitful dialogue with all tenderers, who have inspired us to achieve an even better process. Our ambitions with the M5 are high: We want to build a metro with a high focus on customer experience and a significantly smaller carbon footprint. Since teamwork is the only way we can realise our ambitions, solid dialogue with the consultants from day one is absolutely essential," says Russell Saltmarsh.

The contract was put out to EU tender and the process met the requirements for competitive dialogue. Next up, Metroselskabet will appoint consultants on, e.g., areas and rights as well as the task as assessor.

"We are thrilled and privileged to be part of the M5 team and jointly develop Copenhagen's next metro line for the city's many residents. The project is highly ambitious when it comes to its vision for sustainability, and innovation and digitalisation will be core elements as we design new solutions without compromising the customer experience or safety. We want to significantly reduce the carbon footprint and set new standards for tomorrow's metros," says Flemming Billeskov Nissen, Project Director at COWI.

Arup seconds that excitement. "The new M5 metro line will set new climate standards and contribute to a greener future for Copenhagen. We look forward to working with our partners on this visionary project, which lets us utilise our expertise in design and development of sustainable transportation systems and, not least, stunning, efficient, and safe passenger experiences to take the world's best metro to the next level," says Alison Norrish, Project Director at Arup.

Facts

• The new M5 metro line will serve existing urban areas as well as new districts. It will also help relieve congestion on the M1/M2 harbour crossing and contribute to sustainable urban development in the new urban districts of Kløverparken, Refshaleøen and Lynetteholm.
  
  
• The M5 design to be studied in the EIA will consist of ten stations from Copenhagen Central Station via Islands Brygge, Amagerbrogade and Refshaleøen to Lynetteholm and Østerport, as well as safeguarding for a potential Øresund metro line. In addition, the possibility to close the ring between Copenhagen Central Station and Østerport, including additional stations, will be studied.
  
  
• The EIA will treat all relevant environmental aspects of the chosen alignment, stations, and reasonable alternatives. Among other things, the environmental aspects include significant direct and indirect impacts on, e.g., the city's residents and human health, noise and vibrations, biodiversity as well as impacts on, e.g., land, soil, water, air, climate, and cultural heritage.
  
  
• Metroselskabet aims to halve the carbon footprint of new metro lines, including the M5, compared to previous lines. Priority will also be given to the passenger experience, the metro's contribution to the city as well as health and safety during both construction and operation. Indeed, all future consultants will also contribute to solving these overall challenges.