East Line (Denmark)

{{short description|Local railway in the eastern part of Zealand}}

{{About|the railway line in Zealand, Denmark|other uses|East Line (disambiguation){{!}}East Line}}

{{Infobox rail line

| name = East Line

| other_name =

| native_name = Østbanen

| native_name_lang = da

| color =

| logo =

| logo_width =

| logo_alt =

| image = DK 2012 Østbanen.jpg

| image_width =

| image_alt =

| caption = Map of rail lines in eastern Denmark, with the East Line marked in brown

| type = Local railway

| system =

| status =

| locale =

| start =

| end =

| stations = 15

| routes = 2

| daily_ridership =

| open = 1 July 1879

| close =

| owner =

| operator =

| character =

| depot =

| stock = Alstom Coradia LINT

| linelength_km = 49.6

| tracklength =

| tracks = single

| gauge = {{RailGauge|1435mm|lk=on}}

| electrification =

| speed = 100 km/h

| signalling =

| elevation =

| map =

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}}

The East Line{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} ({{langx|da|Østbanen}}) is a local railway line in the eastern part of Zealand, Denmark. The railway started operations on 1 July 1879.[https://www.jernbanen.dk/pbaner.php?s=121 Jernbanen.dk. Østsjællandske Jernbane Selskab (Østbanen).] (in Danish). Retrieved 6 June 2019. It is today part of Lokaltog, a railway company operating nine local railways on the islands of Zealand, Lolland and Falster.{{Cite web |url=http://www.lokaltog.dk/lokaltog/om-lokaltog/ |title=Om Lokaltog |publisher=Lokaltog A/S |website=lokaltog.dk |access-date=2 June 2019 |language=da |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120000349/http://www.lokaltog.dk/lokaltog/om-lokaltog/ |archivedate=20 January 2016 }}

Since December 2020, trains have run every 30 minutes between Roskilde and Faxe Ladeplads via Køge and Hårlev. There are also connecting services from Hårlev to Rødvig with a 3-5 minute connection time. The journey time from Roskilde to Faxe Ladeplads is 68 minutes.[https://www.lokaltog.dk/media/1499/110r-og-210r-oestbanen-fra-13-dec-2020.pdf Lokalbanen.dk. Køreplaner for Lokaltog.] Retrieved 12 January 2021.[http://faxe.netavis.nu/ostbanen-skal-fortsaette-helt-til-roskilde Østbanen skal fortsætte helt til Roskilde - Faxe.nu] (in Danish). Retrieved 2 June 2019.

File:Regionstog Østbanen LINT 41 Fakse 790788.jpg

The stations of {{rws|Himlingøje}}, {{rws|Lille Linde}}, and {{rws|Tokkerup}} are outside of their respective villages, and it is even further between {{rws|Faxe South}} and Faxe and from {{rws|Vallø}} to Vallø Castle. In addition to the termini, trains can pass at {{rws|Egøje}}, {{rws|Vallø}}, {{rws|Grubberholm}}, {{rws|Klippinge}}, {{rws|Hårlev}}, {{rws|Karise}} and {{rws|Store Heddinge}}; {{rws|Faxe South}} has a short siding, the remaining line is single track and without electrification.

All of the station buildings on the line were designed by architect Heinrich Wenck.[https://faxenyt.dk/Print.asp?Id=13558 Faxenyt.dk. Verdens Gang - når service er en by i Rusland.] (in Danish). Retrieved 6 June 2019.

Since 2009 Alstom Coradia LINT 41 trains have been in use.[http://www.lokalavisen.dk/migration/2009-06-04/-S%C3%A5-s%C3%A6ttes-de-nye-tog-ind-p%C3%A5-%C3%98stbanen-2770558.html Lokalavisen.dk. Så sættes de nye tog ind på Østbanen.] (in Danish). Retrieved 6 June 2019.

In 2020, the rail infrastructure was reaching the end of its lifetime and there were political discussions about converting Østbanen into a guided busway.[https://www.tv2lorry.dk/tv2-oest/oestbanen-venstre-klar-med-oekonomisk-tilskud-men-kun-til-busser TV2. Østbanen: Venstre klar med økonomisk tilskud - men kun til busser.] (in Danish). Retrieved 12 January 2021. In June 2021 a majority in the Danish Parliament voted for an infrastructure agreement securing the future of Østbanen as a railway.[https://stevns.dk/nyheder/godt-nyt-fra-christiansborg Stevns.dk. Godt nyt fra Christiansborg.] (in Danish) Retrieved 1 July 2021 The track renovations were completed in September 2024.[https://www.regionsjaelland.dk/nyheder/2024/oktober-december/genaabning-af-ostbanen-og-indvielse-af-roedvig-station Regionssjaelland.dk. Genåbning af Østbanen og indvielse af Rødvig Station.] Retrieved 23 March 2025.