Building blocks for the future of Danish rail
OPERATIONS, LEADERSHIP
We supported Banedanmark in advancing the ambitious rebuild of Aarhus Central Station, a megaproject shaping the future of Danish rail infrastructure.
SITUATION
The rebuild of Aarhus Central Station paves the way for electric trains and for rail traffic with greater precision and speed. All 22.8 km of track are being electrified, tracks are renewed and upgraded for higher speeds, and the analogue signals are replaced by a new digital signalling system. The work also includes a new track, 330-metre platforms and the renovation of several bridges, both at the station and on the lines towards Aalborg and Fredericia. With multiple contractors and many moving parts, the project requires extensive planning and coordination.
BY ERROR was part of the project for two years. Our role was to connect planning, design and people, so complex processes could move from drawing board to construction site.
RESULTS
Throughout the project, we worked closely with the project team and senior management on analysis, strategy and problem solving. Here, we highlight three of the sub-projects.
Cykelbroen, the steel bridge at the station, is a passenger hub, carrying pedestrians and cyclists across every track and giving access to the platforms. As it spans the entire track area, its redesign and rebuild were complex.
Through a rapid redesign process, we optimised the project to fit the available timeframe, reducing design time by 80% and cost by 50%. The rebuild was completed in eight months.
At Værkmestergade, we led the planning, design and execution of a new stormwater pipe that climate-proofs the entire central part of the station area. The pipe, 1,280 mm in diameter and designed for a 10-year rain event, was installed by tunnelling 6 metres below the street. As Værkmestergade is the only access road to the Bruuns Galleri shopping centre, it remained open to traffic throughout the work.
On a 2 km section of the track renewal, we identified potential in the geotechnical design and facilitated its optimisation, reducing the need for plinths and soil replacement while keeping the railway stable. This contributed to a saving of 40% (amounting to DKK 28 million) for Banedanmark.
DELIVERABLES
BY ERROR provided project management, design management and financial management on the three sub-projects, from tender to completion.
We coordinated closely with Banedanmark, the contractors and local stakeholders such as Aarhus Municipality and the shopping centre, keeping the station area accessible while the work progressed.
