In Denmark you will find Regional trains (Re), InterCity trains (IC) and InterCityLyn trains (ICL – ‘lyn’ stands for ‘lightening’).

Re services connect local stations to main junctions throughout Denmark. IC and ICL trains connect major stations on the islands of Zealand (Sjælland), Funen (Fyn) and in Jutland (Jylland). The difference between IC and ICL services is that ICL are express trains which make fewer stops. Ticket prices to a destination are the same, whether you travel by IC or ICL train.

Copenhagen also has suburban, so-called S-trains. Read more about Copenhagen’s S-trains at Visit Copenhagen’s website.

A rail map of Denmark is available at Banedanmark’s website.

IC and ICL trains have first and second class accommodation. A second class ticket includes the trip itself and on some services, there will be a train trolley, from which you can buy drinks and snacks. On a first class ticket, some drinks and snacks are at your disposal during the trip. 

On most trains you will find specific areas designated for wheelchairs. Seats can be reserved for wheelchairs on all IC and ICK trains.

There are different railways companies that operate different parts of the railway network in Denmark. The largest railway operator is the railway company DSB (Danske Stats Baner). Read more about DSB, on DSB’s website www.dsb.dk.

Besides DSB, services are also operated in Denmark by private railway companies. Find details of the companies operating rail services in Denmark at the Danish Road Directorate’s website. Please note that you will be directed to a Danish site.

On many IC and ICL trains, you will find family zones (familiezone) and quiet zones (stillezone). If you sit in a quiet zone you are expected to respect the other travellers’ desire for peace and quiet. You are required to switch off the sound on all your electronic devices, standing is not permitted in quiet zones and conversation must be kept to a minimum. Animals are not allowed in quiet zones.

Family zones are primarily intended for passengers travelling with children. If you wish to sit in a family zone it is a good idea to reserve seats.

Most trains have areas that are designated for prams. Note that on IC and ICL trains you are required to reserve space for your pram in advance and that such reservation cannot be made online.

You can take your bike on most of trains. The area that is designated for bikes are usually marked, showing an illustration of a bike on or beside the door. If you take a bike, you must buy a supplementary ticket for it. Note that there is only space for a limited number of bikes on any one train and that it is up to the conductor to decide whether or not there is room for your bike. During the summer the railways companies often require you to reserve a space for your bike. You can neither reserve nor buy bike tickets online.

In Denmark you must buy a ticket before you travel. Tickets are checked by a conductor on the train and if you cannot produce a valid ticket you will be fined.
When you buy tickets, you can buy either one-way tickets or return. On IC or ICL trains, you can choose between second or first class tickets.

You are not required to reserve a seat for your train journey but it is the only way you are guaranteed not to be left standing. If you wish to reserve a seat you must specify this when you buy your ticket.  Seat reservations coast approximately DKK 25. Note that even though you are not required to reserve a seat for your journey, it is recommended that you do so for journeys during peak periods.

Unless you ask for a ticket for a specific departure, the ticket you buy is likely to be valid for two hours. This means that you can use the ticket on any train that leaves for your destination within two hours of buying your ticket. Remember that if you make a seat reservation, it is only valid for the specified departure. The time validity of your ticket is stated on your ticket.

Cities and regions are usually divided into travel zones. Your fare depends on the number of zones you travel through. However the minimum fare is often the price of two travel zones. You will find zone maps on the station. In most cities, you can use your ticket as long as it is valid on most public transport, both train and bus services within the number of zones you have paid for.

You can also buy an Orange billet (Orange ticket) discount ticket for many national and regional train departures. Note that special rules apply to these tickets, for further information go to About DSB Orange tickets and Booking a DSB Orange ticket. 

If you are between 16-26 years of age or are on SU, a Danish government education grant, you are entitled to a DSB Wildcard. A DSB wildcard gives you discounts on many train tickets. Read more about DSB Wildcard under DSB Wildcard.

If you frequently travel to one destination or within the same number of zones, it may be a good idea to buy a travel card (månedskort/periodekort) or a discount card (klippekort). The smartest buy depends on how frequently you travel.

A travel card entitles you to travel as many times you like within the number of zones for which you have bought your travel card, for as long as the card is valid.

Discount cards are valid for 10 journeys within a specified number of zones. You pay less per journey using a discount card than with a single ticket. When travelling with a discount card you must punch the card at the beginning of your journey. Punching machines are situated on stations where you enter the platform.

There are ticket machines on most stations, most of which accept both cash and credit/debit cards. You will find them either in the station’s main hall or on the platform. At serviced stations, you can also buy tickets at the service office or in the station kiosk.

If the station you depart from is not manned and the ticket machine is out of order, contact the conductor as soon as you get on the train. If you do not do so you risk being fined when the conductor asks to see your ticket.  If the telephone number to the operation company is listed on the machine, it is also a good idea to call the operation company and inform them that the machine is out of order.

To buy and reserve tickets you can also contact DSB. You can find the contact information to DSB, on DSB’s website.

Note that DSB Orange tickets can only be bought online on DSB´s Online ticket shop. Read more about Orange tickets under About DSB Orange tickets and Booking a DSB Orange ticket.

On most standard tickets, one adult can take two children under the age of twelve with them free of charge. However, children under age 12 travelling alone must pay a children’s fare. Children under 16 can buy children’s tickets and discount cards.

A DSB orange is a discount ticket. The price of a DSB Orange ticket varies and they are not available for all train departures. The number of tickets available for a given departure varies, so your chance of getting an orange ticket is greater, the sooner you book. 

Orange tickets are only valid for the specified departure day and time and are not valid on bus or Metro services. Orange tickets can be bought two months prior to departure. They are non-refundable and cannot be changed after the purchase has been made.

DSB orange tickets can only be bought online at DSB´s Online ticket shop. You find DSB´s online ticket shop at www.dsb.dk. Note the service is in Danish only. You have to print the Orange ticket yourself and a seat reservation is required. The seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. Adults travelling with an Orange ticket can take two children under the age of 12 with them free of charge, but you must remember to reserve seats for the children when you book the ticket.  Children from age 12 to 15 years pay half price.

To get a DSB orange ticket you must book and pay for the ticket online at DSB´s Online ticket shop, www.dsb.dk. Note the service is only in Danish.

You print the ticket yourself. A seat reservation is included in the price and will be stated on your ticket when you print it. When you book an Orange ticket you will be asked to state you email address.  Your e-ticket and your order confirmation will be sent to this email address. You will also be asked to provide proof of ID when you present your ticket on the train. The ID you use can be your credit card (not necessarily the one you used to pay for the ticket), driving licence, passport, etc.  When booking the ticket, you will be asked for the name of the person (your name) to whom the ID was issued , along some of the digits printed on the ID. The ID information you provide is called Print Selv-ID (Print it yourself-ID) and is requested to prevent tickets being copied. 

Remember to have both your printed ticket and your Print Selv-ID with you when you travel because the conductor will ask for both.

If you are between 16-26 years of age or get SU, a Danish government education grant, you are entitled to a DSB Wildcard. A DSB Wildcard costs DKK 180 and gives you discounts on many train tickets.

With a DSB wildcard you get:

• 50% discount on train tickets Monday-Thursday and on Saturdays.
• 25% discount on train tickets on Fridays and Sundays
• 25% discount on general products from DSB's shops in the trains.

Conductors check tickets on most trains. If you are unable to present a valid ticket you will be fined DKK 600.

The online journey planner, www.rejseplanen.dk, is a very useful site when you are looking for travel routes, departure and arrival times. Rejseplanen.dk is based on data provided by all bus and railway operators, as well as most ferry services in Denmark. The journey planner can also help you to find coordinating buses if you cannot reach your destination by train.

DSB Customer Centre: +45 70 13 14 15, for other contact information to DSB, go to DSB’s website. 

Find details of the companies operating rail services in Denmark on the Danish Road Directorate’s website. Please note that you will be directed to a Danish site.

The online journey planner, Rejseplanen, provides information about all public transport in Denmark: www.rejseplanen.dk.