Campus Life
The light rail connects DTU to the outside world
With three new stations at Lyngby Campus, DTU is now easier to reach for students, employees, neighbours and visitors. At the grand opening, visitors were invited to explore the university’s research and campus life.
The construction project has become a reality
Among those gathered at Anker Engelunds Vej is 23-year-old Silje Munch, who is studying engineering physics at DTU. She is standing with four fellow students, waiting to board the light rail.
“I have been following the construction work for the past four years, so I came here today to see and experience the final result,” she says.
Silje usually takes the bus from Lyngby Station to campus. In future, she expects the light rail to become part of her journey to DTU.
Also standing on the platform is Winnie Løvengren, who graduated from DTU in 2012. She has travelled from Holte with her husband, who is also a DTU graduate, and their two children, aged five and eight.
The family is on its way to Herlev Hospital to visit the Teddy Bear Hospital, and the children already know the train from an exhibition at the Danish Tramway Museum.
“We are here simply to experience the light rail. We often go on excursions where we ride the different light rail systems,” says Winnie Løvengren.
However, she also sees new opportunities in the light rail connection across the Greater Copenhagen area.
“If we want to travel west one day, we can park the car here, where parking is free, and hop on the train,” she says.
The opening day has already encouraged many people to try the new connection. When the first trains arrive at the station, the carriages are full of passengers.
Drones, racing cars and curious visitors
At the grand opening, DTU showcases different sides of the university at the three new stations. At Akademivej, students have placed two different drones on a table. Spectators gather around as the students explain the technology.
An elderly man looks at the drones and asks: “Can you use the drone to look for wolves?” The question makes both the students and the other spectators burst out laughing.
Visitors can also get a close look at an electric racing car at the station. The sun peeks through the clouds, which lie like a blanket across the sky. Guests move between the technologies on display as light rail trains pass by carrying more visitors.
The light rail takes her right to the door
The atmosphere is different at Rævehøjvej. The area is filled with clothes racks, books and toys from the day’s flea market. Among the visitors is 90-year-old Hjørdis Rasmussen from Nærum. A retired teacher and former nature guide at the Deer Park north of Copenhagen, she has come to the opening because she is curious about the new light rail.
“I have brought my e-bike with me today, and I would like to see what it is like to take my bike on the light rail,” she says.
Hjørdis Rasmussen would have liked the light rail to continue to Nærum. However, she mainly expects to use it when attending events at DTU. Her connection to the university includes lectures organised by ‘Københavns Folkeuniversitet i Lyngby’, where she attended a lecture on painters last year.
“I will probably use the light rail for that in future because it takes me right to the door,” she says.
Behind her, the United Show Choir warms up as visitors wait for the light rail to pull into Rævehøjvej Station.
