Copenhagen’s metro operator Metroselskabet has appointed a joint venture of Cowi and Arup to provide design, environmental impact assessment and utility relocations for the planned new M5 low-carbon metro line.

It wants the new line to have a 50% smaller carbon footprint compared to existing lines.

The joint venture will develop the concept design.

Its environmental impact assessment will assess the project’s noise and vibration on people’s health, and likely impacts on local biodiversity (land, soil, water, air) and on the city’s cultural heritage.

The proposed M5 line consists of 10 stations running from Copenhagen Central Station via Islands Brygge, Amagerbrogade, and Refshaleøen to Lynetteholm and Østerport.

It includes a bifurcation chamber to prepare for a potential Øresund metro line.

Once the concept design is complete, the team will develop the reference design and follow the project through the procurement process alongside Metroselskabet.

Cowi project director Flemming Billeskov Nissen called the project’s carbon goals “highly ambitious”, adding that innovation and digitalisation would be needed.