State-of-the-art depot for maintaining electric trains

Ramboll is lead consultant for Danish national rail operator DSB’s new Aarhus Repair and Maintenance Facility, delivering a DGNB Platinum-certified, state-of-the-art depot that enables sustainable, efficient maintenance of Denmark’s future electric train fleet.
Aerial view of a DSB’s new rail repair and maintenance facility in Aarhus. Adjacent to the building, there are long stretches of concrete paths, construction equipment, and vehicles. Surrounding the site are green fields, small bodies of water, and other industrial buildings in the background. The sky is clear with light clouds visible.

As part of Danish national rail operator DSB’s transition from diesel to electric trains by 2030, a new generation of Repair and Maintenance Facilities (RMFs) is being developed to support the operation of a modern electric fleet. The Aarhus RMF is one of three major new depots and plays a critical role in enabling reliable, efficient, and climate-friendly rail operations in Denmark.

DGNB Platinum certification

The Aarhus facility comprises a 19,000 m2 main workshop and wheel reprofiling (wheel lathe) building integrated with extensive rail infrastructure. Designed to DGNB Platinum certification, the project reflects DSB’s ambition to embed sustainability, operational efficiency, and long-term asset performance at the core of its rail infrastructure investments.

Ramboll acts as lead consultant, delivering total consultancy across architecture, engineering, rail infrastructure, and railway safety disciplines. The project involves complex interfaces between buildings, railway systems, and operational requirements, requiring close coordination with the train supplier, infrastructure manager, and contractors throughout design and delivery. Ramboll was also lead consultant in the early phases. Detailed design and execution was delivered through early contractor involvement.

Complex multidisciplinary delivery

A key challenge has been integrating extensive rail infrastructure within and around the workshop buildings while meeting strict safety, operational, and sustainability requirements. The technical scope includes an 8-track handover zone, multiple stabling and sanitation tracks, approximately 9 km of ballasted track and 1 km of slab track inside buildings, as well as 33 switches and a diamond crossing.

Through integrated multidisciplinary delivery and close stakeholder collaboration, the Aarhus RMF establishes a robust, future-proof platform for maintaining Denmark’s electric train fleet while supporting DSB’s long-term sustainability objectives.

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