The basic idea for the first stage of the light rail transit vision is to build a light rail transit track from the harbour in central Aarhus, north along Randersvej via Aarhus University Hospital in Skejby and in its own track to the urban development area in Lisbjerg. With this solution a light rail trail service will be provided for one of the busiest transport corridors within the Aarhus area. From here the track will continue to the east and connect with Grenaabanen in Lystrup. Plans exist for a large development of living and work places in this end of town, providing a good reason to start the building of the LRT with this section.



This first stage will ensure good service for the many dwellings and work places in Aarhus North and Aarhus City. The new section will connect Grenaabanen and Odderbanen providing good connections to and from Lystrup, Skødstrup and Hornslet to the north and Tranbjerg, Beder, Malling and Odder to the south.



Passenger analysis show that it is vital for an attractive public transport system to have frequent departures. Therefore a high frequency is presupposed - up to 12 departures per hour - on the most central LRT route from the city centre to Skejby/Lisbjerg, while the frequency on other routes will be lower.  At the same time it is important that the LRT is not slowed down by other traffic. Consequently, the route between Lystrup and Skejby will be on its own tracks, and between Skejby and Nørreport the central part of the road will be reserved for the LRT track.

The light rail will be the backbone of the public transport in the city. Therefore the bus service must be adjusted to the new structures. The railway through Risskov will be maintained for fast trains to and from Grenaa and goods trains. The plan is that the new light rail trains shall use the existing tracks of Grenaabanen and Odderbanen, and the two railways will have a mutual schedule. The overall objective of stage 1 is to continue the already planned joint operation between Odderbanen and Grenaabanen.

Some of the elements influencing the choice of location and design of stage 1 of the LRT project are listed below:

• There will be fast and direct LRT trains to many workplaces in Aarhus North. In this connection there will be good transport opportunities from northeast from Lystrup, Hjortshøj, Skødstrup, Hornslet and other towns on Djursland, and from the south from the city centre of Aarhus and Tranbjerg, Beder, Malling and Odder.
• The planned location for the LRT provides a large passenger basis. The corridor from Aarhus city centre, University of Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby and to the many work places in Aarhus North is the busiest public transport corridor in Aarhus.
• The new urban developments at Lisbjerg/Trige with approximately 20-25,000 inhabitants will have a very high quality transport service to and from Aarhus.

During the spring of 2008 the preliminary work for the EIA review of stage 1 was initiated. The EIA will be used as a basis for the preparation of a local authority plan supplement, which is the authoritative basis for the realization of stage 1 of the LRT.

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