Lawsuits against the Fehmarn Belt link project have been thrown out by the court - Appeal against the seizure of the Fehmarn Belt connection has been rejected by the court.
Fehmarn Belt Tunnel: Federal Administrative Court Dismisses Objections Against German Connection
The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig has ruled in favor of the inland connection for the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel, brushing aside eight complaints lodged against the railway line extending from the Wagrien peninsula to Puttgarden. The trailblazing 11.5-kilometer section, which links the Fehmarn Belt and Fehmarn Sound, will proceed as planned, according to the court.
Numerous entities, including the city and water supply association of Fehmarn, as well as leisure and tourism companies, had raised concerns over potential impact on tourism due to noise and vibrations. The city's recognition as a seaside resort and the association's drinking water supply for the island were also at stake, they argued.
However, the arguments were not convincing enough for the 7th Senate of the court. The project was deemed compliant with the legal requirements, with observance of noise limits and no immediate danger to the drinking water supply of the island.
The Fehmarn Belt Tunnel, scheduled for completion in 2029, aims to connect the German Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn and the Danish island of Lolland. With a length of 18 kilometers, it will be a railway and road tunnel that promises to reduce train journey time from Hamburg to Copenhagen to approximately 2.5 hours. Construction is underway.
Initially, it was intended to transpire the rail traffic over the existing Fehmarn Sound Bridge from the 1960s, which was to be electrified for the purpose. However, the preference is now shifting towards a tunnel through the Fehmarn Sound that can facilitate both car and train traffic. The bridge serves as an interim solution.
The inland connection to the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel will be implemented in two phases, as agreed upon by Germany and Denmark. The entire connection spans 88 kilometers, traversing from Puttgarden on Fehmarn to Lübeck. On Fehmarn, dismantling of the existing tracks occurred in May 2024 to make way for new ones, and trains will subsequently run on a double-track line, with the bridge remaining single-track.
The decision comes as a relief to Schleswig-Holstein's Economics Minister, Claus Ruhe Madsen (CDU), who had expected it. He called for the project to be executed expeditiously to prevent any delays given the ambitious timeline.
The Environmental and Biodiversity Conservation Union were among the complainants concerned about ecological impact, particularly disruptions to marine life habitats and sensitive species like harbour porpoises. The court ruled in favor of the project, contingent on environmental safeguards, careful construction planning, and compensatory ecological measures. The tunnel's design and construction approach aim to balance infrastructure development with environmental protection and local community interests.
- The decision by the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig could potentially influence the community policy for the city and water supply association of Fehmarn, as it Foster collaboration with leisure and tourism companies to address concerns surrounding noise and vibrations during the implementation of the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel.
- In the realm of finance, transportation, sports, and other industries, the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel project presents a significant opportunity for both Germany and Denmark, as its completion is expected to strengthen economic ties and promote social interactions through quicker transportation options, potentially fostering a more integrated and connected society.
