Delay in the construction of the tunnel rail link between Denmark and Germany expected for several additional years
The Fehmarn Belt Tunnel project, a significant transportation upgrade connecting Denmark and Germany, is set to open in 2029[1][2][3]. However, the status of the rail link between the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel and the German mainland remains uncertain.
Recent reports have suggested that the Eisenbahn-Bundesamt, Germany's federal railway authority, estimates that it will take Deutsche Bahn 6.5 years to construct a 2.2-kilometer railway tunnel necessary for connecting the mainland German rail network to the Fehmarn Belt link[4]. This tunnel is a crucial component of the larger project, an 18-kilometer underwater tunnel currently under construction.
However, no new information has been provided about the construction start date for this additional tunnel on the German side, nor has any specific information been disclosed regarding potential delays in its completion. The query specifically asks about the rail link to the German mainland from the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel, and the provided information does not detail the construction timeline for this specific rail infrastructure.
Danish Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen has been informed of a directive issued by the German rail authority stating that the build time for the second tunnel would be six years[5]. Danielsen has contacted the German Ministry of Transport to request a detailed clarification regarding the directive[6].
Despite the potential delay in the rail link construction, Danielsen emphasized that cars and other road traffic will still be able to cross the Fehmarn once the Denmark-Germany link is completed, as there is already a road bridge, the Fehmarn Sound Bridge[7].
Jens Villemoes, head of media communications at Sund & Bælt, stated that if the timetable for the German infrastructure changes, they expect the German government to inform the Danish government[8]. However, construction of the additional tunnel on the German side has not received final approval yet.
The Fehmarn Belt tunnel project is part of Sund & Bælt, a Danish company responsible for the Danish side of the tunnel[9]. Sund & Bælt wrote in its annual report in 2024 that the scheduled opening of the road crossing in late 2029 was "a significant challenge." Earlier reports have suggested that the project may also face a delay for the road connection[10].
While the exact timeline for the rail link between the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel and the German mainland remains unclear, the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel itself is still scheduled for completion in 2029 and will carry both rail and road traffic, significantly reducing travel times and enhancing rail connectivity between Scandinavia and Central Europe[1][2][3].
References: 1. Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link 2. Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link – Wikipedia 3. Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link – Sund & Bælt 4. Deutsche Bahn to Construct Railway Tunnel for Fehmarn Belt Link 5. Danish Transport Minister Informed of German Rail Authority's Directive 6. Danish Minister Contacts German Ministry over Fehmarn Belt Delay 7. Danish Minister Assures Road Traffic Crossing Fehmarn Belt despite Rail Delay 8. Sund & Bælt Expects German Government to Inform Danish Government about Infrastructure Changes 9. Sund & Bælt 10. Fehmarn Belt Link Faces Delay for Road Connection
The rail link connecting the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel to the German mainland could potentially be delayed, with the German federal railway authority estimating a six-year construction timeline for a necessary railway tunnel. However, the exact construction start date and potential delays for this additional tunnel on the German side remain ambiguous.
Despite this potential delay in the rail link, the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel itself, set to open in 2029, will carry both road and rail traffic, improving transportation between Scandinavia and Central Europe and reducing travel times significantly. This project is part of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link, a significant transportation upgrade connecting Denmark and Germany.
