The Fehmarn Belt Link

The STRING region, stretching from Oslo via Copenhagen to Hamburg, is performing better economically and demographically than other comparable regions in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.
The upcoming fixed Fehmarnbelt connection will further strengthen development opportunities.

This is the conclusion of a new analysis from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

The major cities of Hamburg, Copenhagen and Oslo benefit from the development. At the same time, rural areas in Schleswig-Holstein, southern Denmark and southern Sweden also gain.

“Development in the STRING region is driven by growth in the metropolitan areas. Less densely populated areas benefit from being connected to these centres,” says Dr Robert Gold, co-author of the analysis.

Metropolitan areas drive growth
The analysis from the Kiel Institute shows that Hamburg, Copenhagen and Oslo are growing significantly above average in terms of economic output, employment and productivity. This development extends far beyond the surrounding regions.

Schleswig-Holstein benefits from its connection to Hamburg and the fast-growing Scandinavian cities.

In southern Denmark, job opportunities and business activity are improving along the Fehmarnbelt corridor between Copenhagen and the German border, the analysis concludes.

Improved transport connections within the STRING region and to other economic centres in Europe are crucial for this development.

“The Fehmarnbelt connection can make a significant contribution if connections across the entire Northern European economic area are improved,” the analysis states.

Cooperation must be strengthened
To maximise the benefits of the Fehmarnbelt connection, the Kiel Institute recommends reducing cross-border administrative barriers, strengthening institutional cooperation between countries, and improving connections around the Fehmarnbelt link.

The authors point out that national borders and differing regulatory frameworks clearly slow down integration in the STRING region.

“Despite the positive development, STRING is not yet a true megaregion with closely integrated labour markets and intensive flows of knowledge and goods,” the analysis states.

The authors see the STRING cooperation as a suitable framework for reducing administrative barriers in Northern Europe.

They therefore recommend expanding STRING’s mandate as a joint political platform, enabling Northern European interests to be represented more effectively towards national governments and the EU.

Further information
Read the analysis from the Kiel Institute here

Facts about STRING
STRING – Southwestern Baltic Sea Trans Regional Inventing New Geography – is a political Norwegian-Swedish-Danish-German network.
It works to promote coherent infrastructure, the green transition and economic growth in the corridor between Oslo and Hamburg, with a focus on the Fehmarnbelt connection.

Several important railway sections in Skåne can be brought forward ahead of the opening of the fixed Fehmarnbelt link.
This is stated in a new report from the Swedish Transport Administration, Trafikverket, to the Swedish government.

In recent years, both Danish and Swedish politicians and business organisations have called for a faster expansion of the Swedish railway network. Now Trafikverket concludes that the development of the railway network in the Öresund region can be advanced by several years. This is stated on Trafikverket’s website.

“The cross-border traffic in the Öresund region has shown positive development for many years, and we are already actively working on preparations for the opening of the Fehmarnbelt link. As traffic across the Öresund is expected to increase further in the coming decades, we see a need for stronger Danish-Swedish cooperation on issues such as traffic forecasts, capacity planning and contingency planning. Traffic management and disruption handling can also be further developed in the future,” says Anna Wildt-Persson, Regional Director of Trafikverket’s Southern Region.

Capacity-enhancing measures
In its report to the Swedish government, Trafikverket has also taken a closer look at railway measures linked to the Södra stambanan (the line from Malmö to Katrineholm, ed.), which are included in the national plan. This is stated on Trafikverket’s website.

The report concludes that several capacity-enhancing measures can be brought forward so that they better align with the opening of the Fehmarnbelt link. For some measures, this means an advancement of several years.

“The fact that measures can be implemented earlier is not only important for traffic across the Öresund. It also adds significant value for both long-distance and commuter rail services. More capacity sooner means less vulnerability to disruptions and more reliable traffic. Everyone benefits from that. At the same time, it is important to stress that bringing measures forward requires fast processing of procedures that lie outside Trafikverket’s direct control. This includes, for example, construction start decisions and appeals against railway plans,” says Anna Wildt-Persson.

Plans to upgrade freight yards
Trafikverket’s proposal for a new national plan for 2026–2037 also includes the possibility of strengthening several freight yards, including in Malmö and Trelleborg. In addition, an investigation of the freight yard in Helsingborg is planned.

“Traffic across the Öresund is one of Trafikverket’s highest priorities, and we are confident that we are implementing the right measures to meet the increasing traffic volumes. Our proposal for the new national plan also includes further capacity-enhancing measures along the Södra stambanan that can be implemented if additional funding becomes available. In addition, there are other important measures that we believe can be financed through the surplus from the Öresund Bridge,” says Anna Wildt-Persson on Trafikverket’s website.

The UK-based development company Verdion is ready to invest DKK 7.5 billion in a new commercial area near Ringsted – iPort Zealand – which will strengthen Danish logistics, industry and business when the Fehmarn Belt connection is completed.
Verdion plans to develop iPort Zealand into Denmark’s leading intermodal hub on a 250-hectare site located at the country’s most important east-west and north-south rail corridor and close to the E20 motorway.
iPort Zealand will have an international freight terminal with transshipment of trailers, containers and swap bodies between road and rail.
Around the terminal, Verdion will build up to 57,000 square metres for logistics, advanced manufacturing, light industry and other business facilities, including high-tech and pharma, creating space for several thousand new jobs.

Importance of the Fehmarn Belt connection
Verdion CEO Michael Huges emphasises the importance of the Fehmarn Belt connection for the decision to make the multi-billion-kroner investment in Denmark:
“iPort Zealand will be an important new powerhouse for Danish business at a strategic location.
The Fehmarn Belt tunnel will have major significance in the Nordic region and Germany. It will open new supply routes and create opportunities across many sectors. Denmark must be well positioned to benefit from the economic growth – from jobs and services to customs and tax revenue.”
“This new business area will be a growth engine that turns better infrastructure into concrete gains for both the local area and the entire country. It will also improve access to major regional ports.”
“With modern freight handling, state-of-the-art buildings, the use of rail freight and a strong ESG focus, the project will create major positive effects throughout Denmark.”
“The tunnel construction is progressing, and therefore the land-based infrastructure must be ready before the trains start running. We have already made strong progress and have good dialogue locally and nationally. With partnerships in place, we stand strong and are ready to move forward with support from Ringsted Municipality,” says CEO Michael Huges.

Realising the potential
Stig Rømer Winther, Director of Femern Belt Development, is pleased that the plans for iPort Zealand have reached a stage where they can now be made public.
“Since early 2025, we have been involved in the project through meetings with the landowner and Ringsted Municipality, providing advice on the next steps. There is no doubt that Ringsted can become a central hub for transport on both the east-west and north-south axis. iPort Zealand is therefore a very important initiative in terms of unlocking the potential of the upcoming fixed Fehmarn Belt connection,” says Stig Rømer Winther.

Impact on the environment
iPort Zealand must be able to handle at least 12 full-length freight trains per day – seven days a week. Each train replaces around 60 long-distance trucks and frees up space on the roads. Freight trains emit around four times less CO₂ than trucks, Verdion points out. Each train can therefore save around 45 tonnes of CO₂ compared with road transport alone.
All buildings will be constructed to high sustainability standards. The focus is on energy and resource efficiency, and the buildings will be certified according to an internationally recognised scheme.
Verdion is now working with local and national stakeholders on the detailed plans. The development is scheduled to be ready when the new tunnel opens, expected in 2030, the company says.
 

Challenges with the special vessel IVY have significantly delayed construction of the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel between Denmark and Germany, Sund & Bælt announced in a press release.
The 18-kilometre immersed tunnel is being built with 73,500-ton concrete elements, each 217 metres long, which are lowered and joined on the seabed.
These elements are considerably heavier and larger than the ones used to build the Øresund Tunnel. In addition, the work takes place at an average water depth of 30 metres – twice as much as at Øresund – which requires an advanced and unique vessel with complex mechanical and electronic installations.
The purpose-built vessel has not yet been fully tested and approved by the authorities, and its completion is now 1.5 years behind schedule. With the current delay of IVY, it is considered difficult to complete the tunnel according to the original timetable.
“The Fehmarnbelt link is the world’s longest immersed tunnel. It is a megaproject, and with that come inevitable challenges and unforeseen events. IVY is a prototype, specially built for us, and it has required more time than anticipated,” says Mikkel Hemmingsen, CEO of Sund & Bælt, the project owner.

More challenges
It is uncertain how much of the lost time can be regained in the coming years.
When the construction contracts were signed in 2016, the German regulatory approval for the project had not yet been obtained. Therefore, the specific conditions – for example, regarding noise emissions from work vessels – could not be incorporated into the contracts. This may complicate a later acceleration of the construction process.
“The contracts are soon 10 years old, and they were made before both Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine, and before we knew the full extent of the German regulatory requirements,” says Mikkel Hemmingsen.

Ongoing dialogue with Germany
Sund & Bælt is in continuous dialogue with the German authorities to find practical solutions regarding both underwater noise emission limits and sediment spill in German waters. In addition, part of the tunnel trench still needs to be levelled with gravel, as supplementary geotechnical investigations have shown that some sections are about 30 cm deeper than planned.
The other part of the project – the Danish railway works for the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, consisting of 110 km of new double-track railway from Ringsted to Rødby – is on schedule.
The overall project can still be carried out as a user-financed facility, as provided for in the Construction Act.

Preparations for the upcoming four-lane road connection to the Fehmarn Belt Link are now visible in the northern German landscape.

The construction of the tunnel portal on Fehmarn has been visible for several years, and now forest clearing has begun in preparation for the future four-lane road connection to the fixed link between Denmark and Germany.

As we move into 2025, the German project organization DEGES – Deutsche Einheit Fernstraßenplanungs- und -bau GmbH – is taking stock of the German construction work related to the Fehmarn Belt Link.

DEGES is managing the construction work on the German mainland and on Fehmarn Island in three projects:

• Construction of the road section from Heiligenhafen to Fehmarnsund
• Building of a Fehmarnsund tunnel, and
• The connection at Puttgarden to the Fehmarn Tunnel

Expansion of B207 to a four-lane motorway

The work to expand the 16.3 km long section of the B 207 on the German mainland, from Heiligenhafen Ost to Fehmarnsund, is now underway with forest clearing and cable laying.

The section will be expanded into a four-lane motorway with a hard shoulder, and the work is expected to be completed by 2027/2028, according to DEGES, which states that the expansion will improve traffic safety and increase capacity. The overall goal is to reduce traffic jams, particularly during summer holidays and travel season.

Construction of a Fehmarnsund Tunnel

The current road and rail connection between the German mainland and Fehmarn Island crosses the 963-meter-long Fehmarnsund Bridge, which was opened in 1963.

Studies have shown that the bridge will not be able to withstand future traffic loads, and threfor it has been decided on the German side to construct a 1.7 km long submerged tunnel with four lanes for road traffic and two tracks for trains.

Construction work has not yet started, but the tunnel is expected to be completed and ready for use by 2029, alongside the completion of the Fehmarn Tunnel.

The listed Fehmarnsund Bridge – also known as the “Hanging Bridge” – will be renovated so that it can continue to be used by pedestrians, cyclists, and slow traffic in the future.

Connection to the Fehmarn Tunnel

Denmark is responsible for the planning, construction, financing, and operation of the fixed Fehmarn Belt connection, as well as the expansion of the Danish approach.

The German project organization DEGES is supporting the construction of the two tunnel tubes for road traffic on the German side, where work on the construction of the tunnel portal in Puttgarden began in 2021.

The work on the connection to the Fehmarn Tunnel in Puttgarden is expected to be completed in parallel with the commissioning of the Fehmarn Tunnel in 2029, according to DEGES.

According to an analysis conducted by the tourism alliance SMA-Z, 10 million Germans have Zealand, Lolland-Falster, and Møn on their radar for a holiday within the next three years. The study also shows that German tourists’ interest in visiting eastern Denmark will increase significantly once the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel opens, writes Business Lolland-Falster in a press release.

For 52% of travel-inclined Germans, the tunnel raises the likelihood of visiting eastern Denmark. This means that more than 5 million Germans are more likely to travel to Zealand, Lolland-Falster and Møn when the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel opens in 2029.

500,000 More Overnight Stays 
The shorter travel time and easy access make a vacation in Lolland-Falster even more attractive for Germans. At the same time calculations indicate that the number of international overnight stays in the Zealand region will increase by more than 500,000 solely due to increased accessibility once the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel opens in 2029.
These calculations, conducted by HBS Economics, do not account for tourism-promoting activities that will build on this ease-of-access to Denmark.

German Tourism Potential Needs to be Considered 
Lindy Kjøller, Destination Manager at Visit Lolland-Falster and Project Manager for SMA-Z, welcomes the analysis and points out that the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel will transform the entire tourism sector's self-perception on the eastern side of the Storebælt.
“For many years, we have primarily focused on Danish visitors in Zealand, Lolland-Falster, and Møn because they are the majority. But in a few years, this could turn completely around, with German tourists filling vacation homes and hotel beds. This places new demands on our reception facilities,” says Lindy Kjøller.

This means that tourism businesses need to consider German-speaking staff, signage, and websites in German. In fact, 46% of German tourists that participatet in the survey state that it is important for them that staff understand and speak German, and 55% prefer brochures, maps and guides in their native language. Both studies are the first to clarify the tourism potential related to the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel.

Good News for Tourism 
The possibility that increased German interest in eastern Denmark may already materialize in the coming three years, with 10 million German tourists potentially finding their way to Zealand, Lolland-Falster, and Møn, is good news for tourism, but it poses two very specific challenges.
“Accommodation capacity and qualified workforce are the main barriers to growth. The Fehmarn Belt Tunnel could help solve our labour challenges by enabling us to attract employees from a much larger area. However, the tunnel also opens up completely new customer groups from northern German cities who prefer to stay in hotels, and we have too few of those,” says Lindy Kjøller.

43% of respondents from Berlin indicate that it is likely they will travel to Zealand and Lolland-Falster. Although city dwellers often prefer to stay in hotel rooms, most German overnight stays take place in Danish holiday homes, and there is also a shortage of those.

Facts About Strategic Marketing Alliance – Zealand 
The Strategic Marketing Alliance – Zealand (SMA-Z) is a new, unique alliance that aims to strengthen tourism in Zealand, Lolland-Falster, and Møn and foster strategic collaboration in analysis, marketing, and development among the five destinations outside Copenhagen: Visit Sydsjælland og Møn, VisitFjordlandet, VisitNordsjælland, Destination Sjælland, and Visit Lolland-Falster. Additionally, VisitDenmark, Danish Coastal and Nature Tourism, Erhvervshus Sjælland, and Erhvervshus Hovedstaden are part of the project.

The vision is for Zealand, Lolland-Falster and Møn is to stand as strong as possible as a tourism area when the permanent Fehmarn Belt Tunnel opens in 2029. This will be achieved through a coordinated marketing effort and core narrative.
The project aims to increase the number of international tourists, especially Germans, and to create a more sustainable tourism sector in Zealand, Lolland-Falster and Møn by better utilizing capacity throughout more of the year and enhancing the environmental sustainability and appeal of tourism products, particularly for environmentally conscious German travelers.

"The Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link allows us to have great visions. It is a unique opportunity to make us into a European hub for green growth, innovation, exchange and international co-operation. It is therefore crucial that we already now plan for the long term, so that we can realise the many potentials the connection creates for the entire Region Zealand," says Heino Knudsen, commenting on the new development strategy for Region Zealand, which was recently adopted by a unanimous regional council.

The strategy is divided into five key themes that set an ambitious and sustainable direction for the region for the next 10 years and paves the way for partnerships and initiatives that will make the region more green, attractive and internationally orientated.

Development in a sustainable direction
In addition to the Fehmarn Belt Link, another recurring focus in the new strategy is sustainable development - this applies not only to the environment and climate, but also that the social and economic development of Region Zealand moves in a sustainable direction. It emphasises the importance of strategic partnerships, fundraising, international collaboration and the involvement of citizens and partners in the development process.
"The development strategy is an invitation for co-operation across borders, sectors and walks of life. It is a strategy for the entire geography of Region Zealand, where we must work together on pulling in the same direction, so that Region Zealand remains an attractive, dynamic and sustainable region for both present and future generations," says Christian Wedell-Neergaard, Chairman of the Regional Development Committee, Education, Public Transport and International Cooperation.

Further information
Read the regional development strategy on Region Zealand's website

The establishment of a new viewpoint - Pilen (The Arrow) - over the construction of the Fehmarn Belt tunnel was launched on 11^th January 24, with the groundbreaking ceremony by Mayor Holger Schou Rasmussen, Lolland Municipality and CEO Mikkel Hemmingsen, Sund & Bælt, Femern A/S announces.

Unique front row view
The Arrow will be located on reclaimed land a few hundred metres from where the first tunnel element will be sunk into place and where traffic will enter the tunnel in the future. This will give visitors to the area a unique front row view of the extensive tunnel construction.

An experience in itself
The Arrow will be a ramp that gradually rises 217 metre upwards, which is the same length as a tunnel element, ending in a head pointing towards Germany.

The highest point of the ramp will be 24 metres above the surrounding landscape.

From The Arrow, visitors will be able to follow the floating departure of the tunnel elements, as well as following the construction of the tunnel portal and the future road and railway connection into the countryside.

The project also includes a new ramp and access path from the nearby car park on Gl. Badevej in Rødbyhavn.

In addition to giving visitors a better view of the work on the 18-kilometre-long immersed tunnel, a visit to The Arrow will be an experience in itself.

Aarsleff A/S is the entrepreneur working on the establishment of The Arrow, that is expected to be open to visitors at the beginning of 2025.