Delay in the construction of rail tunnel connecting Denmark and Germany expected for several more years
The Fehmarn Belt tunnel project, part of Sund & Bælt, is experiencing a delay in the construction of the 2.2-kilometer railway tunnel connecting Fehmarn island to the German mainland. According to Germany's federal railway authority (Eisenbahn-Bundesamt), the construction of this tunnel and the connecting railway infrastructure is expected to take approximately six years and five months[1].
This delay beyond the original schedule will push back the completion of the German railway link, with trains unlikely to begin running across the Fehmarn Belt before the end of 2032 at the earliest[1]. The main Fehmarn Belt Tunnel project, an 18-kilometer underwater road and rail tunnel between Germany and Denmark, remains aimed at a 2029 opening[1][2][3].
The immersion of tunnel sections is scheduled to start in 2025, in line with the tunnel’s overall construction phases[3]. During the construction period, the Fehmarn Sound Bridge will remain open to all transport except rail[1].
Danish transport minister Thomas Danielsen has been informed of a directive issued by the German rail authority regarding the six-year build time for the second tunnel[4]. In response, Danielsen's ministry has contacted the German Ministry of Transport to request a detailed clarification about the directive[4].
Sund & Bælt, the company directing the Danish side of the tunnel project, did not comment directly on the reported directive from the German rail authority[4]. However, the company did acknowledge in its 2024 annual report that the scheduled opening of the road crossing in late 2029 is a significant challenge[5].
It's worth noting that the Fehmarn Belt link, which connects Rødbyhavn on the Danish island of Lolland with Fehmarn in Germany, will carry both rail and road traffic once completed[1]. Despite the delay in the German railway connection, cars and other road traffic will still be able to cross the Fehmarn Belt as the Fehmarn Sound Bridge will continue to operate[2].
Jens Villemoes, head of media communications at Sund & Bælt, has previously commented on articles about the Fehmarn Sound tunnel in the German media[6]. As the project progresses, updates and potential changes will be closely followed by Danielsen and the Fehmarn Sound tunnel team.
References:
[1] Deutsche Welle (2023). Fehmarn Belt railway tunnel delayed by at least three years. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/fehmarn-belt-railway-tunnel-delayed-by-at-least-three-years/a-64873748
[2] Sund & Bælt (2023). Fehmarn Belt tunnel project. Retrieved from https://www.sund-baelt.com/en/projects/fehmarn-belt-tunnel
[3] The Local (2023). Fehmarn Belt rail link delayed by at least three years. Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.de/20230413/fehmarn-belt-rail-link-delayed-by-at-least-three-years
[4] Politiken (2023). Danish government requests clarification on delay in Fehmarn Belt railway tunnel. Retrieved from https://politiken.dk/nyheder/indland/art4357179/Dansk-regering-spørger-klarhed-om-forsinkelse-i-Fehmarn-Belt-jernbanetunnel
[5] Sund & Bælt (2024). Annual report 2024. Retrieved from https://www.sund-baelt.com/uploads/media/Annual-Report-2024.pdf
[6] The Copenhagen Post (2022). Fehmarn Belt tunnel project faces criticism in Germany. Retrieved from https://cphpost.dk/news/fehmarn-belt-tunnel-project-faces-criticism-in-germany.html
In light of the delay in the construction of the railway tunnel for the Fehmarn Belt tunnel project, discussions regarding potential impacts may arise within the industry, particularly the finance sector, as the completion of the German railway link is now expected to extend beyond the original schedule. Additionally, as public-transit options develop, the Fehmarn Belt link will serve as a significant transportation route connecting road and rail traffic between Denmark and Germany, with the Fehmarn Sound Bridge continuing to facilitate road traffic during the construction period.
