Deutsche Bahn has initiated the construction of a crucial rail connection for the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, paving the way for trains to traverse from Copenhagen through the Fehmarnbelt tunnel to Hamburg in just two and a half hours by late 2029. This vital link will connect the Fehmarnbelt tunnel, linking the Danish island of Lolland to the German island of Fehmarn, with the mainland in Schleswig-Holstein. Essential for freight transport between northern Europe and Italy, the project encompasses 88 kilometers of track in Germany, stretching from the village of Puttgarden on Fehmarn to Lübeck, with an anticipated launch at the end of 2029.
The official inauguration of the project took place on Fehmarn in December, attended by key figures such as Berthold Huber (DB Management Board Member for Infrastructure), Daniel Günther (Premier of Schleswig-Holstein), and Susanne Henckel (State Secretary to the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport). Positioned at the core of the new European freight corridor between Oslo and Palermo, the Belt link will accommodate 68 daily freight trains, complemented by an additional 30 trains moving from the port of Travemünde to Italy. This initiative underscores Deutsche Bahn’s pivotal role in advancing climate-friendly rail transportation and contributing to Germany’s climate policy objectives. The project kicks off with the upgrade and electrification of the 11.4-kilometer line between Puttgarden and the Fehmarn Sound Bridge, marking the commencement of the ten construction sections, with simultaneous work on all sections scheduled to begin in 2026. Out of the project’s 88 kilometers of rail lines, 55 kilometers are slated for new construction.
Image source: https://www.dbcargo.com/rail-de-en/logistics-news/construction-start-fehmarnbelt-fixed-link-12634636