The construction of a fixed link across the Fehmarn Belt remains one of our most important infrastructure initiatives. The project will dramatically improve connectivity in the STRING region as well as the whole Scandinavian and Mediterranean corridor, while also drastically reducing travel times. This will directly lead to investment, economic growth, and new job opportunities. Read more about Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link here.

The current railway stretch between Oslo and Gothenburg lies along the ScandMed TEN-T corridor, and has been identified by the EU as a bottleneck to accessibility in the whole corridor. Travel times for train passengers on this route far surpasses that of road transport. It currently takes twice as long for a freight train going from Oslo to Gothenburg, as it does for a lorry traveling by road.

Of the seven trains daily frequenting the stretch in each direction, only three travel at full speed (around 85 km/pr.h). Furthermore, close to 97% of all freight between the two destinations happen via road transport, with over 70% of lorries returning empty. This presents two main challenges; 1) rail accessibility and travel times on the entire TEN-T corridor, all the way down to Hamburg becomes suboptimal; 2) the environmental effects of passenger travel in the stretch are far worse than with a well-functioning railway system. Hence, the bottleneck created by only having a single track between Oslo and Gothenburg is a huge infrastructural disadvantage for the entire TEN-T ScandMed corridor, prolonging travel times and hindering accessibility for the entire megaregion.

The stretch between Oslo and Gothenburg needs double tracks to create economic growth and improve our environment. With continuously stricter EU and national emission goals, we are dependent on well-functioning rail traffic. Electrical vehicles and hydrogen cars are a huge step in the right direction toward cutting emissions, but they do not have the range or efficiency to replace traveling by air and quick trips between cities and rural areas. Nor do they solve the issue of congestion on to roads. Pushing for new rail solutions is therefore the only sustainable alternative for mid-length travels.

STRING is engaging with stakeholders at the local, regional and national levels to strengthen the railway networks and propose new solutions to countering the increasing road traffic. We work to put this on the national agenda in all of our member countries, and as an urgent topic to be addressed in Brussels.

The opening of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link between Denmark and Germany in 2028, will increase the number of trains transporting goods and passengers between Scandinavia and Central Europe. More freight on rail supports the EU target of moving goods from road to rail. Sweden is planning for high-speed rail between Stockholm and Malmö with the potential to continue to Copenhagen Airport and to Hamburg via Fehmarn. This supports the EU target that all core airports has high speed rail connectivity. An increased volume of trains will challenge the capacity across the Öresund Fixed Link. This consequently causes a risk creating bottleneck issues for green, sustainable transport of goods and labour market mobility across the Öresund.

New cross-border connections like an Öresund Metro between the urban nodes Copenhagen and Malmö and a  tunnel between Helsingborg and Helsingör are necessary to accommodate the increased demand for more capacity and better connectivity. STRING is engaging with stakeholders and governments to propose sustainable solutions and increase opportunities for business and the citizens of the region.

Foto: Apelöga

For our efforts to have maximum success, we also need to focus on eliminating all key bottlenecks in the Scandinavian and Mediterranean corridor between Hamburg and Oslo. 

In a new analysis made by Ramboll and KombiConsult, we have zoomed in on the current and potential bottlenecks in the megaregion after the construction of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link. Removing these barriers is of crucial importance not only to the economy of Northern Europe, but Europe at large.

If the bottlenecks on the new Fehmarn Belt Route were removed, it would reduce the travel time between Oslo and Hamburg by 4 hours. A trip between these two cities would then only take 9 hours.

To achieve this goal, the necessary surrounding infrastructure projects must begin now so the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link does not become an isolated solution creating new bottlenecks in the STRING corridor. This is particularly the case in the Oresund Region and the stretch between Gothenburg and Oslo.

The recommendations in this report have the support of all STRING members who are united in our effort to secure a smooth, green and swift transportation of goods and people in our region.

• Read the executive summary of the bottleneck analysis here.
• Read the full bottleneck analysis report here.