The opening of the Fehmarn Belt railway connection is now expected to be delayed by several years, potentially pushing the launch to the end of 2032 at the earliest. This projection is based on a document from the German railway authority, Eisenbahn-Bundesamt.
The German authority estimates that Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national railway company, will require six and a half years to construct the 2.2-kilometer-long tunnel connecting the train tracks between the island of Fehmarn and the German mainland. Because construction approval is still pending, the railway link’s completion is uncertain.
The original target for the Fehmarn connection’s completion, intended to accommodate both rail and car traffic, was 2029.
Femern A/S, the company responsible for the Danish side of the construction, has declined to comment directly on the German railway authority’s statement.
However, press officer Jens Villemoes stated that they are aware of the reports in German media regarding the Fehmarn Sound tunnel and expect the German government to inform the Danish government of any schedule changes to the German land facilities.
Ritzau, the Danish news agency, is seeking a response from Minister of Transport Thomas Danielsen.
Previous reports have indicated the possibility of delays. Last October, reports surfaced suggesting Germany was encountering significant challenges in completing its portion of the railway connection on schedule.
At the time, Minister Danielsen reportedly informed Danish Parliament representatives that the railway connection might not open until four to five years later than the planned 2029 date.
Deutsche Bahn stated they still expected the German part of the tunnel connection to be finished concurrently with the Danish part.
The opening of the Fehmarn Belt connection to car traffic in 2029 is also uncertain. Sund & Bælt, the company responsible for the Danish side of the project, concluded in its 2024 annual report that the 2029 schedule is “significantly challenged”.
The Fehmarn Belt connection is an 18-kilometer underwater tunnel designed to connect Rødbyhavn on Lolland, Denmark, with Fehmarn, Germany.