Denmark-Germany Tourism Surge: New Underwater Tunnel Connection Cuts Travel Time Dramatically – Travel And Tour World

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Tourism is set to receive a significant boost with the new connectivity between Germany and Denmark, reducing travel time by over 30 minutes. This swift connection will facilitate the movement of German tourists to Denmark, supporting exponential growth in both inbound and outbound tourism. Currently, approximately 1.8 million German tourists visit Denmark each year, making Germans the largest group of foreign visitors to the country. They contribute significantly to Denmark’s tourism economy, accounting for about 28% of the total foreign tourism consumption. In 2019, German tourists made around 13.3 million overnight stays in Denmark, underscoring the strong travel connection between the two nations.

The world’s longest underwater rail and road tunnel is a step closer to connecting Denmark and Germany. On Monday, Danish King Frederik X inaugurated the initial segment of the future 18-kilometer tunnel beneath the Baltic Sea. This ambitious project will link southern Denmark to northern Germany and play a key role in the transport sector’s green transition.

Slated to open in 2029, the Fehmarnbelt link will significantly reduce travel time, transforming the current 45-minute ferry ride into a swift seven-minute train journey. The tunnel will connect Roedby in Denmark to Puttgarden in Germany, facilitating seamless road and rail access to central Europe and the Nordic countries.

First Segment of Fehmarnbelt Tunnel Ready for Submersion

King Frederik unveiled a plaque at the entrance of the tunnel’s first 217-meter segment, which is set to be submerged into a seabed trench on the Danish side later this year. As part of the ceremony, he placed a coin featuring his effigy into a time capsule containing items contributed by the tunnel’s construction team.

Sund & Baelt, the company overseeing the Fehmarn link, asserts that it will be the longest submersible tunnel, equipped with an electrified train track. The tunnel will enable cars to traverse the Baltic Sea in 10 minutes and trains in just seven minutes.

Immersed Tunnel Decision and Construction Timeline

In 2011, the decision was made to construct an immersed tunnel linking the southern Danish island of Lolland with the northern German island of Fehmarn. Construction on the Danish side commenced in July 2022, followed by the German side exactly one year later.

Cost and Construction Details of the Fehmarn Link

The Fehmarn link will comprise 89 concrete segments, being built at a specialized facility in Roedbyhavn on Lolland, recognized as North Europe’s largest construction site. The first segment was cast in May.

With a projected cost of 55.1 billion kroner (€4.8 billion), the Fehmarn link will be financed by users in Denmark. The Danish government will determine the tunnel’s toll charges at a later date.

Denmark’s Recent Infrastructure Projects

In recent years, Denmark has established several road-and-rail links with neighboring Sweden and between major Danish islands. In 2000, the Oresund bridge-and-tunnel connection was completed, linking Copenhagen to Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest city. Additionally, in 1998, a road connection was opened between the islands of Funen and Zealand, with train traffic commencing a year earlier.

Conclusion

The Fehmarnbelt tunnel represents a monumental leap forward in European infrastructure, enhancing connectivity between Denmark and Germany while significantly contributing to the green transition in transport. With its opening scheduled for 2029, this 18-kilometer underwater marvel will revolutionize travel, slashing the ferry journey time from 45 minutes to a mere seven minutes by train. As construction progresses, the project not only exemplifies engineering prowess but also promises to strengthen economic and cultural ties across the region. Denmark’s commitment to innovative infrastructure, as demonstrated by the Fehmarnbelt link and previous projects, underscores its role as a leader in sustainable and efficient transport solutions.