The fixed connection under the Fehmarnbelt will eliminate the need for a 160-kilometer detour through Denmark for freight trains. Transport time is reduced by around 2.5 hours for rail transport and approximately one hour for road transport. Expectations are also high for what it will entail, not least in green transport, with more freight transport on the railways and fewer trucks on the roads.
Could be a game changer
A new report from Sweco, commissioned by the STRING collaboration and Greater Copenhagen, shows that the connection has all the prerequisites to become a game changer in freight transport. But it will not happen by itself, STRING and Greater Copenhagen write in a press release.
Requires investments
According to the two organisations, a successful transfer of freight transport from road to rail requires more investment in the rail network in the ScanMed (Scandinavian-Mediterranean) corridor. Bottlenecks and lack of capacity in the rail system have led to an increase in road freight transport and a decrease in rail transport. The trend is expected to continue even after the Fehmarn Belt link has been opened. Road freight transport can increase by up to 120 percent, while rail freight transport can fall further.
Forecasts too positive
In 2014, a forecast showed that 165,000 tons of freight per year would be moved from road to rail once the Fehmarnbelt link was in place. The new Sweco report shows that this forecast was too positive in light of recent developments. The calculation now shows 7 fewer freight trains per day than the previous forecast.
Disturbing reading
– The report is worrying reading as it shows that without investment in the railway network we will not be able to exploit the full potential of the Fehmarn Belt connection in terms of green transport. The Øresund Bridge land facility on the Swedish side, four tracks on Lund-Hässleholm, several tracks preferably all the way to Linköping and a new transshipment terminal in Denmark are some of the investments that must be made to solve bottlenecks and capacity problems and make the railways more competitive, says Tue David Bak, who is CEO of Greater Copenhagen.
– We need to solve the remaining challenges in order to strengthen the role of the Fehmarnbelt connection and maximize the incredible opportunities it provides, says STRING’s CEO, Thomas Becker.
More safety and less emissions
More freight transport by rail will mean less CO2 emissions, and this is a prerequisite if the EU is to meet its climate targets. It will also reduce traffic jams, particle emissions and wear and tear on the roads. Statistically, rail transport is also safer than road transport.
