The Fehmarn Municipality is appealing to the German Federal Administrative Court to address Deutsche Bahn’s plans for the hinterland connection to the upcoming Fehmarn Tunnel. The municipality, along with its water supply company (WBV), has utilized their right to appeal during the project’s planning phase, which they believe threatens Fehmarn’s drinking water supply, a major holiday destination in Germany.
Damage to pipes and tanks
The water supply company fears that construction work and the expected increase in traffic across the island will cause vibrations that could damage underground pipes and tanks.
At the same time, the municipality is highly dissatisfied with Deutsche Bahn’s initial plan to electrify and upgrade the old Fehmarnsund Bridge instead of prioritizing the planned new tunnel under the Fehmarnsund.
Left the door ajar
Initially, the Fehmarn Municipality left the door open in hopes of engaging in dialogue with Deutsche Bahn to reach an amicable solution to the problem. This was to happen within the ten weeks the municipality had to justify and document its complaint to the court:
– We now have ten weeks for this. If we can reach an agreement with Deutsche Bahn, we are also ready to withdraw the case, said Fehmarn’s mayor Jörg Weber back in May to Lübecker Nachrichten.
Have heard nothing
Now the ten weeks have passed, and the case appears to be proceeding in court. Deutsche Bahn has not shown a willingness to negotiate:
– The case is now in court, and we are waiting. Our goal with the complaint is for Deutsche Bahn to reconsider their plans, but we have heard nothing, says regional manager Daniela Borgstädt, who is responsible for coordinating the many large construction projects on the island.
No suspensive effect
Deutsche Bahn’s communications consultant Michaela Klauer confirms that the complaint is still under review but is not expected to delay construction on either the old Fehmarnsund Bridge or the announced new Fehmarnsund connection:
– The complaint is still ongoing, but it has no impact on the ongoing construction work on Fehmarn. The construction work continues as planned, she writes in an email response to FemernReport.
The Fehmarn Municipality also states that their complaint does not have a suspensive effect on the project but that they hope it will be completed as quickly as possible.
