No trains have run to Rødbyhavn since December 2019. Banedanmark is working hard to get the Ringsted-Femern railway ready for the tunnel opening in 2029, but it will be with a new line alignment. So, the last stretch to the ferry port in Rødbyhavn has not received much attention in recent years. And it can be felt on the surrounding fields.
Flooded fields leads to crop loss
The railway ditch is the watercourse that should lead the drained water away from the fields. And when the railway ditch is filled, it cannot accommodate the water. This has long annoyed farmer Carsten Østen, who has fields next to the now-disused railway line in Rødbyhavn.
“I have a crop loss of about DKK 200,000 due to water on the field. Banedanmark owns the railway ditch and according to the watercourse law, they should ensure it is cleaned, but they have not done so,” says Carsten Østen.
Banedanmark confirms in a written response to FemernReport that there is a lot of water in the railway ditch. After FemernReport got involved in the case, they have also started to do something about it. However, not in the form of cleaning, but with a pump that was set up last Thursday.
Pump installed
“It is correct that the water is high in the railway ditches by the discontinued railway area in Rødbyhavn due to an enormous amount of rainfall, as we have seen this year. We have checked the outlet, and we have now placed a pump at the inlet from the ditch to be absolutely sure that it works as it should. It takes a long time for the water to drain out, because there is so much pressure from the rain. It sinks slowly, and therefore it takes longer than usual,” writes Banedanmark.
Last cleaned five years ago
Banedanmark also states that they conduct annual inspections of the railway ditches in the country to ensure that they function as they should, and whether they need cleaning.
“The mentioned railway ditch was last cleaned five years ago, and for context, we see that the railway ditches generally need to be cleaned every 7-9 years. But we still keep an eye on them annually to be sure that they function as they should, and whether they need cleaning,” Banedanmark informs FemernReport.
