As previously described here on FemernReport, Landskrona Municipality, under the auspices of the Europaspåret project, proposes that a tunnel be built from Landskrona to Copenhagen to ensure sufficient rail capacity for freight trains over or under the Øresund when the Fehmarn Tunnel opens. However, it is not the only proposal for an additional fixed connection across the Øresund.
Strategic analysis of HH2030
Since 2001, Elsinore and Helsingborg municipalities in the constellation HH2030 have worked to establish a fixed connection between the two cities, and in January 2021 a so-called “strategic analysis” of technical conditions, financing options, traffic and socio-economic effects of such a connection was published. Since then, elections had to be held for the Danish Parliament and also for the Riksdag in Sweden, and this put the political process on hold.
Has completed market dialogue
Now the process is back on track, at least in Sweden, and Helsingborg Municipality has carried out a so-called market dialogue. Here, contractors, technical advisers and possible financing partners have been asked, among other things, how to proceed with such a project.
– We are currently sitting and working on a summary of the market dialogue, which we will send to the Trafikverket in March, says Sten Hansen, infrastructure strategist in Helsingborg Municipality.
Focus on people rather than goods
The HH2030 project is focused on local and regional passenger traffic across the Øresund. Therefore, it will not be able to be used as such to relieve the existing Øresund connection. The Øresund Bridge Consortium has predicted that freight train traffic will increase by 200-300 per cent when the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel opens in 2029. However, the many additional freight trains will not be able to run on the coastal line between Helsingør and Copenhagen, as there is insufficient capacity for anything other than passenger trains.
In addition to Europaspåret’s and HH2030’s project, the municipalities of Copenhagen and Malmö are also working on a proposal for a metro line between the two cities.
