Fehmarnbelt Tunnel: New underwater tunnel between Denmark and Germany as early as 2029

Denmark and Germany should soon be connected by an underwater tunnel. The Fehmarnbelt tunnel will thus connect the countries with just a seven-minute train ride. Some time ago, we already reported on the underwater tunnel between Europe and Africa, there was also news about a tunnel between Sicily and the Italian peninsula. A few days ago, they completed the first part of the underwater tunnel between Germany and Denmark.

The Fehmarnbelt link is currently under construction, but when it is built, it will be the longest submerged tunnel in the world, stretching 18 km across the Baltic Sea. Currently, you can only travel between Germany and Denmark, except by road, by 45-minute ferry. With the Fehmarnbelt tunnel, the travel time will be drastically reduced. The tunnel will contain a two-lane highway and a two-track railway, and the journey through the tunnel will take ten minutes. Traveling by train only seven.

In Denmark, the entrance to the tunnel will be in Roedby on the southern island of Lolland, and in Germany in the city of Puttgardn in the north of the country. This new connection will drastically reduce travel times for day migrants and tourists – the rail journey between Copenhagen and Hamburg, for example, is expected to be shortened by around two hours. The tunnel will be completed in parts, but the first part is already built. The 217-meter long section was ceremonially opened by the King of Denmark a few days ago and will soon be submerged in the Baltic Sea. Plans for the tunnel are part of the transport sector's commitment to the EU's Green Deal.

The tunnel is expected to cost around 4.8 billion euros. The Danish government, which is funding the project, will introduce a toll to offset the costs. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2029.