EIB sign €200 million deal for rail link between Denmark and Germany

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a loan agreement with A/S Femern Landanlaeg, the company managing the Danish contribution to building of the “Fehmarn Belt” railway, which will connect southern Denmark and Hamburg in Germany. The €200 million loan is guaranteed by the Danish state.

The project concerns 80km of railway between Ringsted and Nykøbing Falster, where the existing tracks will be modernised and a second track will be built. The financing also covers bridge works on the 40km stretch between Nykøbing Falster and Rødby, which serve to prepare the Danish rail network for the Fehmarn Belt tunnel opening.

On a technical level, the project foresees modernisation and renewal of existing railway tracks, electrification as well as the deployment of ERTMS (European Railway Traffic Management System). Combined with the newly constructed tracks, this will allow for speed increases on the section, allowing high-speed trains to complete the Hamburg Copenhagen stretch in under three hours, once the tunnel will be operational.

EIB Vice-President, Alexander Stubb, commented: “Let’s face it, we all know that to reach the goals set by the Paris agreement, we need to cut our CO₂ emissions. You can do this by cutting down on travel, business and tourism, but the better option is probably to provide alternative modes of transportation that do not hurt the environment as much. The EIB is the biggest financier of climate-relevant projects in the world, and we’re 100 per cent behind the Fehmarn Belt railway link.”

“We are very pleased that the European Investment Bank has granted us this loan agreement. It will contribute to the necessary funding for A/S Femern Landanlæg to prepare the first phase of the Danish rail network for the Fehmarn Belt tunnel, opening in 2028.” says Mikkel Hemmingsen, CEO of Sund & Bælt Holding A/S. 

“The Fehmarn Belt tunnel between Denmark and Germany is a key project to bring Europeans closer. The combination of a €123.5 million grant from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) with the EIB’s loan will allow decisive progress on the Danish access route, mobilising an overall investment of more than €500 million in the EU economy” added Violeta Bulc, EU Commissioner for Transport.