Direct trains between Copenhagen and Hamburg began running this week through the newly opened Fehmarn Belt tunnel, cutting the scheduled journey time to two hours and forty-five minutes. The previous route, which relied on a ferry crossing, took close to five hours.
The 18-kilometre tunnel runs beneath the strait separating the Danish island of Lolland from the German island of Fehmarn. It carries both road and rail traffic and is among the longest combined tunnels of its kind in Europe.
What it changes for travellers
Operators on both sides plan an hourly service at peak times, with through-ticketing between the two national networks.
“For the first time you can leave central Copenhagen in the morning and be in a Hamburg meeting before lunch, by train.”
Freight operators are also expected to benefit. Construction ran for close to a decade and drew scrutiny over its cost and environmental review.
| Measure | Ferry route | Tunnel route |
|---|---|---|
| Journey time | ~4h 45m | 2h 45m |
| Transfers | 1 (ferry) | 0 |
| Peak frequency | Every 2h | Hourly |
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