New Fehmarn Belt commissioning schedules will be developed and announced following detailed consideration by the project owners on both the German and Danish sides. The issues to be resolved are complex and have multiple causes, prompting a reassessment of the overall timeline. The fixed link was originally planned to open in 2029.
This was the outcome of a meeting held on 29 October 2025 between Denmark’s Minister for Transport Thomas Danielsen and Germany’s Federal Minister for Transport Patrick Schnieder. During their discussions, the ministers reviewed the current status of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link and the associated German rail infrastructure. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to completing the project as swiftly as possible and to maintaining close cooperation to ensure a timely and coordinated opening.
In July 2025, the Federal Ministry of Transport in Germany announced that the country’s new railway installations could not be commissioned in 2029 as originally intended. The delay stems mainly from the demanding approval and permitting processes required to start major construction works in Germany. Nevertheless, German authorities have reiterated their determination to advance progress and are actively assessing measures to accelerate the work.
Further challenges were confirmed in September 2025, when Sund & Bælt Holding A/S reported that completion of a specialised vessel designed for lowering the tunnel elements had been delayed. This setback has pushed back the submersion process by around 18 months, casting doubt on whether the initial target date can be met. As a result, the Fehmarn Belt commissioning timeline will need to be revised.
“We have had a constructive meeting and reaffirmed that the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link is a vital project for both our countries and for Europe as a whole. We remain united in our determination to complete the fixed link and its associated land infrastructure as quickly as possible,” said Denmark’s Minister for Transport, Thomas Danielsen.
At the same time, Sund & Bælt Holding announced that final works are nearing completion at the Danish tunnel portal on Lolland, where the land-based section is now being covered with soil. This milestone marks the near completion of the Danish entrance to the tunnel. At Rødbyhavn, construction continues on the tunnel entrance, where both road and rail traffic will descend into the structure. Work began in 2022, and approximately 160 metres of tunnel have been cast on land, followed by a 100-metre light transition zone designed to provide a smooth shift between natural daylight and the tunnel’s interior illumination.
On the German side, the tunnel portal is also advancing well. Near Puttgarden on Fehmarn, around 450 metres of tunnel have been cast, together with a 150-metre light transition zone. The foremost section of the portal was submerged last year, and construction of the operations building is already far progressed. This facility will house the tunnel’s technical systems but will not be permanently staffed. In total, more than 75 per cent of the concrete work on the German portal has now been completed.
The Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link will form an 18-kilometre immersed tunnel connecting Lolland in Denmark with Fehmarn in Germany, creating a direct route for both road and rail traffic. The tunnel is being built from 79 standard elements, each 217 metres long and weighing around 73,000 tonnes, along with 10 special elements that will contain the electrical and mechanical systems. All components are being manufactured at a dedicated production facility near Rødbyhavn.
Beyond its engineering scale, the Fehmarn Belt project represents a transformative investment in European connectivity. Once completed, it will significantly reduce travel times between Scandinavia and continental Europe, strengthen cross-border trade, and promote greener transport by encouraging rail use over road and air travel. The project also forms a key part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), underscoring its strategic importance for sustainable mobility across the continent
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