DB Netz and Germany’s Minister of Economy and Labour for the State of Schleswig-Holstein have signed a letter of intent supporting the construction of a new electrified rail line leading up to the planned Fehmarnbelt fixed link.
Rather than upgrading the existing corridor, the decision has been taken to close the existing non-electrified line and build a new double-track railway between Lübeck and Puttgarden.
The Fehmarnbelt fixed link is a proposed 18-kilometre immersed tunnel which will connect the German island of Fehmarn with the Danish island of Lolland, significantly cutting journey times between Scandinavia and central Europe.
To coincide with construction of the fixed link, Denmark’s infrastructure manager, Banedanmark, is upgrading a 115-kilometre stretch of railway between Ringsted and Holeby. The programme will involve electrifying the entire route, upgrading the line speed to 200 km/h and installing a new signalling system.
