A new report by the Swedish Transport Administration Trafikverket, “Kapacitet och redundans för transporter över Öresund” (Capacity and redundancy for transport across the Øresund), highlights the need for increased capacity and redundancy between the critical transport links between Denmark and Sweden. The next step should now be for the Swedish government to reach out to their Danish counterparts for a bilateral investigation of fixed links across the Oresund strait.
Future Projects and Their Impact
Trafikverket’s analysis included three potential new fixed connections:
- A tunnel between Helsingborg and Helsingør.
- The Öresund Metro connecting Malmö and Copenhagen.
- A tunnel between Landskrona and Copenhagen.
These projects are evaluated on their potential to increase rail capacity, enhance freight transport, and provide redundancy. They aim to offer resilient and versatile routes for both passenger and freight trains, linking major stations and ensuring seamless connectivity.
The report points to three specific challenges that need to be addressed:
- Capacity constraints on land: The land-based infrastructure in both Denmark and Sweden needs to be expanded to handle the growing demand for transport. This includes improvements to the rail infrastructure, new roads, and better connections to airports and ports.
- Lack of redundancy: The transport system is vulnerable to disruptions, such as accidents, road works, and bad weather. There is a need for alternative routes and transfer options to ensure that freight and passenger transport can continue, even in the event of disruptions.
- Border controls: Border controls can delay and hinder the transport of goods and people. There is a need for a more efficient and streamlined border crossing procedure to promote cross-border mobility.
Bilateral cooperation across the borders is essential
STRING welcomes the report and looks forward to continuing bilateral cooperation between the two countries to ensure an effective and robust transport infrastructure in the region. One of the suggestions in the report from Trafikverket is to proceed with a bilateral investigation of the Oresund strait. By working together, Sweden and Denmark can ensure that the Öresund region remains a resilient, connected, and thriving part of the megaregion, benefiting both nations and their citizens.
Continued bilateral efforts between Denmark and Sweden are crucial for addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by these infrastructure projects. The report highlights that an additional fixed link will be necessary from 2050 and to be ready in time we need to start the concrete planning now.