Swedish Government publishes new report: Öresundsförbindelser 2050
The Swedish Government has published the inquiry Öresundsförbindelser 2050 – behov av kapacitet, redundans och svenskt-danskt samarbete (SOU 2026:17), outlining how Sweden and Denmark can strengthen cross-border cooperation on future transport capacity and redundancy across Øresund beyond 2050.
STRING contributed to the inquiry process in November 2025 and welcomes the report as an important step towards renewed high-level Danish–Swedish infrastructure dialogue.
Capacity and resilience beyond 2050
The report recognises that the existing Øresund Bridge will not be able to carry future passenger and freight demand alone in the long term. Increasing traffic volumes, the upcoming Fehmarn Belt connection, and a changing geopolitical landscape all underline the need for greater capacity, resilience and coordinated planning between the two countries.
Rather than recommending a specific solution, the inquiry proposes launching a bilateral Swedish–Danish strategic study, potentially starting in 2027, with a duration of two to three years. The study would analyse:
-
Future passenger and freight transport demand
-
Capacity constraints and redundancy needs
-
Socio-economic impacts and regional development effects
-
Sustainability and climate implications
-
Financing models and governance structures
The report also proposes establishing a more permanent framework for state-level coordination on Øresund infrastructure.
STRING’s perspective
For STRING, two strategic priorities remain central in the continued process:
A fixed HH connection (Helsingør–Helsingborg)
A second fixed link in the northern part of Øresund would strengthen labour market integration, improve redundancy, and increase system resilience – particularly for freight transport and in times of crisis.
The Øresund Metro (Copenhagen–Malmö)
A metro connection between the two metropolitan centres would significantly enhance agglomeration effects and daily mobility, while freeing capacity on the existing bridge for international passenger and green freight rail traffic along the Scandinavian–European corridor.
In STRING’s view, these are not alternative options, but complementary investments necessary to realise a green, competitive and resilient cross-border megaregion.
Avoiding future bottlenecks — especially with the Fehmarn Belt connection opening within the coming years — requires timely political coordination and an ambitious bilateral mandate.
STRING will continue to actively engage in the next phase of the process and advocate for a forward-looking and accelerated Danish–Swedish infrastructure dialogue.
