A new infrastructure report warns that the upcoming Fehmarn Belt tunnel could flood Copenhagen-area highways with trucks due to inadequate rail capacity. Experts expect daily truck traffic between Germany and the Danish capital to more than double once the tunnel opens.
Truck Traffic Set to Surge
The Fehmarn Belt tunnel between Rødby in Denmark and Puttgarden in Germany was promoted as a way to move more freight from road to rail. That shift was meant to ease traffic congestion and reduce emissions. Instead, a new report predicts that daily truck numbers on the route between the future tunnel and the Copenhagen area could soar from about 2,200 to nearly 4,900.
More trucks will likely mean longer lines on highways already known for bottlenecks. Motorists traveling from the German border to Copenhagen could face much heavier congestion, particularly along main corridors linking to the capital and especially near access routes from Copenhagen Airport.
Rail Bottlenecks Behind the Problem
The problem lies with inadequate upgrades to Denmark’s and northern Europe’s rail networks around the Fehmarn corridor. Engineering firm Sweco previously identified fifteen major “bottlenecks” throughout the region. Now an updated review by the same company says most of them won’t be fixed before the tunnel opens.
Ten sections are classified as “red,” meaning no practical solution is expected in time. Four others are “yellow,” where improvements are planned but lagging behind. Only one bottleneck is “green,” expected to be resolved before opening day.
Most critical issues are found in northern Germany and southern Sweden, where both rail and container terminals lack enough capacity. But one Danish choke point remains: there is no major intermodal terminal near Ringsted or Køge, where goods could shift between trucks and trains. The existing terminal at Høje Taastrup does not have sufficient space for the volume projected once the tunnel opens.
Wider Regional Impact
The Fehmarn Belt link has long targeted a 2029 completion. However, construction delays make that goal increasingly unlikely. That’s problematic because if the rail system isn’t ready when the tunnel finally opens, transport companies may keep investing in road-based freight instead. Analysts worry that could become permanent, reversing the original environmental and traffic benefits envisioned.
As Sweco’s findings outline, Germany’s Hamburg region needs expanded rail yards and container handling capacity. Southern Sweden must double-track several key routes to four tracks. Without those upgrades, freight currently intended for trains will crowd highways all the way into Denmark’s capital region.
Concerns Over Permanent Road Dependence
Experts fear that extended delays on the rail projects will push logistics companies toward long-term investments in trucking, such as new vehicle fleets or expanded depots. Once that happens, switching to rail later could become economically unattractive. That shift would make Denmark’s highways an even busier and more polluting “parking lot,” especially around the Greater Copenhagen corridor.
Such a development could also affect car mobility in the capital. Drivers already face heavy traffic on routes from the coast into central Copenhagen, particularly on the Amager and Køge motorways. If international freight doubles, the situation could worsen dramatically.
Government Response
Denmark’s Transport Minister, Thomas Danielsen, has acknowledged the missing intermodal terminal as a national priority. In a written response, he said that Denmark is politically committed to resolving local capacity issues, especially between Ringsted and the Øresund Bridge. The country, he added, is also coordinating with Sweden and Germany to ensure smoother freight operations across borders.
According to the ministry, investments planned in the coming years should secure sufficient national rail freight capacity. However, critics remain skeptical about whether that will be enough once the massive tunnel connection cuts travel time dramatically between Germany and Zealand.
Outlook
The Fehmarn Belt project remains one of Europe’s largest infrastructure efforts, symbolizing closer Nordic-German integration. Yet, without synchronized rail capacity across borders, its promise may crumble under the weight of thousands of additional trucks. For now, much depends on whether planned railway and freight terminal expansions can finally catch up before the tunnel becomes a reality.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Copenhagen Airport to the City Center – 5 Mistakes You Should Avoid
The Danish Dream: Cars in Denmark for Foreigners
TV2: Ny tunnel kan forvandle motorveje til stor parkeringsplads
