Increased regional competitiveness strengthens Scandinavia
Large and interconnected regions are competitive regions. Distance is measured in time and Scandinavia is a region of the world where reliable cross-border transport plays a particularly important role. Increased trade with our neighbours creates Swedish growth. The whole of Sweden is strengthened by a closer connection to the continent.
At the end of January 2021, a joint study was published by the Swedish and Danish governments, who together researched the possibilities for a fixed road and rail tunnel between Helsingborg and Helsingör. Read more about the research at Trafikverket and Vejdirektoratet.
The project in brief
Fixed link Helsingborg – Helsingör. A fixed tunnel link for passenger trains and road traffic will connect Helsingborg and Helsingör. Passenger train service linking two centres with direct trains and creating greater accessibility to Copenhagen and the continent. The motorway link will divert traffic away from urban centres, creating potential for urban development in attractive locations, improved urban environments and increased accessibility to the continent.
Engine of growth: new jobs, stronger companies and more homes. A fixed HH connection creates new real jobs and a larger labour market that better meets demand. It contributes to increased housing construction and strengthens growth and competitiveness through increased travel and trade.
Self-financing and socio-economically profitable. The fixed link will be Scandinavia’s most profitable road and rail project. It largely covers its own costs through user financing, so that other infrastructure investments are undermined. A fixed link provides high profitability for the road part and a fast repayment time of between 31-40 years (compared to 50 years for the Öresund Bridge).
Strengthened preparedness − reduced vulnerability with an additional fixed link. A fixed link will increase redundancy and reduce vulnerability in the entire transport system across the Öresund. We ensure security of supply if the Öresund Bridge needs to be closed for a longer period of time. A fixed link in the form of a tunnel reduces exposure to external threats. The tunnel solution is also less sensitive to weather disturbances and increases the robustness of the transport system for cross-border transport to the continent.
Short lead time to put a spade in the ground. The initiative has broad support in Sweden and Denmark and has been jointly researched by the Swedish and Danish governments. The Government should decide to commission the Swedish Transport Administration to carry out a location study. A fixed HH connection could be ready by 2030/2035.
