[DE/DK] First element of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel successfully immersed

[JonasB]

After a lot of problems with the approval of the vehicle used to transport and lower the tunnel elements, the first part of the tunnel is now in place on the bottom of the strait.

After a multi-day operation, the first of a total of 89 concrete elements for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel is now in place on the seabed. The historic event began late on Monday evening, 4 May 2026. Five tugboats and the special immersion vessel IVY transported the tunnel element from the tunnel factory at Rødbyhavn on the Danish island of Lolland to the immersion point off the Danish coast.

Around noon on Wednesday, the immersion itself began. Approximately 14 hours later, the dedicated position in the Fehmarnbelt had been reached, and the first tunnel element had been positioned precisely in the tunnel trench in front of the Danish tunnel portal. Subsequently, the element was connected to the portal using hydraulic arms. The position was then finally confirmed by precise laser measurements inside the immersed tunnel element. Later in the day, IVY will then be released from the element.

https://femern.com/press/news/the-first-element-of-the-fehmarnbelt-tunnel-successfully-immersed/

 

[NCT]

Ooo jolly good! Good to see progress even if delays have occurred.

On a related note, is there any news on progress on the Lubeck - Puttgarden section? It doesn't feel as though construction is in full swing?

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

On a related note, is there any news on progress on the Lubeck - Puttgarden section? It doesn't feel as though construction is in full swing?

Apart from the section on Fehmarn itself, which has started construction, there isn't planning approval for any part of the line yet. For two planning sections, the documents haven't even been handed in to the planning authority. Mainly because in 2020, NIMBYs lobbied MPs into voting to force DB to replan large parts of the line with more noise and nature protection than required by law.

See the map here, with "Realisierungsstatus" activated: green is "under construction", blue is "awaiting planning to be approved" and grey is "awaiting handing in of planning documents" https://www.anbindung-fbq.de/streckenabschnitte/streckenueberblick.html

 

[JonasB]

Thanks for the update! I'm a bit worried we will see fast trains between Copenhagen and Burg auf Fehmarn when the tunnel opens, and then replacement buses to Lübeck…

 

[duesselmartin]

Thanks for the update! I'm a bit worried we will see fast trains between Copenhagen and Burg auf Fehmarn when the tunnel opens, and then replacement buses to Lübeck…

That seems likely with the lack of progress linking Fehrman to the German mainland. Germany does give a dysfunctional impression when it comes to large project, red tape stiffeling everything.

 

[JonasB]

Or more likely, the trains will continue to run via Jutland while the tunnel opens for cars on time.

 

[NCT]

Germany makes the UK look good …