Die Brücke

[reb0118]

Is it theoretically possible to run an electric passenger train from Hamburg (Germany) via Copenhagen (Denmark) to Mälmo (Sweden) via the Øresundsbron?

If so would there be a demand for such a service?

 

[starrymarkb]

I think so, but it's a long way round (around 90 miles further then the current route on the train ferry)

 

[TheKnightWho]

Am I right in thinking there's a proposed tunnel to replace the train ferry due to open around 2021?

 

[Nigel Gresley]

The Fermarn Belt Fixed Link will offer a direct route from Hamburg to Copenhagen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fehmarn_Belt_Fixed_Link

Until then the City Night line offers the experience of being hauled by a rare class EA electric locomotive on the Danish part of the trip from Hamburg.

http://www.eurail.com/trains-europe/night-trains/city-night-line#routes

 

[30907]

Memory says there's an issue over differing train protection/on-board signalling systems that make extending beyond Copenhagen uneconomical. There's not much point in terminating at Malmo, you'd have to run through to Stockholm, and Hamburg-Stockholm is a bit far for a day train as things currently stand.

 

[stut]

There is also a Malmo to Berlin train on odd days in the summer season, via the old Trelleborg-Sassnitz ferry link:

http://www.berlin-night-express.com/cgi-bin/tidtabell.cgi?sprak=en

The timings on the northbound run are atrocious, thanks mostly to the ferry times.

 

[gordonthemoron]

northbound used to be much better as ferry left Mukran (Sassnitz port) at about 3am

 

[reb0118]

This "Berlin Night Express" looks very interesting. Was this the route that Lenin took to leave Germany in 1917?

Mmmm! Looks like a trip is fermenting. Easjet Edinburgh to Berlin. Berlin Night Express to Malmö. Trip over Øresundsbron to Copenhagen. Then via the Fugleflugtslinjen to Hamburg for an easyjet home. Sorted.

 

[gordonthemoron]

I've only used the "Berlin Night Express" once, it had 2 couchette coaches and one sleeper IIRC, all Swedish stock, dunno what the ferry was like as I slept through

 

[reb0118]

Looks like you can get a kip from Berlin to Sassnitz* - then get breakfast on the boat - with sea views &c. - before arriving at Malmö in time to check into your hotel! Seems ideal to me. (Maybe not if you are a business man wishing an early morning arrival though).

* I would assume that the train will sit stationary at Sassnitz for a good few hours prior to lading onto the ship? Can't see it taking 10 hours from Berlin?

 

[gordonthemoron]

probably, although I doubt you can get off as it'll be in a marshalling yard, plus there isn't anything nearby. The two closest places are Sassnitz & Binz, neither of which is known for their wild night life

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Until then the City Night line offers the experience of being hauled by a rare class EA electric locomotive on the Danish part of the trip from Hamburg.

http://www.eurail.com/trains-europe/night-trains/city-night-line#routes

Hoping to take this route in November, it doesn't go on the ferry though does it?

 

[gordonthemoron]

no CNL does not go on the ferry

 

[stut]

CNL goes the long way round via Flensburg, Odense and across the Great Belt (which is a pretty impressive sight in its own right!)

 

[30907]

There is also a Malmo to Berlin train on odd days in the summer season, via the old Trelleborg-Sassnitz ferry link:

http://www.berlin-night-express.com/cgi-bin/tidtabell.cgi?sprak=en

The timings on the northbound run are atrocious, thanks mostly to the ferry times.

Stena took this route on at the end of 2012 and have seemingly cancelled the overnight sailings except Fr/Sa nights.
From a motorist's point of view they can't have been particularly attractive - and wouldn't have done much ancillary trade (catering....).

I rather like the idea of a sleeper spending hours in a siding - it's what the Royal Train used to do!

BTW Lenin's train would have used the old ferry terminal in Sassnitz itself - Mukran was IIRC built by the Soviets to make sure they could still reach Germany if Solidarity caused difficulty in Poland, there was an article in TR Europe not so long ago.

 

[reb0118]

.............- Mukran was IIRC built by the Soviets to make sure they could still reach Germany...............

I believe there is/was a small length of broad Russian guage there to facilitate the unloading of Russian rolling stock.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Am I right in thinking that the Soviets used ferries from Mukran to Klaipeda in Lithuania or was it to somewhere else?

 

[reb0118]

That sounds about right. Possibly from Königsburg too?

 

[stut]

There used to be a Sassnitz - Baltiysk ferry (serving the Kaliningradskaya Oblast).