Major metropolitan regions set to expand with the Fehmarnbelt link

Upgrading rail links to reduce travel times to metropolitan regions will increase commuter flows from an expanded hinterland. As a result, more areas will be urbanised and become part of the metropolitan region.

This is illustrated by a case story from Taiwan in a new analysis, "The Fixed Fehmarnbelt link: Regional Development Perspectives", published by Femern A/S. The case from Taiwan is relevant because the distance between the capital, Taipei, and Taiwan's second largest city, Kaohsiung, equates to the distance between Hamburg and Copenhagen.

The analysis shows that the hinterland areas for commuting to Taipei expanded in line with the upgrading of the rail line from conventional rail services to high-speed trains between Taiwan's largest cities. Regions that were previously separate from the metropolitan region, Taipei, became sub-regions to the actual metropolitan region.

Faster travel times between some of the Taiwanese cities resulted in time savings of between 50 and 66 per cent, i.e. enough to integrate previously separate housing and labour markets. Several of these regions are now accessible within 50 minutes (in one direction), which is the threshold for rapid changes in commuter patterns. The analysis also shows that the most significant benefits accrue over the longest distances. In respect of the metropolitan region's local traffic, the conventional trains are the most efficient.

Besides travel time, the number of stations and the quality of the rail connections are crucial factors for regional development and the creation of attractive residential areas for metropolitan commuters. Access to faster trains from local stations is, however, imperative and will affect house prices and growth in the regions if these are to develop into genuine sub-regions to the metropolitan region.

The Fehmarnbelt link will entail an upgrading of existing rail links on land in Denmark and in Germany. On the Danish side, there will initially be no high-speed trains, but Banedanmark (Rail Net Denmark) is working on an expansion and electrification of the line, which will result in an increase in the speed of passenger trains between Rødby and Copenhagen of between 160 to 200 km per hour. This will mean a shorter journey time to Copenhagen and the opportunity for increased commuting from an expanded hinterland.

On the German side, the section between Puttgarden and Lübeck will be electrified and the capacity increased. No later than seven years after the opening of the coast-coast link, the line between Bad Schwartau and Puttgarden will be upgraded to double-track.

Entitled  ”The Fehmarnbelt Link and its Regional Perspectives", the 440 page book costs DKK 300 (DKK 150 as an e-book) and can be purchased from the University Press of Southern Denmark, www.universitypress.dk