The Swedish Transport Administration and the Danish Road Directorate will shortly present the investigation into a fixed link between Helsingborg (Sweden) and Helsingør (Denmark). The so-called 'Fixed HH Link' will be the second fixed link after the Øresund Bridge on the strait of Øresund ("Sound")  which lies between Denmark and Sweden. 20 Years after its opening, the Øresund Bridge between Denmark's capital Copenhagen and the Swedish city Malmö is widely considered a success story.

Two Separate Tunnels

A fixed HH connection would consist of two separate tunnels. One for the railway traffic and another one for the road traffic. Each tunnel would have two bored tubes. Other than passenger and freight transportation, the tunnels can also be used for transmission of electricity and district heating.

Stimulation for the Economy

Swedish town of Helsingborg lies in the Skåne Region. Skåne has higher unemployment than Sweden and Denmark's Zealand region (where Helsingør is located). Covid-19 weakens the labor market further, with the risk of falling employment and rising unemployment. Strong government efforts are needed to get more people into work, both in the short and long term.

Skåne expects the Fixed HH Link to stimulate the regional economy by providing increased availability and integration in the northern part of the Øresund and along the entire west coast of Sweden. The railway connection via the Fixed HH Link will be  operated with at least four regional trains per hour. Several move on Halmstad / Gothenburg alternatively against Hässleholm / Kristianstad, which creates fast commuting opportunities with direct connections to Copenhagen. The regional trains will be supplemented by commercial high-speed trains from Gothenburg / Oslo with destination Copenhagen / Hamburg. It will be possible to travel from Helsingborg to Copenhagen in just 40 minutes and from Göteburg to Helsingør in 2 hours.

Construction of the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel will increase the volume of transit transport. Fixed connection Helsingborg-Helsingör reduces bottleneck problems by increased transport capacity across the Øresund. According to Skåne Region projections, the Fixed HH Link will provide with an alternative route to Sweden, should for one reason or the Øresund Bridge needs to be closed. The tunnel solution is less sensitive to weather disturbances and increases the robustness of the traffic system in the Øresund region.

The link is expected to contribute to better communications between places where innovation, research and development is conducted and attract innovative companies to the region, helping Swedish growth. A Fixed HH Link ensures efficient freight transport and spreads the Øresund integration to a larger geographical area.

Employment and matching increase by residents and businesses in the region will have access to a larger labor market a wider one recruitment base. With a larger labor market, more international companies will want to establish themselves in the region. Shorter travel times allow those who commute across the Øresund to settle further away from the big cities. This will reduce the risk of overheating housing market. Housing construction is increasing through a widening of possible settlements as well of the space released by a Fixed HH Link.

Socio-Economically Profitable

A Helsingborg and Helsingør fixed connection is considered to be socio-economically profitable project. A Skåne Region study says the Fixed HH Link can be financed with user fees, outside the state budget and the national infrastructure plan. The Fixed HH Link is a profitable project. The estimated net profit is SEK 69 billion in estimated net profit and the project willl have an annual return of 9.3 percent with a repayment period of 24 years. After that, the infrastructure will provide a huge surplus every year.

The tunnel facility can be used for innovative sustainable mobility solutions, such as active management of road traffic flows or transmission of electricity and district heating. The infrastructure will have also environmentally sound. Overall, the project is expected to have a positive environmental effect, valued at 4.6 billion

Skåne Region wants to actively participate in the link

The region of Skåne has expressed a strong interest to join as a partner in a Fixed HH link in a jointly owned company with the Danish state in the same model as in the Øresund Bridge consortium. Together with the state, Skåne region is prepared to provide guarantees for the necessary loans. Carl Johan Sonesson, regional board chairman in Skåne region, says when co-financing is now on the table, the state should be able to quickly give the green light for the project.

The Skåne region considers the HH connection of enormous importance for Skåne's development, as it expands the labor market region, contributes to increased employment and strengthens Sweden's preparedness through a further connection to the continent. Therefore, the region wants to participate as an active party. Not only the regional government, but also the opposition supports the link. The Fixed HH Link is also a good investment that is expected to provide a financial return for a long time to come, states Henrik Fritzon, Opposition Councilor in Skåne region.

The model for ownership and operation used for the Øresund Bridge is also considered suitable for a Fixed HH Link. Skåne region offers to assist with a shareholder contribution and loan guarantees. - A complete financial analysis of the co-financing and co-ownership in an ownership consortium is carried out if the government decides on a regional co-ownership via a new subsidiary. The contribution from Region Skåne's side can consist of either grants or co-financing, conditional shareholder contributions, advances, lending or guarantees provided for borrowing in the consortium behind a Fixed HH Link, says Ulrika Geeraedts, Region Skåne's development director.

https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/region_skane/pressreleases/region-skaane-vill-gaa-in-som-delaegare-i-en-fast-foerbindelse-mellan-helsingborg-och-helsingoer-3064423

The map: Fixed HH Link (marked with circle) environs. It is from Region Skåne press release supplements

The photo: Øresund Strait. It is from Region Skåne press release