Latest Updates: 

• February 2025 - The first think tank was held at Ramboll HQ in Copenhagen. Representatives from seven companies joined together for interesting conversation and sharing of ideas. The three prominent crossing options were introduced and discussed. 

• April 2025 - The second think tank focused in on how our consortium can help address the challenges. The first working group presented challenges and potential solutions for the Helsingør – Helsingborg Crossing. 

• Our second working group is currently exploring the Oresund Metro and possible solutions to its challenges. 

• October 2025 - The third think tank brought together findings from the working group on Oresund Metro.

• January 2026 - The first two Think Tanks articles are published, see below!

Latest Articles:

The Next Great Link: Shaping Scandinavia’s Future (January 2026)

What will the next connection between Denmark and Sweden look like, and what will it mean for the region’s future?

Since the Øresund Bridge opened in 2000, the idea of additional links between Sweden and Denmark has been a recurring topic in national and international media. With the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel set to open in the coming decade, now is the time to explore new rail and road connections that could further transform mobility, unlock economic growth, and strengthen Scandinavia’s role as Europe’s northern gateway.

The urgency is clear. Population growth, climate targets, and the need for resilient infrastructure demand bold solutions. Future crossings aren’t just about shortening travel times, they are about enabling sustainable transport, supporting green logistics, and creating a more integrated labour market across borders.

While Sweden’s municipalities remain vocal advocates for new crossings supported by Trafikverket’s long-term rail priorities, Denmark’s latest transport plan (to 2035) is silent on new crossings, focusing on Fehmarnbelt and Copenhagen metro development. This lack of prioritisation signals a shift in national focus towards domestic projects. The debate reflects competing agendas, urban connectivity versus national resilience, alongside concerns over traffic growth and environmental impacts. Against this backdrop, three options under consideration must be evaluated not only for technical, environmental and economic feasibility but also for their ability to align with shifting political realities. The three main schemes are:

·         Helsingør–Helsingborg: A strategic shortcut for freight and commuters.

·         Landskrona–Nordhavn: A potential game-changer for regional connectivity.

·         Øresund Metro: A vision for seamless urban integration and low-carbon travel.

Each option carries unique benefits and challenges, from engineering complexity to environmental impact. The choices made today will ripple across economies, climate strategies, and everyday life for decades to come. The consideration of solutions to each scheme’s challenges, from cost and carbon to operability and governance, is key to ensure decisions are robust and future‑proof.

Beyond technical feasibility, resilience is a defining challenge. The Øresund Bridge represents a critical single point of vulnerability for regional mobility. Building redundancy is essential for both passenger and freight resilience, especially under climate and geopolitical stresses. Any future crossings must be considered within the broader ecosystem of megaprojects, from Denmark’s Fehmarnbelt Tunnel to Copenhagen’s Lynetteholmen development, positioning them as critical nodes in Europe’s TEN-T corridors.

Resilience is not an abstract concept—it is a strategic necessity. In the next article the Future Crossings Think Tank explores how these projects can safeguard connectivity under stress and deliver long-term security for the region.

The Future Crossings Think Tank brings together leading minds in construction and design engineering to explore these challenges. Join us as we explore ideas, innovations, and partnerships that could redefine connectivity across the Øresund, one article at a time.

Beyond Bridges: Why Resilience Could Shape the Next Øresund Crossing (January, 2026)

In a world of climate shocks, freight surges, and digital economies, resilience isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a lifeline. But as new crossing proposals take shape, amid escalating political volatility and global uncertainty, resilience must move from aspiration to action. The next Øresund link isn’t just about connectivity, it’s about building infrastructure that can absorb shocks, adapt to change, and safeguard Europe’s northern gateway for decades to come.

As discussions continue around new crossings, resilience and the ability to keep Europe’s northern gateway open under stress, remains part of the conversation, however it competes with other priorities like sustainability and urban integration. Yet, in a world of cascading climate, fiscal, and political shocks, resilience must stand alongside these as a core design principle.  With the Fehmarnbelt link soon channelling more freight through Denmark and future trains reaching up to 1,000 m in length, single‑point failures carry wider consequences for trade and mobility. Resilience and redundancy are critical to the conversation alongside cost and urban planning.

The three main schemes identified illustrate different approaches and different levels of resilience:

·         Helsingør–Helsingborg Tunnel: The northern route provides strong freight redundancy, but high cost and environmental impact could limit feasibility.

·         Landskrona–Nordhavn Link: Offers alternative southern capacity, yet urban integration challenges and financing complexity weaken its robustness.

·         Øresund Metro: Excellent for commuter resilience and freeing bridge capacity for road traffic, but it does not add new road infrastructure. It offers limited freight benefit   and is highly dependent on metro demand and integration with Lynetteholmen.

Resilience is more than a technical specification, it’s a commitment to collaborative, people-focused planning and depends on governance agility. Cross-border partnerships and adaptable financing models, such as PPPs and state guarantees, are as critical as engineering solutions. Without mechanisms for joint decision-making, even robust designs can falter under political or fiscal shocks. By taking these challenges and turning them into opportunities for urban liveability and long-term value, the next Øresund crossing could be more than a link, it could be a benchmark for European resilience and urban integration.

Whilst Sweden’s municipalities remain vocal advocates for new crossings, Trafikverket's draft National Transport Infrastructure Plan (2026 – 2037) indicates that Swedish planning assumes adequate rail capacity until 2050 tempering urgency for redundancy. Although some Danish stakeholders see resilience as a lever to secure EU support under Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) priorities, focus has shifted away from international crossings  following the recent elections.

The next crossing isn’t just about moving people and goods, it’s about building a network that can withstand tomorrow’s shocks. Resilience underpins technical arguments for rail solutions and aligns with European connectivity goals, but it must share the stage with climate targets, urban design, and fiscal realities. The debates continue. Resilience may not currently dominate the headlines, but in a world of escalating shocks, it will define Scandinavia’s ability to thrive in the future.

For further insights and to join the discussion on the next generation of crossings, visit www.future-crossings.com.