The Øresund Bridge and its Region: 18 years Published by Øresundsbro Konsortiet, 2018 Photography: Peter Brinch/Øresundsbron Carolina Romare/Filmlance Newcopter/Øresundsbron Femern A/S Design: Fikon Design AB Tryck: Holmbergs, Malmö 2018 Elsinore Helsingborg SWEDEN Kristianstaad Scania Hillerød Landskrona Copenhahagen Lund Simrishhamn KaluKalundborg Roskilde Malmö Ystad DENMARK Trelleborg Zealand Bornholm Voordingborr g Møn The Øresund Region is the Nordic countries’ largest and most densely Lolland-Falster populated metropolitan region. The region comprises Scania, Zealand, Møn, Lolland Falster and Bornholm. A total of 4 million inhabitants live here: one third in Sweden and two-thirds in Denmark. 4 An exciting 18-year journey The Øresund Bridge was built to improve communi- The Øresund Bridge is the best route to the other side cation between Scandinavia and the continent and to of Øresund. We offer commuters, freight operators, enhance economic and cultural collaboration between businesses and leisure customers an easy and inexpen- Denmark and Sweden. The governments of Sweden sive means to cross the bridge. Checking departure and Denmark agreed to create a region with increased times or planning ahead are unnecessary because the trade and a common labour and housing market. bridge is always open. Today, we’re living in the midst of the success that the Those who take the train – a choice favoured by many bridge has created. The region is a powerhouse that commuters – are also offered an easy journey across contributes to the development of both Denmark and the bridge, with frequent departures to the other side Sweden. The four million people who live here account of Øresund. for a quarter of the two countries’ gross domestic product. The Øresund Bridge connects the people of the region and across Europe. This publication presents a picture Our region constantly encounters challenges. Although of the region’s current development and the growth in market conditions, political decisions and various traffic on the Øresund Bridge since its opening in 2000. events in the world around us make their impact, we’re always moving forwards. Caroline Ullman-Hammer CEO, Øresund Bridge 5 Through crisis years towards record-breaking performance The Øresund Bridge is the most important transport Then came the economic crisis in 2008, which affected link between Denmark and Sweden. Around 70,000 us too. Growth in road traffic across the Øresund people cross the bridge on a daily basis. 55 per cent Bridge fell to just under 5 per cent. The weak develop- take their car and 45 per cent go by train. ment in traffic continued through 2011-2013 before increasing again in 2014. In 2016, we posted several Between 2001 and 2007, road traffic increased by new traffic records and in 2017, the record for the 10 -17 per cent per year. The increase in commuter number of vehicles per day (32,000), the number of traffic was driven by the housing and labour markets. vehicles per month (847,000) and the total number of Danes relocated to Sweden because of cheaper vehicles over a year (7,530,255) was broken. In 2018, housing and the lower cost of living while Swedes developments are more or less stable. discovered a labour market in Denmark that offered more jobs and higher salaries. Many young people also Leisure travel across Øresund has also seen a signifi- found their first job in Copenhagen. The bridge opened cant increase – as has freight and business traffic. up new opportunities for easy and flexible commuting across Øresund. 6 Average daily traffic across the Øresund Bridge, 2001-2017 Number of vehicles per day 25 000 Sidan 5 20 000 15 000 10 000 5 000 0 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 7 Leisure travel is increasing In the first years, commuter traffic was the largest way to market offers on the other side of Øresund. customer segment. Leisure travel has now taken over The loyalty programme, Club BroPas, offers ideas, first place. In 2017, commuters and leisure travellers discounts and inspiration for events across Øresund accounted for an equal share of traffic – around one and is now an important part of our success. third each. • In 2008, the Swedish krona weakened and it Leisure travel fulfils an important function in terms became much cheaper for Danes to shop in Sweden of integration between the two countries, enabling and discover the various offers available there. people across Øresund to get to know each other. The When the Swedish krona rose again, many Danes Swedes are drawn mainly to the great opportunities for continued to visit Sweden. In 2016, the Swedish culture and shopping in Copenhagen. The Danes have krona weakened again, which increased the number discovered Scania, with its beautiful scenery, as well of journeys from Denmark to Sweden. Meanwhile, as the opportunities for cheaper shopping in Malmö. In there was a decline in the number of journeys from addition, many Danes travel across the Øresund Bridge Sweden to Denmark where the exchange rate meant to Ystad and take the ferry to Bornholm. higher prices for Swedes. Growth in leisure traffic is mainly due to three factors: • In 2012, we launched the SmutTur (short-break) discount, which applies at weekends and in the • 2005 saw the launch of the leisure contract, Bro- evenings during the winter. This offers discounts Pas. The Øresund Bridge began to build up contact to BroPass customers if they return within six hours with its contract customers and develop a new outside rush hour. 8 Commuting affected by border controls Commuter traffic rose in the first few years following Reasons for private cars crossing the Øresund Bridge the opening of the bridge. It declined for a period because of the financial crisis but had begun to rise again when ID checks and border controls in Sweden 26% 34% 23% were introduced in 2015. This made rail travel more 33% difficult and some passengers chose to travel by 2009 2012 car, coach or taxi instead. This resulted in a shift in commuter traffic to the motorway, but adversely impacted the community around the bridge. Free 43% 41% movement and people’s ability to live and work across Øresund is a pre-requisite for the region’s development and integration. In 2017, controls were eased, train travel improved, departures increased and many 30% 31% commuters returned to the train. 37% 36% 2014 2017 33% 33% Leisure Commuting Other 9 The bridge is important for freight traffic across Øresund Business traffic across the Øresund Bridge comprises 2016 saw an increase in coaches, taxis and rented passenger cars and vans whle freight traffic comprises cars. This was the result of the difficulties faced by delivery vans and lorries. There are coaches as well. rail commuters due to ID checks at the border. Coach Business traffic accounts for around 25 per cent of traffic increased by 11 per cent, or an average of 14 traffic across the Øresund Bridge. coaches per day. These figures declined somewhat in 2017 because carrier responsibility was lifted, the The Øresund Bridge’s share of freight traffic across border checks changed and train journeys became Øresund has almost doubled since 2001, which was easier again. the bridge’s first full year of operations. In 2017, the share was 53 per cent. The success is due to targetted Øresundsbro Konsortiet stimulates integration and marketing, close interaction with our customers trade between Danish and Swedish companies in the and competitive pricing, which has paid off. Many region by arranging Øresundsbron Business Meetings hauliers choose the bridge because it is faster and five times a year. These are occasions when business geographically well located in relation to customers. people from both sides of Øresund meet for inspiration Major logistics centres have been established near the on opportunities on the other side. E6, with close proximity to the Øresund Bridge. These meetings have attracted 6,000 participants since their start in 2010. Developments in freight are strongly linked to socio- economic developments - not just in Denmark and Sweden but in Europe as a whole. A large proportion of lorry traffic connects Sweden with markets in Europe. 10 Market share of freight traffic 100% Helsingborg-Helsingør 90% 80% Øresundsbron 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1716151413121110090807060504030201 Helsingborg-Elsinore Øresund Bridge 11 Road traffic expected to increase The Øresund Bridge’s latest forecast for road traffic Leisure traffic using BroPas wil also see a strong development shows that overall traffic is expected to increase. This is the category of traffic over which the increase by between 2.1 and 2.5 per cent per year Øresund Bridge has most influence through pricing, until 2035. The only exception is 2028 – the year when offers and marketing. the Fehmarnbelt fixed link is expected to become operational. The increase will then be somewhat higher. The forecast is based on a number of assumptions, including that decisions already taken are implemented, Freight traffic is increasing across the board. More that no new decisions on infrastructure of regional goods are being transported in an increasingly cheaper significance are adopted and that the competitive freight market. Freight traffic is expected to increase relationship between the Øresund Bridge and the from 6.3 to 8.2 per cent of overall traffic across the ferries between Elsinore and Helsingborg remains bridge until 2035. unchanged. 12 Traffic forecasts – daily traffic across the Øresund Bridge Number of vehicles 40 000 Stagnationsscenarie 35 000 Middelscenarie 30 000 Vækstscenarie 25 000 20 000 15 000 10 000 5 000 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Growth scenario Average scenario Stagnation scenario 13 Capacity and new infrastructure Intense debates are periodically conducted in Authority, the Swedish Transport Administration and Sweden and Denmark about the development of Sverigeförhandlingen presented at the beginning of infrastructure and new links across Øresund.