en.Wedoany.com Reported - Stena Line has signed an agreement with the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) to maintain rail ferry services between Sweden and Germany. This groundbreaking contract will ensure the operation of the Trelleborg to Rostock route until December 31, 2031.

The agreement was signed at a press conference at the Port of Trelleborg by Stena Line Chief Commercial Officer Elisabeth Lönne and Swedish Transport Administration Director General Roberto Maiorana.

Lönne stated that Stena Line is pleased to now have the conditions to continue operating the route, emphasizing its pride and responsibility in its role within the transport system, particularly in providing a critical rail link to continental Europe via the ferry.

Maiorana expressed relief and pride in reaching the agreement, believing it secures the rail ferry service between Sweden and Germany for years to come. He added that over the past 20 years, rail ferry operations have significantly declined due to weak economic viability. Since the opening of the Öresund Bridge, most freight trains traveling to and from continental Europe have used the Öresund corridor instead of the ferry. However, the ferry remains necessary, prompting the Swedish government to intervene through the Swedish Transport Administration to ensure continued operations.

Since 1998, Stena Line has operated the Trelleborg to Rostock route using two rail ferries, M/S Skåne and M/S Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This route is currently Sweden's only regular rail ferry service and one of the few rail ferry operations globally.

Against the backdrop of a deteriorating security environment, the critical role of transport infrastructure has become increasingly evident. The continued operation of Stena Line's rail ferry provides sustained military mobility for the Swedish Armed Forces and NATO, and ensures Sweden's ability to provide and receive Host Nation Support.

Maiorana noted that the rail ferry service can maintain NATO's basic requirements for a robust transport system supporting national resilience, which must function normally in times of peace, crisis, and war.

Germany is Sweden's largest trading partner, and the rail ferry can transport goods that cannot pass through the Öresund route due to weight and width restrictions on the Danish and German rail infrastructure. Since the Öresund Bridge is the only fixed rail connection to continental Europe, the rail ferry also serves as a strategic backup in the event of a prolonged disruption.

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