Rail ferry services between Rostock, Germany, and Trelleborg, Sweden, will continue operating until 2031, with a particular focus on military mobility. Stena Line and the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) have signed an agreement providing financial support for the service, which was discontinued at the end of April.
Under the deal, Trafikverket will provide annual funding of SEK 51.5 million (€4.7 million), rising to a maximum of SEK 55 million (€5 million) depending on fuel prices. Although most rail traffic has shifted to the Öresund Bridge over the past two decades, rail ferries remain strategically important, particularly for military transport.
“The continued operation of Stena Line’s rail ferries enables ongoing military mobility for both the Swedish Armed Forces and NATO,” the two parties said.
“The agreement is based on several completed investigations,” the joint statement added. The Swedish government tasked Trafikverket with identifying measures to ensure the continuation of train ferry services. According to Trafikverket, the full investigation is expected to be “finalised later this year”.
One conclusion already reached is that a long-term agreement represents the most effective way to maintain operations. Whether the newly signed deal will eventually be extended beyond 2031 remains unclear.
The Rostock–Trelleborg rail ferry service plays an important role in the growth of combined transport through the German port. Between 2022 and 2025, the number of intermodal units handled in Rostock increased from 64,000 to 110,000. Nearly 50 freight trains arrive at and depart from the port each week. The rail ferry provides a key link to Scandinavian logistics hubs, including Gothenburg, Stockholm and Oslo.
