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Jun 15, 2026 Stena Line today signed a historic agreement with the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) that secures the continued operation of rail ferry services between Sweden and Germany. The agreement, the first of its kind, ensures that traffic on the Trelleborg-Rostock route can continue until 31 December 2031. The agreement was signed during a press conference at the Port of Trelleborg by Elisabeth Lonne, Chief Commercial Officer at Stena Line, and Roberto Maiorana, Director-General of the Swedish Transport Administration. "Stena Line is very pleased that the conditions are now in place for our operation on the Trelleborg-Rostock route to continue. We view our role in the transport system in general, and in the vital rail connection to continental Europe provided by our ferries in particular, with both pride and great responsibility," says Elisabeth Lonne. 
Image by Stena Line 
Image by Stena Line
He continues: "Rail ferries have declined significantly over the past 20 years due to weak economic viability. Since the opening of the oresund Bridge, the majority of freight trains to and from continental Europe have crossed the oresund link rather than travelling by ferry. However, the ferries remain necessary, which is why the Swedish state, through the Swedish Transport Administration, is now stepping in to secure continued operations." Stena Line has operated the Trelleborg-Rostock route with the two rail ferries M/S Skane and M/S Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since 1998. Today, it is Sweden's only regular rail ferry service and one of only a limited number of rail ferry operations worldwide. Strengthening Sweden's transport system and national defence capability In a deteriorating security environment, transport infrastructure plays a crucial role. The continued operation of Stena Line's rail ferries enables ongoing military mobility for both the Swedish Armed Forces and NATO, while ensuring Sweden's ability to provide and receive Host Nation Support. "Through rail ferry services, we can maintain NATO's fundamental requirement for a robust transport system that supports national resilience. The transport system must function in peacetime, crisis and war - both for domestic traffic and for transport to and from Sweden," says Roberto Maiorana. 
Image by Stena Line Germany is Sweden's largest trading partner, and the rail ferries enable transports that cannot pass via the oresund route due to weight and width restrictions on Danish and German rail infrastructure. As the oresund Bridge is the only fixed railway connection to continental Europe, the rail ferries also serve as a strategic backup solution in the event of prolonged disruptions. "For many years, this route has formed an important part of Sweden's exports to and imports from one of our most important trading partners, Germany, where the ability to transport freight by rail plays a crucial role," concludes Elisabeth Lonne of Stena Line. Stena Line is one of Europe's leading ferry companies with approximately 40 vessels and 19 routes in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, operating 34,700 sailings each year. Stena Line is an important part of the European logistics network and develops new intermodal freight solutions by combining transport by rail, road and sea. Stena Line also plays an important role in tourism in Europe with its extensive passenger operations. The company is family-owned, was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Gothenburg. Stena Line has 6,550 employees and an annual turnover of 19.6 billion SEK. For more information please visit www.stenaline.com Stena Line, press release 
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