Until December 2019, there were three departures each day each way connecting Hamburg Hauptbahnhof and Copenhagen Central Station with a direct EuroCity train. These trains were operated jointly by DB and Danske Statsbaner (DSB).

Fast forward to 2025, what happened to this useful connection? The connection still exists, however the route and experience are somewhat different.

Up until 2019, the train boarded a commercial Scandlines ferry as part of its scheduled journey from Puttgarden on the German side to Roedby on the Danish side. This was one of three routes in Europe that has such an operation of a train boarding onto a ferry.

Today, the train from Hamburg to Copenhagen goes on an overland route to the west. This route covers a longer distance but is actually a comparative journey time to the ferry option. In the coming years, a tunnel will be built between Puttgarden and Roedby officially calling an end to any future of the train-ferry service being reinstated.

Luckily, myself and a group of friends managed to fit in the penultimate weekend of operation of the train-ferry in December 2019.

We set off on train ‘EuroCity’ 33 from its origin of Hamburg Hauptbahnhof and were travelling to its terminus of Copenhagen (Kobenhavn) Central Station. The train type used was an DSB owned ‘IC3’ variety known by its unusual rubber nose. In the past the German ICEs have been used on the route.

There were two IC3 trains coupled together, each with three carriages, to form a six carriage train. Despite this much needed capacity, every seat was taken – though this could’ve had something to do with the penultimate weekend of operation.

Catering options were limited on the train. The train didn’t have a dining car, as it doesn’t now, but did have a vending machine that sold some expensive Coca Cola. Not desperate enough to warrant the cost – the equivalent of €3,21 in Danish Krona – I passed.

The IC3 trains featured comfortable seating complete adequate padding, recline and a pillow. The carriage also featured some ferry-related quotes to peruse over on the wall. Presumably these don’t exist now on this train…

The scenery on the route wasn’t much to write home about – though there was plenty of sea on the approach to Puttgarden. At one point the train was surrounded with views of the sea from both sides.

As the train went onto the ferry, there was a thorough announcement by the conductor in three languages: Danish, German and English, asking customers not to remain on the train once it boards the ferry – the train would be locked shut.

See below the video of the train boarding the ferry complete with the announcement!

Once we had boarded the ferry the capacity issues had become apparent. Why not just add a few more carriages? The train was practically touching both ends of the ferry to fit on. Some skilled train driving going on there!

The ferry was large and had a number of amenities including a restaurant and a supermarket. You could tell it was a Scandinavian ferry by the eye-watering prices onboard, however the deck space was free to fill the lungs with some fresh Baltic sea air.

The train arrived into Copenhagen on time. And what a beautiful historical station it is with its red and black checkered tiles and a grand wooden roof.

Copenhagen city itself was a great place to finish the trip with some beautiful historical buildings and churches. The Christmas market was on and who knew the Danes were as crazy about Christmas as we Brits are? There were many places to buy ‘gloegg’ (mulled wine) at the market, and we were able to try ‘snaps’, a local floral-flavoured spirit traditionally served with a meal.

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This article was first published in January 2020.