The project involved constructing a second track on the 20km stretch and upgrading the line, for 160km/h operation. Construction began in March 2014 and the completion of the project means the entire Fredericia - Tinglev line is now double track.

The line is an important freight route for traffic between Germany and Sweden, and is also used by international passenger trains from Hamburg to Copenhagen and Aarhus.

"The single-track line has been a bottleneck for many years," says Schmidt. "It has troubled both passengers and businesses in the area and it has been an impediment to local development. This will be a big win for cohesion and mobility throughout the border region."