Königslinie: New Plans for the Sassnitz–Trelleborg Route from 2027
There are new plans for the Sassnitz–Trelleborg Ferry. Media reports from November 6, 2026, mention a project proposal from HLS Hanse Linie Shipping. July 2027 is being discussed as a possible launch date. No official confirmation has been provided yet.
What’s Behind the Announcement
On November 6, 2026, NDR reported that HLS is initially exploring a project idea. The report contains conflicting information regarding possible discussions with Mukran Port. An agreed-upon start date for operations has not yet been set.
The M/S Drotten serves as an example of a comparable charter vessel, according to the report. It remains to be seen which ship could serve the route. There are also no confirmed departure dates or a set date for when bookings will open.
Why Freight Transport Is Key to a Fresh Start
The economic viability of the route has been a concern for the region for some time. As early as March 2025, the Port of Mukran told NDR that a future operator would need to be able to transport more trucks and freight again. With the high-speed catamaran in service at that time, the possibilities for doing so were limited. No successor had been found for the 2025 season; the port was holding talks about a later resumption of the route.
The discontinuation of the most recent service was also due to economic reasons. In 2024, FRS Baltic cited higher operating costs—particularly for fuel—as well as additional CO₂ and fairway fees. In a price-sensitive market, these costs could not be sufficiently offset by ticket prices. Despite carrying a total of more than half a million passengers since its launch in 2020, the company suspended service. This was reported by both ferry-guide.com and other media outlets.
The Royal Line Through the Years: Operators and Routes
| Date / Time Period | Operator | Route and Important Changes |
|---|---|---|
| From May 1, 1897 | J. F. Braeunlich and Sweden-Continent; from 1907 on the Swedish side, Sweden-Germany | Sassnitz City Harbor–Trelleborg: Launch of regular mail steamer service. This route was the precursor to the later railroad ferry line. |
| From July 6, 1909 | Prussian State Railways, later the German Reichsbahn; Swedish State Railways (SJ) | Sassnitz-Stadthafen–Trelleborg: Opening of the “Königslinie” as a railroad ferry service. Entire railroad cars could be transported across; this established direct train connections between Germany and Sweden. |
| September 1944 to March 1948 | The German Reichsbahn and SJ as previous and returning partners | Regular ferry service was suspended on September 26, 1944. On March 16, 1948, service between Sassnitz and Trelleborg resumed. |
| October 1952 to August 1953 | German Reichsbahn and SJ | Temporary rerouting from Warnemünde–Trelleborg starting October 4, 1952. As of August 16, 1953, the route ran via Sassnitz-Stadthafen again. |
| From 1991 | German Reichsbahn and SweFerry | Sassnitz City Harbor–Trelleborg: The Swedish State Railways consolidated its ferry operations into SweFerry. The ports operated by the “Königslinie” remained unchanged. |
| From 1993 | Deutsche Fährgesellschaft Ostsee (DFO) and SweFerry | DFO took over ferry operations on the German side. Rail and car ferries continued to connect Sassnitz-Stadthafen with Trelleborg. |
| From 1997 | German and Swedish ferry companies under the joint Scandlines brand | The service was marketed jointly as Scandlines. The participating companies initially remained legally separate. In 1998, DFO merged into the German-Danish Scandlines AG. |
| January 1998 | The German and Swedish partners operating under the Scandlines brand | The German port of departure changed from Stadthafen to Sassnitz-Mukran. From then on, the route ran from Sassnitz-Mukran to Trelleborg. |
| 1999/2000 | Scandlines; Swedish partner owned by Stena | Stena took over the Swedish ferry operation. The Sassnitz-Mukran–Trelleborg route initially continued to operate under the Scandlines brand. |
| From October 2012 through spring 2020 | Stena Line | After taking over the German portion of the route as well, Stena Line operated the entire service. The Sassnitz was the last vessel to sail. In March 2020, operations were suspended; in April, Stena announced the permanent discontinuation of the service. |
| From September 17, 2020, through the end of the 2022 season | FRS Baltic | Launch of a new high-speed route between Sassnitz-Mukran and Ystad. The Skane Jet catamaran transported passengers and vehicles in about 2.5 hours. The initial destination in Sweden was Ystad. |
| April 3, 2023, through September 30, 2024 | FRS Baltic | The route was transferred to Trelleborg, marking a return to the classic “Königslinie.” The Skane Jet operated seasonally from Mukran; the crossing took about 2.5 hours. FRS discontinued the service at the end of September 2024. |
| As of October 1, 2024 | No active operator of the direct route | There is no longer any regular ferry service on the Sassnitz-Mukran–Trelleborg route. |
| July 2027 – target date only | HLS Hanse Linie Shipping as project initiator | Project proposal for Sassnitz–Mukran–Trelleborg. The launch date is unconfirmed; the vessel and a binding schedule have not yet been determined. The Drotten serves only as a reference vessel. |
Our articles on the discontinuation of the Stena service in 2020 and the suspension of service by FRS Baltic in 2024 also document these recent changes in operators.
What this means for your vacation plans in Sweden
A new route from Rügen could be a great addition to your trip to southern Sweden. It’s not yet clear exactly what options will be available for travelers arriving by car, RV, or without a vehicle. Confirmed passenger fares and terms of service for the project are not yet available.
Alternative Routes
There are several options available for your trip to southern Sweden. You can travel directly to Trelleborg on the Rostock–Trelleborg, Travemünde–Trelleborg, and Swinemünde–Trelleborg Ferries. You can also take the Travemünde–Malmö Ferry to travel directly to Malmö.
Another option goes through Denmark: Take the Rostock–Gedser Ferry to Falster first. Then drive through Denmark toward Copenhagen and cross the Öresund Bridge to Malmö. This route combines a ferry crossing with the rest of the journey by road.
