Warnow
Warnow Tunnel is located in the city of Rostock in north-eastern Germany.
About Warnow
| Location | Rostock, Germany |
| Road Opened | 2003 |
| Length | 2.1 kilometres |
| Number of lanes | Two lanes in each direction |
| Tolling structure | Tolling increases linked to pre-tax equity IRR |
| Toll collection | Cash and electronic tolling |
| Concession expiry | September 2053 |
| Related links |
The Warnow Tunnel is a 2.1 kilometre toll road with two lanes each direction, including a 0.8 kilometre tunnel under the Warnow River. It opened to traffic in September 2003 and allows users to cross under the Warnow River which divides Rostock.
Most of the residential areas are located on the western side and most of the industrial areas are on the eastern side of the river which includes the Rostock Port, a roll on roll off freight and passenger ferry port for Baltic shipping and a bulk port. A cruise ship terminal is located on the western side of the river.
The Warnow Tunnel provides a higher speed and uncongested alternative for east/west trips across the city of Rostock. The route through the centre of the city experiences significant congestion during peak hours and the work week, resulting in trip time advantages from using the tunnel for many routes. The route via the city centre is also frequently impacted by roadworks which close lanes and reduce capacity through the city.
Short-term traffic at the Warnow Tunnel is primarily driven by roadworks on competing routes, such as Am Strande while longer-term traffic is driven by economic and tourism activity in northeastern Germany
Concessionaire ownership structure
ALX has a 100% interest in the concessionaire Warnowquerung GmbH & Co. KG (WQG), the concessionaire partnership, and its general partner.
Warnowquerung GmbH & Co. KG (WQG) owns the concession to operate Warnow Tunnel for 50 years from construction completion. A 20-year extension to the original 30-year concession was formally granted by the City of Rostock in February 2007, resulting in a concession expiry of 12 September 2053.
WQG is managed by the general partner, Warnowquerung Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH. The general partner has unlimited liability.
Macquarie Infrastructure Group (MIG) acquired its ownership interest in Warnow Tunnel in December 2000 through ETI, which was assumed by ALX on 2 February 2010 as part of the MIG demerger.
Since inception, ALX has held a 70% equity interest in the Warnow Tunnel. In August 2018 ALX acquired the remaining 30% equity interest
The Warnow Tunnel has two lanes in each direction. The main toll plaza, located on the eastern side of the tunnel, has five lanes in each direction plus one bi-directional lane (eleven in total). The bi-directional lane can switch directions to accommodate additional traffic volumes during peak periods. ETC is available in all eleven lanes, with two lanes dedicated to ETC only.
The road allows users to cross under the Warnow River which divides Rostock. Alternative options to cross the Warnow River include ferries, which take more than 15 minutes to complete the crossing, or a 19 kilometre journey via untolled roads through the Rostock central shopping precinct which can be subject to delays during peak periods.
There are five vehicle categories for the payment of tolls on the Warnow Tunnel as outlined in the below table.
| Class | Vehicle type |
| 1 | Passenger car, motorcycle |
| 2 | Minibus, small transporters |
| 3 | Truck (2-axle) |
| 4 | Truck (3-axle) |
| 5 | Truck (4-axle) Coach (>16 seats) |
Tolls for all five vehicle categories are set as a function of the base light vehicle toll.
Seasonal tolling rates apply to cash payments and vary between winter and summer months, while ETC toll rates remain the same all year round. Refer to factsheet for further details.
Tolls may be escalated annually and are subject to the approval of the Ministry of Energy, Infrastructure and State Development for the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Potential toll increases are linked to pre-tax equity IRR of the concession (see table below).
| Pre tax IRR < 17% | Tolls may rise at a rate higher than inflation |
| Pre tax IRR 17-25% | Tolls linked to inflation |
| Pre tax IRR > 25% | Tolls remain fixed |
Since 2013, Warnow Tunnel tolls have been increasing on the basis of a calculation using inflation and 50% of GDP growth. Toll increases have historically been implemented in November and based on inflation and 50% of GDP growth figures, from the prior year and Q1 of the relevant year. Applicable toll prices are presented on the Warnow Tunnel website4.
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