Trains from Groningen to Stockholm

A few weeks ago, it was announced that after upcoming Lower House elections, there will most likely be a majority of parties to give political support to the Lelylijn, which will reduce travel time between Groningen and the Randstad by 45 minutes. A big win for Groningen, which has always struggled to connect with the rest of the country. But the province has its eye on an even bigger fish: joining the Amsterdam - Stockholm line. 

Currently, it takes about a 24-hour journey by train from Amsterdam to the Swedish capital. At a time when everyone from so-called ‘climate pope’ Frans Timmermans to Mark ‘asphalting you can learn’ Rutte agrees that international train travel should be supported as a sustainable alternative to flying, this is of course a golden opportunity for improvement. That is why the ‘Big-5’ (Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki) put forward a proposal in early 2020 to work towards a faster connection in a European context. Groningen immediately positioned itself as the perfect connection between Amsterdam and Hamburg. 

Existing projects

The Lelylijn itself is already a win for the province of Groningen. Thanks to this line (which will go via Drachten, Emmeloord, and Lelystad), a direct express train can go from Amsterdam to Groningen without passing Zwolle. The estimated time saving is a full hour, making it possible to reach Amsterdam in just over an hour. It will just take some time before the connection will be finished. As the project has not yet officially started, there is no set timeline yet. 

The second win for Groningen is the Wunderline, the proposed line between Groningen and Bremen. This project, labelled a Flagship Project by the EU, will consist of restoring the Friesenbrücke (the reason you now have to take a bus to Leer) by 2024, improving the track, and further deployment of high-speed trains on both sides of the border. The goal is a journey time from Groningen - Bremen of less than 2 hours, by 2030 at the latest. 

The latest project with which Groningen wants to put itself in the spotlight is the renovation of Groningen Station, part of the Groningen Spoorzone project. The new station, scheduled for completion in 2023, will feature more passenger capacity, more continuous tracks (making transfers unnecessary), and a brand new bus station.

Combine these three projects: a fast link to Amsterdam, a fast link to Bremen and a brand new station that easily has the capabilities to support international travel, and then we can see how Groningen is ahead in the race to enable new, sustainable, international train travel across Europe. 

Political will

The only thing missing in recent decades was political will, but this is now in full force. A broad coalition, from our own Groenlinkser Henri Meendering in the Provincial Council to CDA MP Mustafa Amhaouch and Director Ton Schroor of entrepreneurs' organisation VNO-NCW Noord, has declared itself in favour of Groningen's inclusion in the Big 5 project. What needs the hardest work now is obtaining funds and the blessing of national governments. 

Despite the fact that the Amsterdam - Stockholm line is likely to be one for the long haul, it is an exciting and encouraging project. It perfectly illustrates the sustainable and European future we are committed to, and with which we can make the world just a little bit better. 

Written by Arend-Jan de Koning