The Dutch Parliament has accepted a motion calling on the government to look into shortening train travel times between the northern provinces and the Randstad as soon as possible.
Translation by Traci White
RTV Drenthe reports that secretary of state Stientje van Veldhoven has been tasked with evaluating ways that the train journey between the north and the populous west can be shortened by at least half an hour by the year 2030.
The motion was submitted by Drenthe VVD MP Erik Ziengs and Groningen ChristenUnie MP Stieneke van der Graag. According to the MPs, shorter travel times would play an important role in giving the region a boost as a location for business, decrease strain on the housing market and create more competition on the labour market.
When plans to carry out a pilot programme in 2019 shortening travel times between Groningen and the Randstad was announced, the Assen municipal council unanimously accepted a motion for the city to the included in the pilot. Several weeks later, Dutch national rail CEO Roger van Boxtel announced that NS would be adding a second pilot programme which included a stop in Assen.
