The Dutch government is encouraging people from towns and villages between Groningen and Amsterdam to take part in the next phase of the Lelylijn public consultation.
The comments and ideas received will feed into the design, construction and operation of this once in a generation rail scheme, which could provide people from communities across the area with new connections to family, friends, jobs, education and leisure activities.
Key areas of focus for the consultation, launched on February 6, 2023, include:
- Options for new stations and their supporting infrastructure
- How many trains per hour should run on the Lelylijn
- How fast should the fastest train run between Groningen/Leeuwarden and Amsterdam
State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, Vivianne Heijnen, said: “I think it is important that everyone should have a say in the plans for the Lelylijn. The new railway line is a billion-euro investment that has been talked about for a long time. I am curious about what residents expect from the Lely line, what opportunities they see, but also what concerns they have. I am convinced that our plans will improve if residents get involved in the consultation.”
By providing a more direct route between Lelystad and Groningen, the Lelylijn project aims to cut journey times between the outlying northern provinces and the densely-populated central urban conurbation by approximately 40 minutes. The plan also includes a few stops – at Emmeloord, Heerenveen and Drachten. If approved, the line, whose total cost could exceed €10 billion, would be an important investment for Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe, and a potentially major boost to the region’s economy.
The cabinet has made an initial provision of €3 billion for developing the route but additional funding is needed.
The province of Groningen is keen for the Lelylijn to continue eastwards and connect Groningen with such major German cities as Bremen and Hamburg. That will make the project eligible for the European TEN-T funding program which is reserved exclusively for cross-border rail schemes.
The new line will have operating speed of approximately 200 km/h. The northern provinces have said that they could build about 220,000 additional homes to help combat the housing shortage in the country if the railway infrastructure is improved and faster rail connection with the Randstad is built.
