Mayor Koen Schuiling hopes that the possible train line could strengthen further connections with Northern German cities and Groningen
The mayor of Groningen, Koen Schuiling, hopes that there will be a new express train from Amsterdam to Groningen (the ‘Lelylijn’) could be a boost for the whole of the Netherlands. The train line could then be extended to Bremen and Hamburg, which would strengthen long-term ties between the cities. “That is not only good for Groningen, but can give an economic boost to the whole of the Netherlands”, says Schuiling. As reported by the GIC.
The Mayor’s support reportedly comes with the backing of city senators in both Hamburg and Bremen, who no longer see the north as a remote corner of the Netherlands, but as a bridge to Bremen and Hamburg.
“With new and better rail links, we can connect the economic core regions of the Netherlands, relieve the pressure for housing on the Randstad and give the economic potential of the whole of the Netherlands and the northern German cities a major boost. This is essential if we are to overcome the economic consequences of the Coronavirus pendemic together. The Lelylijn would also open doors further north, with travel times between Hamburg and Copenhagen to be significantly shortened in the coming years with the new Fehmarnbelt tunnel, which will further increase the value of the Lelylijn in the long term”, says Schuiling.
