The likely new coalition members in Groningen are in favour of reintroducing tram lines in the city of Groningen.
Translation by Traci White
Dagblad van het Noorden writes that the new council, which will be sworn in on 1 January, could set aside 500 million euros to build a tramline in the city. The tram would use the central train station as a hub to connect to the outer reaches of the city, including the Zernike campus and park and ride lots.
Prior to the elections, the Groninger Internet Courant reported that local politicians were looking to supplemental forms of transportation in the city as busses are increasingly reaching full capacity. After winning the most votes and seats in recent municipal elections, GroenLinks is eager to revive the plans.
Sikkom reports that back in the early 2000s, there were plans to bring the trams back to the city for the first time since they were dismantled in the 1950s. But in 2012, those plans were off the table when the Socialist Party and Democrats 66 withdrew their support, much to the disappointment of of the Green Left party (GroenLinks). The failed vote led to the departure of several Labour and GroenLinks aldermen.
Groningen had a tram into the mid-20th century, and archive footage of the city 100 years ago showed what it was like to ride around Groningen by tram.
