THE project to establish a new cross-border passenger service between Neuenhaus, Germany, and Coevorden in the Netherlands has taken an important step forward after the Lower Saxony Transport Authority (LNVG) approved the start of preparatory works.
German and Dutch officials signed an agreement to introduce the cross-border service that will run from Bad Bentheim to Coevorden, and will be operated by Bentheim Railway under its existing contract with LNVG, in September 2022.
The cost of reviving passenger operation on the 28km Neuenhaus - Coevorden section of the line, which has been used solely by freight services, is estimated at €54m.
Investment on the Dutch section will total €20m and comprise modifications to Coevorden station, including the provision of an extra track for reversing trains, plus works on a swing bridge across the Coevorden - Vecht canal.
A €34m investment on the German section will enable line speeds to be increased to 80km/h by improving safety at level crossings, installing new signalling and PZB train protection, and building a passing loop suitable for 740m freight trains at Frensweg.
New stations are planned at Neuenhaus-Veldhausen, Emlichheim, Laarwald and Hoogstede.
Financial support
The state of Lower Saxony submitted a request for financial support for the project to the German federal government in October 2023. The federal government can fund up to 90% of the cost of such projects. The scheme was one of 54 potential passenger reopening projects identified by Lower Saxony in June 2023.
“This is another milestone on the way to reactivating the cross-border railway,” says Lower Saxony transport minister, Mr Olaf Lies. “Closing the gap between Germany and the Netherlands is an important sign for the border area, both for commuters and tourists. By approving the preparatory works we show that we are very committed to the plan and that we do not want to lose time.
“Now it depends on the German federal state to provide the necessary subsidies as well as from the Dutch side. We hope that cross-border regional services can start by the end of 2026.”
Bentheim Railway resumed passenger operation between Bad Bentheim and Neuenhaus for the first time in 45 years in July 2019. The operator has purchased six second-hand two-car ex-German Rail (DB) class 648 DMUs to provide extra fleet capacity to support the future cross-border service. The plan is to maintain the frequency of one train per direction per hour on the extended line. In the long term there are plans to extend the future Bad Bentheim - Coevorden service to Emmen.
New bridge will enable resumption of Groningen - Leer service
THE resumption of cross-border operation on the line between Groningen in the Netherlands and Leer, Germany, for the first time in nine years is on course for the end of 2024.
Operations were suspended on the 173km non-electrified line in 2015 after the Friesen bridge across the Ems river near Weener was severely damaged by a ship. A new 335m-long bridge is currently under construction and will be the largest swing bridge in Europe when it is completed.
German infrastructure manager DB InfraGo, created on January 1 through the merger of DB Network and DB Station & Service, is also upgrading the section of line from the border to Weener to increase line speeds to 100km/h. Work includes the addition of new stations at Ihrhove and Bunde, removal of level crossings and replacing several small bridges.
Replacement bus services will be introduced while the work is taking place. Opening of the new bridge will also see the withdrawal of express bus services between Groningen and Leer.
In the longer term, the Wunderline project is aiming to introduce improved rail connections between Groningen and Bremen.
