The improvements, which will enable an increase in the frequency of fast train services, are part of the Groningen - Winschoten fast train project and the Northern Netherlands strategic plan.

They include modifying and redesigning stations, new safety measures at level crossings, and the repositioning of signals to shorten block section, allowing services to operate with shorter headways.

The platforms at Zuidbroek station will be repositioned, the number of tracks reduced, and new points will be installed, allowing higher speeds. At Scheemda station the existing island platform, which is no longer wide enough, will be converted to a side platform with a new side platform to be constructed beside a separate track. Trains will pass each other in this station in future.

The journey time by fast train between Groningen and Winschoten is nine minutes shorter than the stopping services. The new services, operated during peak hours, will be introduced in December 2020.

The upgrade also serves the plan for the “Wunderline” fast service between Groningen and Bremen, which will have a journey time of just over two hours.

Arriva has been granted a regional operator concession for the services by the Province of Groningen, which is also financing the infrastructure works for the extra fast train services.

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