Rail service between Leer and Groningen to restart in early October

After more than ten years without a cross-border train, passengers between Leer in East Frisia and Groningen will once again be able to travel by rail from October 5.

The service can restart because the Friesen Bridge at Weener has been rebuilt and the line between the Dutch border and Ihrhove in the Leer district has undergone extensive work. Crews upgraded tracks, switches, signals and overhead lines. The old bridge was destroyed in 2015 when a freighter rammed the swing structure, cutting rail traffic across the Ems and interrupting the connection to the Netherlands.

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The fact that trains will run again between Groningen and Leer after ten years is good news for the entire border region.

The reopening also marks an initial step toward the planned Wunderline, which aims to make rail journeys between Groningen and Bremen faster and more comfortable. Erik Jan Bennema, a member of the Groningen provincial parliament, called the return of trains “good news for the entire border region.” He said the route matters to travelers, students, commuters and visitors on both sides of the border. Deutsche Bahn regional representative Ute Plambeck also described the restart as “good news” for the area.

The relaunch had originally been scheduled for the December 2024 timetable change but construction delays pushed it back. Arriva will run the service, with trains crossing the border once an hour. On most weekday trips, passengers will initially need to change in Winschoten. Only the first two morning services and the last two evening services will run through, while all weekend connections will be direct. The trains between Groningen and Winschoten will run as express services, stopping at Groningen Europapark and Scheemda. Between Winschoten and Leer, they will stop at every station. A speed restriction near Hardegarijp in the Netherlands is one reason a permanent direct service is not yet possible.

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Good news