Trains running again between Groningen and Leer
After almost eleven years, the cross-border link has resumed, although for now the train does not run directly through to Groningen every day.
The international rail link between Groningen and the German town of Leer was put back into service on Monday. The restart follows almost eleven years of disruption caused by the destruction of the Friesenbrücke near Weener, but the initial timetable is more limited than the name Wunderline suggests.
According to the latest information from North German broadcaster NDR, trains run between Leer and Winschoten on weekdays. At weekends, they continue through to Groningen. Travellers wishing to go further on weekdays must therefore allow for a change. ProRail and Deutsche Bahn had previously presented the reopening as a direct cross-border link between Groningen and Leer.
The old Friesenbrücke was damaged beyond repair in December 2015 after a cargo ship collided with the bridge. As a result, rail traffic between the northern Netherlands and East Frisia came to a standstill. The new bridge is a swing and lift bridge that once again spans the Ems for trains, cyclists and pedestrians.
Infrastructure has been adapted on both sides of the border. ProRail renewed, among other things, the track, signalling, cables, level crossings and sections of the railway embankment. In Germany, new electronic signalling systems were installed and new barrier-free stops were added at Bunde and Ihrhove. Deutsche Bahn expects the journey time eventually to be around fifteen minutes shorter.
That expectation does not apply without qualification during the start-up phase. Passenger organisation Pro Bahn points to a temporary speed restriction on the Dutch side and says the bus service may be faster for the time being. Nor has every section of the route been renewed. The criticism makes clear that the reopening is a milestone, but not yet the finished prospect of a fast train to Bremen.
The link is particularly important for students, cross-border workers and visitors to the region. ProRail, Deutsche Bahn and the provinces of Groningen and Lower Saxony see the line as a step towards a further connection with Bremen. Whether that extension goes ahead will depend on new investment, the reliability of the timetable and the number of travellers who actually cross the border by train.
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The opening, the cause of the prolonged interruption and the works have been confirmed by ProRail, Deutsche Bahn and NDR. The criticism of speed and changes has been clearly attributed to the passenger organisation.
- confirmed The link has resumed after almost eleven years. — NDR and ProRail report the restart on 5 October 2026. source
- confirmed The Friesenbrücke was damaged by a cargo ship in 2015. — ProRail describes the collision and its consequences. source
- confirmed The initial timetable runs as far as Winschoten on weekdays and Groningen at weekends. — This is stated in NDR's current description of the regular service. source
- confirmed Deutsche Bahn expects a time saving of around fifteen minutes. — The railway operator cites this as an effect of the modernisation. source
Editor's note
The resumption of the link, the new Friesenbrücke and the limited initial timetable are certain. The eventual journey time, reliability and any extension through to Bremen remain to be seen.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „wunderline groningen”
- RTL Nieuws — „wunderline groningen”
- NOS — „wunderline groningen”