- WHERE DID WE COME FROM? - Zuiderzee line Amsterdam-Lelystad-Emmeloord-Heerenveen-Drachten-Groningen (-northern Germany) Ambitious magnetic-levitation train High-speed railway line High-quality intercity connection Travel time savings from 2.43 to 1.23 hours Today...?
- WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED THUS FAR - 2009 Reconnaissance ---> Ambition is achievable 2010 2011 Development of vision 2011 2012 Marketing concept Groningen - Leer 2013 (as of 9. Dec. 2012)Expansion of frequency 1x per hour Groningen - Leer (- Bremen) and 2014 (as of 15. Dec. 2013)Improvement transfer in Leer 2014 Pilot Niedersachsen Ticket
- PHASED APPROACH OF QUALITY IMPROVEMENT- * Provisional indicative planning
Current situation: WIEDERLINE train
Current situation Groningen NL D Augustfehn Ocholt Bad Zwischenahn Hude Delmenhorst Leer Oldenburg Bremen Hbf 1 st step with peak hour express train Groningen - Winschoten Groningen NL D Augustfehn Ocholt Bad Zwischenahn Hude Delmenhorst Leer Oldenburg Bremen Hbf
- CURRENT SITUATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE - 57% single track; 38 % is not electrified
- CHALLENGES - Multiple objectives: provide an efficient service for both short and long distance trips for passengers, and cross-border capacity for freight transport Complex scheduling: train has to fit into the timetables of both countries whereby also renewing railway hubs Leer and Groningen Capacity bottlenecks: 57% single track + two railway bridges + busy railway hubs Groningen, Leer and Bremen System differences: Train control systems differ between both countries. 62% of the route (D) is electrified and has a different voltage compared to the Dutch railway system. Electrification (NL) is contemplated. The possible alternative is (expensive) hybrid trains Integration and environment: Improving infrastructure for higher speed may be difficult, because of poor soil conditions. Possible track doubling is complex, because of buildings close along the track (D) (noise measures)
- PROVISIONAL EXPLORATION ALTERNATIVES Medium term: at least 48 variants due to different variables: Line variants: 4 1. RE/IC hybrid 2. RE/IC fast 3. Hybrid train 4. Fast train Timetable variants Netherland (in relation to hub Groningen): 3 Timetable variants Germany (in relation to hub Leer): 2 Operational options for line variants 1 and 2: 3 Short term: development of some phasing variants
Line variant 1: RE/IC hybrid Groningen NL D Augustfehn Ocholt Bad Zwischenahn Hude Delmenhorst Onnen Leer Oldenburg Bremen Hbf Line variant 2: RE/IC Fast Groningen NL D Augustfehn Ocholt Bad Zwischenahn Hude Delmenhorst Onnen Leer Oldenburg Bremen Hbf
Line variant 3: Hybrid train NL D Augustfehn Ocholt Bad Zwischenahn Hude Delmenhorst Onnen Leer Oldenburg Bremen Hbf Line variant 4: Fast Train NL D Augustfehn Ocholt Bad Zwischenahn Hude Delmenhorst Onnen Leer Oldenburg Bremen Hbf
- PLANNING STUDY - Capacity analysis Investment costs Transport value research Research opportunities for freight transport Research rolling stock and operation Social cost-benefit analysis
-Wunderline: effective lobby in Brussels 8 Oct. 2014 - (TEN-T) Rise and composition of great value to the project. Of German and Dutch side, this rail connection is emphasized. Wunderline is of great importance to development region. EC DG Move (Ten-T): positive (50% grant for research costs) February 2015: invitation from European parliamentarians to catch up on developments.
QUESTIONS?
The Wunderline is our ticket to tomorrow A ticket to opportunities and chances
- Why invest in this railway connection? - 1. A ticket to growth More growth in development in the North Groningen and north-west Germany: - Comparable demographic developments, as well as distinctive - The same spatial structure Centralisation of services is unavoidable. The railway line can connect facilities, and thus the regions, with each other. Connecting: for the growth and development of the economy (employment opportunities), tourism and culture. Exchange of knowledge, goods and experience. Improvement of the quality of life in the border region. Stagnation = regression
2. A ticket to life Improving sustainability Sustainability - Opportunities for the development of sustainable rail traffic (electrification, hybrid- and hydrogen trains). - (improved) freight line ensures that not all freight is transported by road. - An attractive alternative for travers to driving.
3. A ticket to Europe Connecting the Amsterdam and Hamburg metropoles Connecting Amsterdam and Hamburg metropoles An improved quality improvement of the railway between Groningen and Bremen enables a faster connection between the Amsterdam and Hamburg metropoles. Improving the opportunities for the freight transport in order to strengthen the corridor towards Hamburg and Scandinavia.
4. A ticket to culture Border crossing leads to blurred borders Northern Netherlands and northern Germany have much in common culturally. A good railway connection will bring both cultures closer together and reinforce the cooperation on both sides of the border. It offers opportunities to exchange scientific and creative ideas