The planned Lely line, a railway line that will connect Groningen and Lelystad, has a chance of receiving a subsidy from the European Union. The connection will be included in a rail network that the EU considers important and supports financially, the responsible ministers of the EU countries have agreed.
For years, the Northern Netherlands has been dreaming of a line through Flevoland, Friesland and Groningen, which could significantly shorten the travel time between the north and the Randstad conurbation. Now travelers from or to the Randstad still have to make a detour via Zwolle and Meppel. That connection is also sensitive to breakdowns and delays.
The Lelylijn will become part of the so-called extensive TEN-T network of the EU, if the European Parliament also agrees to this, as expected. How much European money the line can subsequently count on is not yet certain. Fewer European billions are available for the ‘extended’ TEN-T than for the core network.
The Lely line would cost between 6 and 9 billion euros.