On behalf of the entire region along the Lower Saxony line, Drenthe is setting aside 50 million for the arrival of the rail connection. To show The Hague that the region is very serious about the arrival of the railway, but also the area development along the line.
The Provincial Council will agree to this proposal on July 1.
Drenthe thus guarantees the contribution of the entire region. The division of who pays which part of the 50 million still has to be made with Groningen and Overijssel. The Hague will actually receive the contribution if a final positive decision is made in the future about the actual construction. The government allocated 2.1 billion euros for this purpose last year.
The Provincial Council warned that the 50 million is not a blank check for the central government. Because in recent years the government has often used money that had been reserved for one project for another project. An example of this is taking money from the Lely line’s piggy bank in favor of the Lower Saxony line.
The Lower Saxony Line is a new continuous rail connection from Groningen via Emmen to Twente. The line partly runs over existing track, which must be thoroughly overhauled. In addition, a completely new rail route must be constructed between Emmen and Nieuw-Buinen.
The new rail connection is not a goal but a means. According to the proponents of the line, the connection increases access to education, strengthens the labor market and better connects the region with the rest of the Netherlands. The railway thus contributes to the broad prosperity and future prospects of villages and towns throughout the area.
There are now two definitive investigations into the railway. The so-called MIRT exploration for the construction of the track. Where can the new section between Emmen and Nieuw Buinen be located, what is required for this, which stations, the variants, the costs and the hurdles that need to be overcome for the construction.
The BBB wants the province to make it clear at an early stage of the research which land is needed from farmers and that agricultural tunnels are included in the exploration. Transport representative Bart van Dekken indicated that he would raise this with ProRail. The railway manager does the exploration before construction.
And an Area Development Exploration is underway to determine which developments are possible along the railway line. Schools, companies and new housing estates. In this way, rail, area development and broad prosperity are taken into account in an integrated manner, so that a final decision can then be made as to whether it makes sense to construct the line.
The province of Drenthe is also investing 5 million in the Area Development Exploration. In recent years, Drenthe and the other partners have lobbied very strongly for the Lower Saxony Line.