Of the 11,000 Dutch people who took part in the first citizens’ consultation on the Lely line, one in five does not see the railway line from Amsterdam to Groningen at all.
Most residents think it is especially important that the train is really fast, that the railway strengthens the economy and that nature is not damaged. There are also concerns that the line will run too close to backyards and that the identity of the Northern Netherlands will be compromised by too many Randstad residents.
The results of the online consultation held at the beginning of this year were presented on Monday at Groningen’s main station, “the train cathedral of Groningen”, in the words of René Paas, King’s Commissioner in Groningen.
He was particularly pleased with the outcome that high costs should not be an obstacle. The research shows that both residents of the Northern Netherlands and the rest of the country believe that investing in the line should not only look at what the Netherlands will yield directly in terms of money.
Investment in Randstad does not benefit the rest
“Administrators in The Hague have failed the North for decades,” said Paas. According to him, it is now clear that the idea that investments in the Randstad also benefit the rest of the country does not just hold true. “I therefore assume that the government will also arrange the financing.”
The Frisian deputy Avine Fokkens, who will soon leave because the VVD will no longer be part of the new provincial council there, was particularly proud that the plans will continue after her departure. “Four years ago I was almost laughed at when I started talking about the Lely line. And now look where we are.”
Alderman Philip Broeksma of Groningen also said that he was very happy with the positive reception of the Lely line. “We need solutions because it is getting too crowded with cars. The train is such a solution.”
Prorail cannot build a railway line
State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen arrived half an hour late for the meeting because her working visit to farms in Farmsum had run over, but she too was extremely enthusiastic about the Lely line. According to her, the problems that can be expected when drawing a route in or near nature reserves in Friesland can be overseen.
The director of ProRail recently informed the House of Representatives that this government company has too few personnel and equipment to do all the maintenance on the track properly, let alone build new railway lines. Heijnen had also heard that, she said, but she pointed out that Prorail is not the boss, but the politicians. According to Heijnen, the cabinet will ensure that there is enough capacity at Prorail to eventually actually build the railway.
When that will happen is still the question. According to the planning, the knot will be made at the end of next year. Then there must also be a route on paper and the financing must be arranged. There will also be several public consultation rounds.
Never asked for burger so early before
The citizens’ consultation, the results of which have now been presented, was special, because otherwise citizens would never be involved so early in the planning process. Although the plans are still quite vague, residents seem to appreciate that participation, the researchers say.
Because the route is not yet known, it is not yet certain which stations will be there. For the sake of convenience, the project organization assumes a route that runs approximately along the A6 and A7 motorways. There could then be stations in Lelystad, Emmeloord, Heerenveen and Drachten, with a branch from Heerenveen to Leeuwarden. But not every train will stop everywhere.