The Hondsrugline is a possible new rail link between Groningen and Emmen. Construction of this new line is proposed by the Drenthe province within the framework of the Drenthe 2040 rail vision. The line should run parallel to the N34 from Emmen and could connect to De Punt on the Groningen-Assen railway line. The name refers to the Hondsrug, the sandback between both cities. Rail link Groningen - Emmen
In the past, there has been a rail link between Groningen and Emmen, although it was necessary for a trip between both places to make several transfers. The NOLS had a line from Emmen to Stadskanaal and Zuidbroek via Gasselternijveen. In Zuidbroek you could get on the train from Nieuweschans to Groningen. However, the line between Emmen and Stadskanaal was closed before the war. The infrastructure has now disappeared completely.
The line between Stadskanaal and Zuidbroek is still present. The Zuidbroek - Veendam piece was reopened on 1 May 2010 for passenger transport. The province of Groningen is investigating the possibility of extending the line of Veendam to Stadskanaal, the part of the existing line now being used by the STAR museum railway line. For the future, Groningen is thinking of a new connection between Stadskanaal and Emmen.
In the Drenthe Rail Vision of 2040, the province of Drenthe rejects the connection between Groningen and Emmen via Stadskanaal. According to Drenthe, such a line would draw too few travelers to be profitable. Based on the current bus service between Groningen and Emmen, the province thinks that a direct rail link between both cities parallel to the N34 can be profitable. Between Casting and The Point, that might be a regiram.
Drenthe also sees opportunities to make a faster connection between Groningen and Twente through the construction of the Hondsrugline. Externe link
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