Passenger train services on the Wunderline rail line between Groningen in the Netherlands and Leer in Germany resumed on October 5, 2026, almost 10 years after the Friesen Bridge over the River Ems was irreparably damaged by a ship collision in December 2015. The disruption lasted nearly a decade, during which replacement bus services ran between Weener and Leer, with express buses operating between Groningen and Leer.
Friesen Bridge Replacement Details
The core of the restoration project was the replacement of the damaged Friesen Bridge, dismantled in 2021. Deutsche Bahn invested about €200 million in the new bridge, which measures 335 metres in length.
It is Europe’s largest swing and lift rail bridge, designed by structural engineers Schlaich Bergermann Partner. The bridge features a 145-metre swinging section weighing 1,800 tonnes and accommodates a single railway track, a footpath, and a cycle lane. The replacement doubles the width available for vessel passage, improving navigation by guiding ships through the opening rather than against the current.
Wunderline Corridor Upgrades and Timelines
Alongside the bridge replacement, Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail and Germany’s DB InfraGO upgraded the tracks, signalling systems, level crossings, and trackbed along the 173-kilometre Wunderline corridor. The works on the Dutch side were completed by August 2025. The Province of
Groningen publicly criticized the German state of Niedersachsen for what it described as a lack of urgency in autumn 2025, according to the Dutch-language publication SpoorPro.
Current Train Operations
Arriva operates the Wunderline passenger service, running hourly trains on weekdays that require passengers to change trains at Winschoten in the Netherlands. Direct train services between Groningen and Leer operate only during early mornings, late evenings, and weekends. There is a speed restriction at Hurdegaryp and rail traffic through the Friesen Bridge is limited to certain periods due to necessary swing operations to allow maritime traffic, which presents potential causes for delays on direct
journeys.
Passenger Experience and Future Plans
During the bridge replacement period, passengers relied on replacement bus services between Weener and Leer and express buses between Groningen and Leer. The resumption of train services restores rail connectivity after nearly 10 years of disruption. Regional stakeholders from Groningen, Niedersachsen, Bremen, ProRail, and Deutsche Bahn are collaborating on a long-term plan to create a direct Groningen-Bremen train service without the need to transfer trains in Leer. This future service could reduce travel times by approximately 15 minutes, offering a journey duration of 2 hours and 11 minutes. However, funding for infrastructure works including double-tracking sections in Germany connected
to this plan remains unconfirmed.
Economic and Sustainability Benefits
Authorities from the Province of Groningen, Niedersachsen, and Bremen consider the improved international rail link critical for strengthening economic cooperation, enhancing sustainable transport options, and fostering closer connections between communities on both sides of the Dutch-German border.
