Passenger train services on the Wunderline route linking Groningen in the Netherlands and Leer in Germany resumed on October 5, 2026. This restart follows nearly 10 years of disruption caused by irreparable damage to the Friesen Bridge inflicted by a ship collision in December 2015.
Friesen Bridge Replacement Project
The focal point of restoring train operations was the replacement of the 335-meter-long Friesen Bridge, Europe’s largest swing and lift rail bridge. Deutsche Bahn funded the project with an investment of approximately €200 million.
The original bridge was dismantled in 2021. The first segment of the new bridge, designed by structural engineering firm Schlaich Bergermann
Partner, was installed in August 2024. The bridge’s swing section measures 145 meters and weighs 1,800 tonnes. It accommodates a single railway track, a pedestrian footpath, and a cycle lane.
The new structure doubles the width available for ship passage and improves navigation by allowing vessels to move with the river’s current rather than against it, a restriction that existed with the former bridge.
Corridor Infrastructure Upgrades
Alongside the bridge replacement, Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail and German counterpart DB InfraGO upgraded 173 kilometers of track, signalling, and level crossings along the Wunderline corridor. Upgrades included reinforcing the trackbed to permit higher operating speeds.
The Province of Groningen, Niedersachsen, and Bremen jointly financed this infrastructure work. While the Dutch side’s upgrades were completed by August 2025, the Province of Groningen criticized Niedersachsen in autumn 2025 for a “lack of urgency” over progress on the German side.
Current Train Services and Operations
Train operator Arriva runs an hourly weekday service on the Wunderline route, requiring passengers to change trains at Winschoten in the Netherlands. Through trains operate between Groningen and Leer during early mornings, late evenings, and weekends.
However, the line’s direct travel options face potential delays. A speed restriction near Hurdegaryp slows trains, and the new swing bridge must
open periodically to allow maritime traffic, limiting rail movements to specific intervals.
Future Plans and Funding Status
Local authorities from Groningen, Niedersachsen, and Bremen, along with ProRail and Deutsche Bahn, are developing plans for a direct service between Groningen and Bremen. Such a service would eliminate the current need to change trains at Leer and reduce journey times by approximately 15 minutes, targeting a duration of 2 hours and 11 minutes.
This plan requires double-tracking on certain German sections of the line. As of now, funding for these upgrades has not been confirmed.
