National government allocates funds for accessibility of Deventer via rail and road

The national government is allocating funds to investigate the construction of a fourth platform in Deventer and to improve the connection of the N348 between Epse and the A1. Agreements on this are included in the Multi-Year Infrastructure, Spatial Planning and Transport Program (MIRT) for 2026 of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The MIRT is an overview of physical projects and programs that contribute to the accessibility and competitive strength of the Netherlands. 

That the national government has now included the fourth platform and the connection at exit 23 of the A1 in this list is an important and positive signal, said alderman Marcel Elferink (Mobility). It shows that the national government recognizes the investments needed to improve the accessibility of Deventer and the region. Necessary because many homes will be added in the coming years. 

Deventer aims to grow by 11,500 homes by 2040. Other municipalities in the Stedendriehoek Region are also growing. To keep Deventer and the region accessible and livable, investments in road and rail connections are necessary. Several of these projects have now been added to the MIRT 2026. 

Deventer station is an important hub for train travelers in all directions, both nationally and internationally. The current limited capacity in Deventer already causes a bottleneck for arriving and departing trains, and this will only increase in the future. The fourth platform is also needed for the integration of the accelerated Berlin train. This contributes to improving the accessibility of Deventer by public transport. 

The MIRT 2026 now includes that the national government, together with regional parties, will further investigate the construction of a fourth platform in Deventer in 2026. Funding has also been made available for this research. The money for the actual construction of the fourth platform is not yet available. It is expected that the ministry will reserve funds for this during the upcoming MIRT discussions in autumn.

For the adjustment of the N348 between Epse and the A1 near Deventer, the national government is allocating nearly 11 million euros in the MIRT 2026. The adjustment is necessary for a good connection of the N348 to the A1 and improves traffic safety and flow. Additionally, the adjustment is needed for the traffic access to the A1 business park. Currently, traffic is already congested during rush hour, causing long queues. The adjustment of the connection to the A1 fits into the approach for the N348: the province of Gelderland and the municipalities of Deventer and Lochem have made a plan for the adjustment, which includes adding lanes, a new intersection near the A1 business park, widening the bicycle path, and lowering the speed limit. 

The MIRT 2026 also contains agreements on various other projects in the Stedendriehoek Region. There is funding for housing construction in Apeldoorn and for infrastructure in, among others, Voorst and Zutphen. These agreements recognize the important urbanization task the region has and contribute to the much-needed investments in the accessibility of Eastern Netherlands.