The railway connection to Stadskanaal will become part of the Nedersaksen Line. This means that the Province of Groningen will no longer be the final responsible party for the Veendam - Stadskanaal project, but will collaborate with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and other authorities along the entire Nedersaksen Line. This also means that the railway will no longer end in Stadskanaal but will extend further to Emmen and Twente.
Nedersaksen Line
On Monday, October 6, 2025, State Secretary Thierry Aartsen gave the starting signal for the MIRT exploration of the Nedersaksen Line in Emmen. In this phase, the national government and region conduct research into possible variants and the best solutions for the projects goal: improving broad prosperity. With the Nedersaksen Line, the national government aims to increase the accessibility of Northeast Netherlands by public transport. Research conducted so far indicates that improving accessibility can also lead to more housing and jobs and enhance the quality of life in this region. More information about the Nedersaksen Line can be found on the official project page of the Nedersaksen Line.
Start of Participation Process
In January, the ministry will start the participation process. In this process, residents, social organizations, and companies will have ample opportunity to participate and contribute ideas. The result of this phase is a preferred decision, with the main route alignment known.
Veendam-Stadskanaal Railway Line
The Province of Groningen started in 2019 with the project to extend the existing railway connection between Groningen and Veendam to Stadskanaal. The province conducted research on the existing railway between Veendam and Stadskanaal, where currently only the historic STAR trains run. They examined whether this railway could also be made suitable for passenger trains. The results of this research will be incorporated into the development of the Nedersaksen Line.