State and region take important steps in realizing Delta Plan: Research Lelylijn launched

The national and regional governments today gave the official go-ahead for the investigation into the Lelylijn. This took place during the first administrative consultation Deltaplan between northern administrators of Groningen, Fryslân, Drenthe and Flevoland and State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. They adopted the Plan of Approach for the study.

With the MIRT study Lelylijn, the parties are taking an important step towards a new, fast, direct rail connection between Lelystad as a gateway to the Randstad and Leeuwarden and Groningen as important destinations in the North. The study addresses the international significance of the Lelylijn as a link to Germany and beyond. All conceivable variants are included that are necessary for a legally, financially and socially adequate choice, in which effects for broad prosperity, the contribution to the national housing task and the economic structure of the northern Netherlands are important criteria.

Joint work organization

A joint working organization will coordinate the study. Residents, stakeholders and regional authorities will be involved in the study. Stijn Lechner has been appointed project director for this joint work organization. Lechner, who works for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, has extensive experience with this type of MIRT-projects and was previously Program Manager Samen Bouwen Aan Bereikbaarheid (Building Accessibility Together) for the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. He was chosen by a selection committee in which national and regional governments were jointly represented.

State Secretary Heijnen: “With today’s agreements, together with the region, we are taking another good step in developing the Delta Plan for the North. De Lelylijn is coming up to speed. Since Monday it has literally been on the map in Europe. And here in the region we are also making headway. We have appointed a joint project director, and I like the fact that we are going to explicitly involve residents in the follow-up.”

Commissioner of the King in Groningen, also chairman of SNN, René Paas: “In the study that is now being launched, we are looking at how the economy, housing construction and improved accessibility can reinforce each other. It is not only about the Lelylijn, but also about the connection with the Lower Saxony line, with improvements to parts of the existing railroad and with the rail connection with northern Germany. All for better and faster accessibility to the North.”

Delta Plan

The purpose of the Delta Plan administrative consultation is broader than just accessibility. It is also about coherence with other projects, such as the other NOVEX-areas and various national programs. The total costs for the Delta Plan, including the MIRT-research to NOVEX-area Lelylijn and the relations with the Lower Saxony line and the existing railroad, have been estimated at € 8 million. State and region share these costs and are now making € 3 million each available for this purpose. The aim is for both parties to make another € 1 million each available in 2024. The research and a go/no-go decision for a MIRT-exploration of the Lelylijn should be completed in the fall of 2024.