RegioTram in English
In 2014 trams will be back in the city of Groningen. But what exactly is the RegioTram?
The Regio Tram is the object of the plan formulated by the Groningen-Assen region, the Province of Groningen and the Municipality of Groningen to improve the accessibility of the region and the city of Groningen in a sustainable way. The intention is to construct an extensive rail network, in combination with good transfer possibilities for motorists, cyclists and bus travellers. To stimulate this, more P&R facilities and transferia enabling this transfer will be realized.
Whether it involves work, shops, culture or other facilities, the city of Groningen fulfils an important central role for the whole of the North-Netherlands. The city provides 125,000 jobs at the University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Science, the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG), the Martini Hospital, etc. Every day, more than 160,000 people travel to the city, to study, work, go shopping or relax. These figures continue to rise. Recent research has indicated that the number of daily visitors in 2020 will amount to 215,000.
Problem
Around three-quarters of the current visitors come to the city by car. The majority of jobs and facilities lie in the Groningen city centre, as a result of the successful ‘compact city’ spatial policy. Apparently most visitors have to be in the inner city. The consequences are obvious: the roads become congested and the car parks are full. Further growth of motorized traffic in the city is well nigh impossible. But public transport, at least in its present form, cannot accommodate further growth. There is no room for extra buses. Accordingly, the city threatens to become inaccessible, which would be a disaster for the city and the region.
Solution
Anyone viewing the number of buses in the city will know that more of the same will not provide any kind of solution in the long term. The Regio Tram is one of the measures that could turn the tide. Research performed two or three years ago showed that a tram in Groningen is an excellent alternative for the overfull bus lines. Trams are cleaner, quieter, faster and their capacity is much greater. In other cities that have (re-)introduced trams, it has been shown that the use of public transport has increased enormously thanks to the reliability and high-quality allure of modern trams. Due to the advent of the Regio Tram, the city will remain accessible in the future. Buses will vanish from the Grote Markt, so that the inner city will become more liveable. With a smart dovetailing in the city structure, the tram will offer opportunities for the new east façade on the Grote Markt and for the new Groninger Forum.
There are also opportunities on economic and social levels. Locations along the tramline will become desired spots for investment by entrepreneurs and project developers. This ought to promote more liveliness in the city. Districts and neighbourhoods will receive a new impulse. Chances for urban renewal will arise, with the corresponding better imago. In this way, the tramlines will form new arteries for the city.
Various important public transport routes will run from Groningen to the surrounding region. In the future, a Regio Tram will be able to connect with the region along a number of these routes. But the Regio Tram Project is currently engaged with the first two tramlines in the city:
- Line 1: from Groningen Central Railway Station via the Grote Markt to Zernike, the university complex in the north-west of the city
- Line 2: from Groninger Central Railway Station via the UMCG to Kardinge, the recreation area in the north-east of the city
The project
The Regio Tram Project is an initiative of the Groningen-Assen region, the Province of Groningen, and the Municipality of Groningen. The primary assignment at present is to research the first and second tramlines and to examine how the Regio Tram can be extended to the region. Will the Regio Tram ride on the existing rail network? Is a good transfer a better option? Should a new rail line be constructed and if so, where? The Regio Tram Project is already busy with these issues.
The Project Team is headed by a steering group that consists of two representatives from the Province of Groningen (Marc Jager and William Moorlag) and two councillors of the City of Groningen (Karin Dekker and Frank de Vries). They liaise with the Steering Group for the Groningen-Assen Region.
Contact
Regio Tram Project
Oosterstraat 56a
9711 NX Groningen
The Netherlands
Telephone: +31 (0)50- 4023550
Fax: +31 (0)50-4023560
info@regiotram.groningen.nl
www.regiotram.nl
