Ihrhove–Nieuweschans railway

The Ihrhove–Nieuweschans railway is an international railway line running from Ihrhove near Leer in Germany to Bad Nieuweschans in the Netherlands. The line was opened in 1876. Ihrhove is situated on the north-south Emsland Railway, between Papenburg and Leer. At Bad Nieuweschans, a connection with the Dutch railway network is provided through the Harlingen–Nieuweschans railway, which passes through Groningen. On 3 December 2015, the bridge over the Ems was destroyed by a ship colliding with it. The line between Ihrhove, Weener and Bad Nieuweschans is expected to be closed until 2024. A bus replacement service operated between Bad Nieuweschans and Leer following the accident.[1] The line between Bad Nieuweschans and Weener reopened on 5 July 2016, with a bus replacement service in operation between Weener and Leer.[2]

Ihrhove–Nieuweschans railway
Map of the Ihrhove-Nieuweschans railway
Overview
StatusOperational, but closed to rail traffic due to bridge damage
LocaleThe Netherlands, Germany
TerminiIhrhove
Bad Nieuweschans
Service
Operator(s)Arriva
History
Opened1876
Technical
Line length18 km (11 mi)
Number of trackssingle track (rail)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrificationno

Stations

There are two stations on the Ihrhove–Nieuweschans railway: Bad Nieuweschans and Weener.

Accidents and incidents
The Emsmoon, which destroyed the Friesenbrücke.

On 3 December 2015, the coaster Emsmoon collided with the Friesenbrücke, a bridge carrying the railway over the Ems near Weener, blocking both railway and river. Replacement of the bridge was then expected to take five years.[1][3][4]

In July 2018, a plan for a new 160 meter swing bridge was announced, expected to open in 2024.[5]

References
  1. Pieters, Janene (2015-12-04). "Boat crashes into railway bridge linking Netherlands to Germany". NL Times. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  2. "Trein gaat weer rijden tot Weener" [Trains run again to Weener] (in Dutch). Dagblad van het Noord. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  3. "Vernielde spoorbrug: Vijf jaar geen treinen" [Destroyed railway bridge: Five years no trains] (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  4. "Frachter kracht in Friesenbrücke" [Freighter crashes into Friesenbrücke] (in German). Ostfriesen Zeitung. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  5. "Swing bridge to replace damaged Friesen Bridge". Railway Gazette. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
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