Meppel–Groningen Railway (Staatslijn C)

Meppel–Groningen Railway (Staatslijn C)

The Meppel–Groningen Railway is an important railway line in the Netherlands running from Meppel to Groningen, passing through Hoogeveen, Beilen and Assen. The line was opened in 1870. It is also known as the Staatslijn C.

Meppel–Groningen Railway Stations

The main interchange stations on the Meppel–Groningen Railway are:

• Meppel: to Utrecht, Zwolle and Leeuwarden
• Groningen: to Leeuwarden, Delfzijl and Nieuweschans

Meppel–Groningen Railway History

The Westerbork transit camp, where Dutch Jews and others were held before deportation to Nazi concentration camps in the East, had its own branch line from the Meppel–Groningen Railway, branching off at the former Hooghalen railway station. In the 1970s, the railway was the scene of two train hijackings by South-Moluccans: in 1975 at Wijster, and in 1977 at De Punt.

Meppel–Groningen Railway Overview

Meppel–Groningen Railway Status: Operational
Meppel–Groningen Railway Locale: The Netherlands
Meppel–Groningen Railway Termini:
Meppel railway station
Groningen railway station
Meppel–Groningen Railway Operator(s): Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Meppel–Groningen Railway Opened: 1870
Meppel–Groningen Railway Line Length: 77 km (48 mi)
Meppel–Groningen Railway Number of Tracks: double track
Meppel–Groningen Railway Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Meppel–Groningen Railway Electrification: 1.5 kV DC