Groningen Station reopens after 60-day overhaul, but broken lifts anger travelers
Groningen Station reopened Sunday morning following an intensive 60-day, around-the-clock overhaul that transformed the city’s rail hub into a modern through-station. While the upgrades drew crowds, problems with unfinished facilities quickly sparked complaints and safety concerns, NOS reported.
The most serious issue reported was that all elevators remained out of service, creating hazards for passengers with strollers, rollators, and bicycles. An NS employee watched as a man struggled to balance his bike on an escalator. Later, a tourist unaware of the closures tried to guide his bicycle down a steep ramp, but it slipped and slid uncontrollably until another passenger helped secure it, according to NOS.
“The elevators aren’t working yet, but I’m sure it will be fine eventually,” the tourist told the broadcaster. The helper called the situation “life-threatening.”
Passengers reportedly entered through a new underground pedestrian passage. Many stopped to take photos, but some criticized the changes. “I liked the old station better,” one traveler told NOS. “It feels just like Amsterdam now.”
Imke Nijman, 22, a greeter handing out sunflower seeds and cinnamon rolls, told NOS many visitors came simply out of curiosity. She also noted complaints about the lack of grooves on stairs for bicycles and escalators that only go up, forcing passengers traveling downward to use stairs.
The monumental station building remains intact, and historic red platform canopies have been partly reinstalled. Still, some regular passengers appeared disoriented. Nijman told NOS, “It’s strange; I can hardly remember what it looked like before.”
ProRail, the rail infrastructure manager, praised the overhaul but acknowledged unclear signage caused confusion. Travelers are directed to enter through the restored main hall, but many used the side entrance and immediately encountered unfinished areas. “People feel disappointed when they walk in that way,” Nijman told NOS.
The station also connects neighborhoods with the city center. Residents Tineke Kuipers and Theo Boersma visited to see the new tunnel replacing a pedestrian bridge removed two months ago. Boersma told NOS he was “very happy” the south access was open. Kuipers praised the wide entrances and restored canopies, calling them “really beautiful.”
Sunday was also the first day all passengers were required to use check-in gates — a system common elsewhere in the Netherlands but new in Groningen. Station staff reportedly assisted travelers, and ProRail assigned extra personnel to prevent congestion during Monday’s rush.
Though the reopening marked a major milestone, construction that began in 2019 continues. Work is underway on a new bus terminal expected to open next year, as well as bicycle parking and a bike tunnel. ProRail said the tunnel is mostly finished, but the final section beneath the station will take about two more years.
