Groningen Prepares to Double the Public Transport by 2040
With 36,000 new homes and 28,000 jobs on the way, the city plans faster, greener, and more accessible transport to keep up with growing demand.
The municipality of Groningen, together with the province and public transport partners, is preparing for a major expansion of public transport in and around the city by 2040. The recently released “Routekaart OV Groningen 2025–2040” outlines how the region will handle a doubling in the number of public transport users.
Already, 200,000 people travel into the city on working days. With the city expecting 28,000 new jobs and 36,000 new homes by 2040, Groningen must shift away from car traffic, which cannot grow further within the city’s limits.
To handle this growth sustainably, the municipality is looking at:
More direct public transport connections with fewer transfers.
A larger role for smaller transport hubs beyond the Main Station (Hoofdstation), such as Groningen North, Europapark, Zuidhorn, and key P+R areas.
New housing, education, and work projects are located near train stations or major bus routes.
Why This Plan Is Needed
The Routekaart OV states that if nothing is done, car traffic to and from Groningen will grow by 17%—something the current infrastructure simply can't support. With buses and trains already nearing full capacity on several routes, inaction could lead to unreliable service, higher costs, and fewer users—a downward spiral.
The plan makes clear: doing nothing is not an option. Expanding public transport is essential not only for mobility but also for livability, economic development, equal opportunities, and climate goals. The vision is for fast, reliable, and accessible transport that is a real alternative to cars—especially for those who can’t drive or prefer not to.
What Will Change
Key goals from the Routekaart OV include:
Better reliability and speed for buses and trains.
More space for new public transport corridors and transfer points.
Increased capacity to meet growing demand.
Improvements in comfort and accessibility, especially for people with lower incomes or mobility limitations.
Integrating transport plans with housing and spatial planning—like ensuring new homes have good public transport options from the start.
Public transport will also become greener. By 2030, all buses in the region should run on clean energy, with trains following by 2035.
Looking Beyong 2040
While the plan runs until 2040, Groningen is also planning beyond that. As the city and region continue to grow, larger-scale changes—like new train lines or rapid bus systems (BRT)—may be needed. To prepare for that, the municipality is already reserving space for potential future developments.
In the meantime, work continues to expand and improve current services and infrastructure. The Routekaart OV shows that a livable, connected, and sustainable Groningen will rely heavily on making public transport the first choice for more people.
You can read the full roadmap here.