Weener railway bridge, Steel railway bridge in Weener, Germany
The Friesenbrücke is a single-track steel railway bridge over the Ems between Weener and Westoverledingen, the fourth bridge at this site. Its superstructure combines fixed lattice truss spans with a bascule leaf that lifts diagonally, and a walkway with green railings runs alongside the track. The new bridge opened to pedestrians and cyclists on 5 September 2025 and to trains on 5 October 2026.
The first crossing opened between 1874 and 1876 to establish the rail connection over the river. After damage from ship collisions and during World War II, reconstructions followed in 1926 and 1951.
The bridge's name, Friesenbrücke, was first used for the 1926 truss bridge built by the MAN Gustavsburg works; the 1874–1876 predecessor was called Emsbrücke Hilkenborg. A model of the bridge is kept in the Heimatmuseum in Weener. Since 5 October 2026 trains run again between Winschoten and Leer, after Arriva carried out test runs in August 2026.
The bridge reopened to pedestrians and cyclists on 5 September 2025, and trains resumed on 5 October 2026. A foot and cycle path runs alongside the single track, as before 2015. Shipping has priority: the Meyer Werft in Papenburg requires the span to stay open 40 minutes out of every 60, so crossings can be interrupted.
The new bridge is Europe's largest railway lift-and-turn bridge, with a 160-metre rotating span. The Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg insisted the bridge stay open 40 of every 60 minutes for shipping, a condition that limits rail capacity. A safety mast on the control building's roof is meant to prevent further ship collisions.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,018 contributors worldwide.
