Station Rolde

Station Rolde is a former railway station on the Assen - Stadskanaal railway line.

In 1905, the railway line between Assen and Stadskanaal was opened. The Northern East Local Railway Company (NOLS) constructed it, while the State Railways (SS) operated it. Later, everything was transferred to NS.

The section from Gasselternijveen to Stadskanaal was a true local railway line for both passenger transport and goods. For example, meat from export slaughterhouse Udema in Gieten, potatoes from Rolde, and pitwood from the Drenthe forests. There was even double track between Gasselternijveen and Stadskanaal because the Zwolle - Emmen - Stadskanaal railway line ran alongside it.

Passenger transport ended in 1947. Transport was taken over by buses, which became increasingly comfortable and could go anywhere. Freight transport was increasingly taken over by trucks as not only the vehicles, but especially the roads in the area improved.

Until May 1967, freight trains ran daily from Zwolle via Assen and Gasselternijveen to Stadskanaal. Philips was a customer there. Until the 1970s, Udema was the main customer for freight transport. When that company stated it no longer wanted to use the services of NS, the line was closed.

In 2019, the museum railway STAR and regional authorities investigated the possibility of reinstating part of the former Assen - Stadskanaal railway line solely for museum trains.

STAR has had the reinstatement on its wish list for years. It hopes to attract more passengers and tourists to the Hondsrug with a steam train.

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