Leipzig Hauptbahnhof – Leipzig’s central railway station – is an imposing building from 1915 that alludes to the much more populous Leipzig of yesteryear. The massive structure was only partially damaged in World War 2. Today it’s the largest train station in Europe; yes, bigger than any in London, Paris or Berlin.
Leipzig’s central station was a construction site for a long time. The station building, built in 1909-1913, hides the largest dead-end station in Europe with 26 platforms.
Despite efforts in favor of a through station, the Leipzig city council decided to build a dead-end station. This way it was possible to lend the building a grander appearance and place it closer to the city center. For the construction it was necessary to divert the Parthe River and to fill up the swampy ground. The station building was based upon 3,125 reinforced concrete pillars. After a construction period of 13 years, it started operation on 1st October, 1915 as Europe’s largest railway terminus. The architects Max Hans Kühne and William Lossow had to take the complicated claims of ownership into account and consequently designed a double station with two entrance halls and two waiting lounges. Until 1934 the platforms 1-13 remained under Prussian administration and the platforms 14-26 under Saxon administration. The concourse hall with a length of 270 meters and a height of 27 meters was a masterpiece of engineering.
Since 1990 the station has been extensively refurbished. From 1995 to 1997, a ultramodern shopping mall with 142 shops focusing on consumer electronics, fashion, gifts, food and various services such as cafés and restaurants was installed on three floors below the concourse hall. Today between 80,000 and 150,000 people visit the PROMENADEN mall with its two parking structures every day. Another special feature is the shop opening hours until 10 p.m. Even on Sundays 80 shops open for their customers.
Ms. Katja Thoele