Many main train stations in Germany are a construction site – for years. This often has consequences for hundreds of thousands of travelers every day.
Construction is underway at one in five main train stations in Germany. “Modernization is currently underway at around a fifth of the main train stations; they range from replacing an elevator to comprehensive construction work,” said a spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn when asked by the German Press Agency. According to the spokeswoman, the railway operates a total of 5,400 stations, 134 of which are main stations.
Hundreds of thousands of people often pass through the train stations every day – they then have to live with the construction work for several years. For example, work has been going on at Munich Central Station since 2019, and in Hanover and Frankfurt until the mid-1930s. In Stuttgart, train travelers have been living with the mega construction site Stuttgart 21 in the middle of the city for more than ten years – a project that affects much more than the main station.
Train: The main station can only be closed in exceptional cases
The railway justifies the often very long construction times by saying that construction takes place under the “rolling wheel” – so rail operations at the stations continue. On and in the buildings, some of which are listed buildings, construction must always be carried out in individual sections, although safety must not be restricted.
Source: Stern
