Central Station

After Germany’s reunification in 1990, Berlin faced the monumental task of merging its divided transport systems. The city needed a unified infrastructure connecting bus, metro, and rail networks. The outcome was Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the Central Station, designed by Meinhard von Gerkan and inaugurated on May 26, 2006. Strategically located near the government district, next to the Chancellery and the Reichstag, it serves as both a transport hub and a symbol of a united Berlin.

Built on the site of the former Lehrter Bahnhof, it operated temporarily in 2002 as an S-Bahn stop under the name Berlin Hauptbahnhof – Lehrter Bahnhof. The impressive design spans five levels with escalators, lifts, shops, and cafes, creating a lively space for travelers. More than just a railway station, Hauptbahnhof integrates long-distance trains, the S-Bahn, and the U-Bahn, ranking as one of Europe’s busiest through-stations, second only to Paris Gare du Nord. Among its most notable routes was the Sibirjak, which linked Berlin with Russian cities, reaching as far as Novosibirsk—a journey of nearly four days. Today, due to the war in Ukraine, train travel to Russia is no longer a routine option.