Leipzig Hauptbahnhof covers a floor area of 83,460 m², making it the largest railway station in Europe when measured by floor area, and is arguably the most impressive. It has 24 platforms (reduced from 26) housed in six iron trainsheds; a multi-level concourse with towering stone arches; and a 293 metre-long facade. It handles an average of 150,000 passengers a day.
The station was opened in December 1915 as a joint terminal for the Königlich Sächsische Staatseisenbahnen (Royal Saxon State Railways) and the Preussische Staatseisenbahnen (Prussian State Railways). The building has two identical domed entrance halls facing the street, one for each company. When the German railway systems were combined into the Deutsche Reichsbahn in 1920 the two halls lost this purpose.
The building was damaged by bombing during WW2 when the roof over the concourse collapsed and one of the entrance halls was destroyed. The station was restored by the Deutsche Reichsbahn to its original appearance in the 1950s.
After 1994 the station was renovated and modernized by the Deutsche Bahn. The concourse floor was removed and two basement levels were dug out to create a shopping mall.
Above are early postcards, and below are photos taken by Geoff Churchman last year.
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| Preserved AC electric E44 on display in the station |
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| Preserved class 52 steam locomotive |
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| Preserved class E94 electric locomotive |
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| The main concourse at platform level. |
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