Completion of extensive renovation project at Dortmund's central station

Train line - Completion of extensive renovation project at Dortmund's central station

Following a six-year construction process, the major revamping of Dortmund's main station is complete. The upgraded, fully accessible station - featuring expansive tunnels and revamped platforms - was launched just in time for the European Football Championship. The German Railways, the Federal Government, and North Rhine-Westphalia spent more than 210 million euros on this fourth-largest railway station project, as unveiled by the railway company.

Renovations took place while the station remained operational. Passengers had to contend with detours, construction noise, and limited train access. The platform underpass has been expanded approximately four meters since the initial groundbreaking in 2018. Out of the eight platforms, all have been reworked, and there are now seven additional elevators and ramps for step-free access. New seating areas, signage, monitors, and a well-lit tunnel with a glossy wall covering and a refurbished flooring to enhance the waiting space. The station's main hall was already upgraded between 2009 and 2011.

The Dortmund main station is a crucial player in the German long-distance railway system. It houses around 80,000 travelers and countless other visitors daily, while 600 trains pass through it, including local and long-distance ones.

The vitality of providing barrier-free access has been recognized for some time, stated Oliver Wittke, the managing director of the Rhein-Ruhr Transport Association. Wittke declared: "We've now created a truly magnetizing railway station in Dortmund." Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens) likewise voiced his praise: "We have a real gem here in Dortmund." Samtlebe, the former Dortmund Mayor from 1973 to 1999, once derided the station as a "french fries stand with a rail connection." Krischer concluded that that time has expired, considering the impending kickoff of the European Football Championship. The city of Dortmund is projected to draw countless fans and ultimately tens of thousands more passengers due to its role as a tournament venue.

Read also:

1. Despite the ongoing construction, Dortmund's main station continued to operate as a key transport hub, handling around 80,000 commuters and 600 trains daily.
2. The completion of the renovation project at Dortmund's central station coincided with the start of the European Football Championship, enhancing the city's capacity to accommodate fans.
3. German Railways, the Federal Government, and North Rhine-Westphalia collectively invested over 210 million euros in the conversion of Dortmund's main station, turning it into a modern and fully accessible facility.
4. Due to the construction works, passengers had to navigate detours, limited train access, and endure construction noise, but the platform underpass was expanded by approximately four meters.
5. The renovation project, which began in 2018, resulted in the reworking of all eight platforms, the addition of seven new elevators and ramps for step-free access, and numerous upgrades to the waiting space.
6. Commuters now benefit from improved facilities, including expansive tunnels, revamped platforms, refurbished flooring, and well-lit environments, ensuring a more comfortable journey at Dortmund's main station.
7. Efforts to modernize the Dortmund main station, one of Europe's largest railway stations, align with German Railways' desire to adapt and enhance its infrastructure ahead of the continental competition in European Football Championships.

• Tough return to normality in snow and ice
• Steinmeier joined a moment of silence - a legal battle over an AfD protest.
• German national soccer team on their way to participate in the European Championship qualifying matches.
• The flooding has lessened, but the aftermath of mud remains.