Kaliningrad South railway station explained

Kaliningrad-Passazhirsky
Other Name:Kaliningrad South
Type:Kaliningrad Railway terminal
Style:RZD
Address:Kaliningrad
Borough:Kaliningrad Oblast
Country:Russia
Coordinates:54.6944°N 20.4983°W
Platform:6 (5 island platforms)
Tracks:11
Parking:Yes
Opened:1929 (Germany)
1949 (Russian re-opening)[1]
Electrified:yes
Code:100016[2]
Owned:Russian Railways
Operator:Kaliningrad Railway
Zone:6

Kaliningrad-Passazhirsky (Russian: Калининград-Пассажирский), also called Kaliningrad South (Russian: Калининград-Южный), also referred to as Königsberger Hauptbahnhof during the German past of the city, prior to 1945, is the largest railway station on the Russian Kaliningrad Railway. It is located in the westernmost point of Russia — the city of Kaliningrad.

Platforms

Platform 6 of the station is a standard gauge platform, where trains arrive from Poland, Germany and other countries of Europe.[3]

History

By the end of the 19th century Königsberg had become an important hub of the railway network, where lines in different directions — Central Germany, Poland, the Russian Empire and the Baltic countries - converged. However these different lines terminated at different stations. The idea of building a central station was proposed in 1896, and a plan was prepared in 1914. However, because of World War I, building did not begin until 1920, and the grand opening took place on 19 September 1929.

The station continued to work normally until 21 January 1945. During the battle for the city the station was significantly affected, so after the war, the station did not operate, and the role of the main passenger station served as temporary marshalling yard. The station was only reopened in 1949 by the Soviet Council of Ministers.[4]

The first major reconstruction of the station took place in 2003 – the interiors (offices, waiting room, cafe) were refurbished. The lobby of the station was decorated with new chandeliers and a fountain, and the underground passages leading to the platforms were refurbished. Clocks were installed in the facade and lobby of the station. However, the overall architectural appearance of the station has remained unchanged.[5]

Trains

External links

Notes and References

  1. Железнодорожные станции СССР. Справочник. — М.: Транспорт, 1981
  2. http://parovoz.com/history/electrification/1969-71.php Stations of Russia on paravoz.com
  3. http://rasp.yandex.ru/tablo/station/9623137?span=schedule&type=suburban&direction=all Train times for Europe
  4. http://www.koenigsberger-express.com/index.php?b=1&id=19&a=5&id_article=1902&PHPSESSID=ab90991c1abc78f61b7410f5106ba684 Königsberg to Kaliningrad
  5. http://parovoz.com/history/electrification/1969-71.php Changes after reconstruction