Friedrichstrasse Railway Station Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse

Friedrichstrasse Station in Berlin was opened on May 1, 1882. It had taken nine years to build and measured 163 m/540ft by 40 m/132ft. It quickly became the capital's most important station. Between 1924-26 it was completely redesigned with two parallel halls, one for long-distance and one for suburban lines. It suffered serious damage during the Second World War but was rebuilt by 1959-60. After the Berlin Wall was built in 1961 Friedrichstrasse became the only link for main-line, suburban and underground trains between the two sectors of the city.

As the East Berlin Station, and also the border control point, it became the sluice gate between two worlds. From July 1, 1990, all main-line and local trains have once again been able to run without any restrictions. S-Bahn trains, which terminated here before the Wall fell, now once more run from east to west and north to south. The central location of Friedrichstrasse would appear to indicate that it could again become an inner-city rail center.

New restaurants and the probable transfer here of the Nollendorfplatz flea-market have brought the station back to life.