Frankfurt-Höchst station
Encyclopedia
The Frankfurt-Höchst station is an important station in the Frankfurt
district of Höchst
and is the second largest station in the city with twelve tracks. It is currently mainly used by S-Bahn
, suburban and regional services. It is the most important public transport node in western Frankfurt.
to Fürth
, the first section of the Taunus Railway opened from the Taunus station in Frankfurt, running nine kilometres west to Höchst. The first Höchst station was not at the current location, but 400 metres east of it at Königsteiner Straße.
At the time the line was an international route, connecting the Free City of Frankfurt
and the Duchy of Nassau
. On 19 May 1840, the line was completed via Hattersheim
, Flörsheim
and Mainz-Kastel
(then in the Grand Duchy of Hesse
) to Wiesbaden
, the capital of Nassau. The entire route from the current S-Bahn station of Taunusanlage
to Wiesbaden is now part of the busy S-Bahn S1 line
.
A second line was connected to Höchst in 1847 with the opening of the short Soden Railway—Germany's oldest branch line. It linked the major spa
of Bad Soden
with the rest of the world. In 1877 this was followed by the much more important Limburg Railway, which provided a connection between Frankfurt and the Lahn Valley Railway (running between Gießen
and Koblenz
) across Nassau, which had been annexed by Prussia as a result of the 1866 War
.
In 1880, the old station building of 1839 was replaced by a new building. It was designed by the royal inspector of railways and industry , Heinrich Velde, who designed a total of 37 stations in the Rhine-Main area, of which Höchst station is considered his architectural tour de force. The new building was built on an “island” between the tracks of the Limburg line to the south and the Taunus and Sodene lines to the north, west of Königsteiner Straße.
In 1902, the Königstein Railway was opened via Kelkheim
to Königstein
, so that with the opening in the meantime of a second line to Frankfurt (the extension of the Limburg Railway to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof
in 1888), there were now six lines connecting to Höchst station, three from east and three from the west. On 1 September 1905, the Bäder curve was opened from Rödelheim on the Homburg line. The Bäder curve was initially used only by freight trains; passenger services began in 1908, including a Berlin–Wiesbaden express via Bad Nauheim
and Bad Homburg
.
The current Höchst station building was opened in 1914.
is run-down.
– Limburg (Lahn)
Frankfurt Höchst – Bad Soden Frankfurt Hbf – Frankfurt-Höchst – Wiesbaden Hbf – Rüdesheim – Koblenz Hbf - Neuwied Frankfurt Hbf – Frankfurt-Höchst– Kelkheim
– Königstein
Frankfurt Hbf – Frankfurt-Höchst – Niedernhausen – Limburg (Lahn) Wiesbaden Hbf – Frankfurt-Höchst – Frankfurt Hbf (tief) – Rödermark-Ober-Roden Niedernhausen – Frankfurt-Höchst – Frankfurt Hbf (tief) – Dietzenbach Bf
The station is served line S 1
and S 2
of the Rhine-Main S-Bahn
, operating during the day at 30 minute intervals, together providing a service every 15 minutes between Frankfurt-Höchst and central Frankfurt.
It is also served by SE (Stadt-Express
) 12 services on the Königstein Railway between Königstein and Frankfurt Hbf, operated by Hessische Landesbahn (HLB) every 30 minutes. The Soden line is served by RB 13 services operated by Hessische Landesbahn at hourly intervals between Frankfurt-Höchst and Bad Soden.
The station is served by the SE 10 service between Frankfurt Hbf and Neuwied every hour, operated by VIAS.
It is served by RE 20 and RB 20 services between Frankfurt Hbf and Limburg every hour, together providing a service every 30 minutes.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
district of Höchst
Höchst (Frankfurt am Main)
Höchst is a district of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is part of the Ortsbezirk West, and is subdivided into 4 Stadtbezirke.Höchst am Main became part of Frankfurt am Main in 1928 together with its boroughs Sindlingen, Unterliederbach and Zeilsheim. It is situated 10 km west of downtown...
and is the second largest station in the city with twelve tracks. It is currently mainly used by S-Bahn
Rhine-Main S-Bahn
The Rhine-Main S-Bahn system is an integrated rapid transit and commuter transport system for the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region, which includes the cities Frankfurt am Main, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Offenbach am Main, Hanau and Darmstadt...
, suburban and regional services. It is the most important public transport node in western Frankfurt.
History
The first Höchst station was built as part of one of the oldest railways in Germany. On 26 September 1839, four years after the opening of Germany’s first railway from NurembergNuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
to Fürth
Fürth
The city of Fürth is located in northern Bavaria, Germany in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the two cities being only 7 km apart....
, the first section of the Taunus Railway opened from the Taunus station in Frankfurt, running nine kilometres west to Höchst. The first Höchst station was not at the current location, but 400 metres east of it at Königsteiner Straße.
At the time the line was an international route, connecting the Free City of Frankfurt
Free City of Frankfurt
For almost five centuries, the German city of Frankfurt am Main was a city-state within two major Germanic states:*The Holy Roman Empire as the Free Imperial City of Frankfurt...
and the Duchy of Nassau
Nassau (state)
Nassau was a German state within the Holy Roman Empire and later in the German Confederation. Its ruling dynasty, now extinct in male line, was the House of Nassau.-Origins:...
. On 19 May 1840, the line was completed via Hattersheim
Hattersheim am Main
Hattersheim am Main is a town in the Main-Taunus district, Hesse .-Neighbouring towns:Hattersheim borders the city of Frankfurt in the northeast, in the southeast with Kelsterbach, in the southwest with Raunheim...
, Flörsheim
Flörsheim
Flörsheim am Main is a town in the Main-Taunus district, in Hesse, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the river Main, opposite Rüsselsheim, 12 km east of Mainz.-Neighbouring communities and counties:...
and Mainz-Kastel
Mainz-Kastel
Mainz-Kastel is a district administered by the city of Wiesbaden, Germany. Mainz-Kastel was formerly a district of the city of Mainz, until the public administration by the city of Wiesbaden was decided on August 10, 1945...
(then in the Grand Duchy of Hesse
Grand Duchy of Hesse
The Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine , or, between 1806 and 1816, Grand Duchy of Hesse —as it was also known after 1816—was a member state of the German Confederation from 1806, when the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt was elevated to a Grand Duchy, until 1918, when all the German...
) to Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, the capital of Nassau. The entire route from the current S-Bahn station of Taunusanlage
Taunusanlage station
Taunusanlage station is an underground S-Bahn station in central Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is in the Westend district, close to Taunusanlage Park. The name Taunusanlage refers to a section of the now demolished city walls, named in the 19th century after the nearby Taunusbahnhof of the Taunus...
to Wiesbaden is now part of the busy S-Bahn S1 line
S1 (Rhine-Main S-Bahn)
The S1 service of the S-Bahn Rhein-Main system bearing the KBS number 645.1 is an important railway connection running east-west...
.
A second line was connected to Höchst in 1847 with the opening of the short Soden Railway—Germany's oldest branch line. It linked the major spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
of Bad Soden
Bad Soden
Bad Soden is a town and spa in the Main-Taunus-Kreis, Hesse, Germany. Population 21,412 .Bad Soden is a popular residential town for commuters working in Frankfurt am Main. It is known for its various springs, which contain carbonic acid gas and various iron oxides. The waters are used both...
with the rest of the world. In 1877 this was followed by the much more important Limburg Railway, which provided a connection between Frankfurt and the Lahn Valley Railway (running between Gießen
Gießen
Gießen, also spelt Giessen is a town in the German federal state of Hesse, capital of both the district of Gießen and the administrative region of Gießen...
and Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
) across Nassau, which had been annexed by Prussia as a result of the 1866 War
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
.
In 1880, the old station building of 1839 was replaced by a new building. It was designed by the royal inspector of railways and industry , Heinrich Velde, who designed a total of 37 stations in the Rhine-Main area, of which Höchst station is considered his architectural tour de force. The new building was built on an “island” between the tracks of the Limburg line to the south and the Taunus and Sodene lines to the north, west of Königsteiner Straße.
In 1902, the Königstein Railway was opened via Kelkheim
Kelkheim
Kelkheim is a town in the Main-Taunus-Kreis district in Hesse, Germany. Situated in the Taunus mountains, Kelkheim is noted for its attractive scenery. Kelkheim is situated approximately 10 km west of Frankfurt. Wiesbaden, the main capital of Hesse, is about 25 km from Kelkheim. Mainz,...
to Königstein
Königstein im Taunus
Königstein im Taunus is a climatic spa and lies on the thickly wooded slopes of the Taunus in Hesse, Germany. Owing to its advantageous location for both scenery and transport on the edge of the Frankfurt Rhine Main Region, Königstein is a favourite residential town...
, so that with the opening in the meantime of a second line to Frankfurt (the extension of the Limburg Railway to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof
Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof
is the central station for Frankfurt am Main. In terms of railway traffic, it is the busiest railway station in Germany. With about 350,000 passengers per day the station is the second most frequented railway station in Germany and one of the most frequented in Europe.- Proto-history :In the late...
in 1888), there were now six lines connecting to Höchst station, three from east and three from the west. On 1 September 1905, the Bäder curve was opened from Rödelheim on the Homburg line. The Bäder curve was initially used only by freight trains; passenger services began in 1908, including a Berlin–Wiesbaden express via Bad Nauheim
Bad Nauheim
Bad Nauheim is a town in the Wetteraukreis district of Hesse state of Germany. , Bad Nauheim has a population of 30,365. The town is located approximately 35 kilometers north of Frankfurt am Main, on the east edge of the Taunus mountain range. It is a world-famous resort, noted for its salt...
and Bad Homburg
Bad Homburg station
Bad Homburg Station is located in Bad Homburg, Hesse, Germany on the Homburg Railway and was opened on 26 October 1907. It is used by about 19,000 passengers each day.- Historical background :...
.
The current Höchst station building was opened in 1914.
Current station
Höchst station would be sufficient, with its twelve platform tracks, for a city. In fact, only eight tracks are used regularly, one platform is closed completely. The entrance hall, the design of which is influenced by Art NouveauArt Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
is run-down.
Services
Frankfurt Hbf – Frankfurt-Höchst – NiedernhausenNiedernhausen station
Niedernhausen station serves the municipality of Niedernhausen in the German state of Hesse. It is the most important station on the Main-Lahn Railway between the stations of Frankfurt-Höchst and Eschhofen in Limburg an der Lahn...
– Limburg (Lahn)
Limburg (Lahn) station
Limburg station is a station of the city of Limburg an der Lahn in the German state of Hesse. It is on the Lahn Valley Railway , running between Koblenz and Gießen. The only section of this that is electrified in the Limburg area is between Limburg freight yard and Eschhofen station...
Frankfurt Höchst – Bad Soden Frankfurt Hbf – Frankfurt-Höchst – Wiesbaden Hbf – Rüdesheim – Koblenz Hbf - Neuwied Frankfurt Hbf – Frankfurt-Höchst– Kelkheim
Kelkheim
Kelkheim is a town in the Main-Taunus-Kreis district in Hesse, Germany. Situated in the Taunus mountains, Kelkheim is noted for its attractive scenery. Kelkheim is situated approximately 10 km west of Frankfurt. Wiesbaden, the main capital of Hesse, is about 25 km from Kelkheim. Mainz,...
– Königstein
Königstein im Taunus
Königstein im Taunus is a climatic spa and lies on the thickly wooded slopes of the Taunus in Hesse, Germany. Owing to its advantageous location for both scenery and transport on the edge of the Frankfurt Rhine Main Region, Königstein is a favourite residential town...
Frankfurt Hbf – Frankfurt-Höchst – Niedernhausen – Limburg (Lahn) Wiesbaden Hbf – Frankfurt-Höchst – Frankfurt Hbf (tief) – Rödermark-Ober-Roden Niedernhausen – Frankfurt-Höchst – Frankfurt Hbf (tief) – Dietzenbach Bf
The station is served line S 1
S1 (Rhine-Main S-Bahn)
The S1 service of the S-Bahn Rhein-Main system bearing the KBS number 645.1 is an important railway connection running east-west...
and S 2
S2 (Rhine-Main S-Bahn)
The S2 service of the S-Bahn Rhein-Main system bearing the KBS number 645.2 is a railway connection between the small Taunus town Niedernhausen and Dietzenbach.Usually DBAG Class 423 railcars are used on this service...
of the Rhine-Main S-Bahn
Rhine-Main S-Bahn
The Rhine-Main S-Bahn system is an integrated rapid transit and commuter transport system for the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region, which includes the cities Frankfurt am Main, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Offenbach am Main, Hanau and Darmstadt...
, operating during the day at 30 minute intervals, together providing a service every 15 minutes between Frankfurt-Höchst and central Frankfurt.
It is also served by SE (Stadt-Express
Stadt-Express
The Stadt-Express , formerly City-Bahn , was a category of train in the Deutsche Bahn, that linked conurbations in Germany with the outer reaches of the surrounding countryside...
) 12 services on the Königstein Railway between Königstein and Frankfurt Hbf, operated by Hessische Landesbahn (HLB) every 30 minutes. The Soden line is served by RB 13 services operated by Hessische Landesbahn at hourly intervals between Frankfurt-Höchst and Bad Soden.
The station is served by the SE 10 service between Frankfurt Hbf and Neuwied every hour, operated by VIAS.
It is served by RE 20 and RB 20 services between Frankfurt Hbf and Limburg every hour, together providing a service every 30 minutes.
Use of tracks and platforms
- Platform tracks 1/2: S-Bahn lines towards central Frankfurt, Regional-Express and Stadt-ExpressStadt-ExpressThe Stadt-Express , formerly City-Bahn , was a category of train in the Deutsche Bahn, that linked conurbations in Germany with the outer reaches of the surrounding countryside...
services from Limburg to Frankfurt - Platform tracks 3/4: S-Bahn services twards Wiesbaden/Niedernhausen (track 3)
- Platform tracks 5/6: Stadt-Express services from and to Wiesbaden/Koblenz/Neuwied
- Platform tracks 8/9: access to the cleaning facilities for Intercity-Express trains
- Platform tracks 10/11: Regional-Express and Stadt-Express services to Limburg (track 10), Soden line (track 11) (HLB)
- Platform tracks 12/13: Königstein Railway to Königstein (track 13) and Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (track12) (HLB)