Linz Hauptbahnhof
Encyclopedia
is the Hauptbahnhof at Linz
, the third largest city in Austria
, and capital city of the federal state
of Upper Austria
.
Opened in 1858, the station is the centrepiece of the Linz transport hub. It forms part of the Western Railway, and is also a terminus of the Pyhrn Railway, the Summerauer Railway, and the Linzer Lokalbahn (LILO).
The station is owned by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB); train services are operated by the ÖBB and the LILO. With over 30,000 travellers per day, it is one of the busiest through stations in Austria.
was completed in 1858, to coincide with the arrival of the Empress Elisabeth Railway company's Western Railway from Vienna. It was rebuilt from 1936, in a severe modernist style characterized by a reinforced concrete frame, high ceilings, and elongated windows.
The rebuilt station building was damaged during World War II
, and rebuilt again from 1949-1955 in the sober style of that time.. By the end of the twentieth century, it was no longer appropriate to the increasing requirements of contemporary public transport.
In 2002-2004, the rebuilt station building was completely replaced with a new building designed by Wilhelm Holzbauer. This redevelopment also added the Terminal Tower skyscraper as part of a mixed-use complex.
The bus terminal is used by Postbuses and some bus and trolleybus
routes operated by Linz Linien. It is also used by the Welser company's regional buses, which connect Linz with the neighbouring communities of Traun
and Ansfelden
.
The railway platforms are accessible via the intermediate level of the building. Here, alongside the ÖBB ticket windows, information services, and the ÖBB club lounge, are shops and restaurants.
In the basement, there are stops for all three lines of the Linz tramway network, and an underground parking garage.
Due to its short transfer routes, large size and bright ambience, the building has repeatedly won the Verkehrsclub Österreich's award for the most popular and beautiful railway station in Austria, ahead of the central stations at Klagenfurt, Wiener Neustadt, and Wels.
The platforms are of the latest design, to correspond with the requirements of the ÖBB's Bahnhofsoffensive. All are equipped with elevators or escalators. All platforms, except platform 22 which, however, does not face any track, are through platforms.
Platforms 21 and 22 are to serve in the future for the Linz S-Bahn, which is still being planned.
The Hauptbahnhof tram stop is now 86 m (282 ft) long and has space for 2 Cityrunner trams. Both ends of the station are fitted with reversing loops.
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
, the third largest city in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and capital city of the federal state
States of Austria
Austria is a federal republic made up of nine states, known in German as Länder . Since Land is also the German word for a country, the term Bundesländer is often used instead to avoid ambiguity. The Constitution of Austria uses both terms...
of Upper Austria
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
.
Opened in 1858, the station is the centrepiece of the Linz transport hub. It forms part of the Western Railway, and is also a terminus of the Pyhrn Railway, the Summerauer Railway, and the Linzer Lokalbahn (LILO).
The station is owned by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB); train services are operated by the ÖBB and the LILO. With over 30,000 travellers per day, it is one of the busiest through stations in Austria.
Location
Linz Hauptbahnhof is situated in Bahnhofplatz, near the southern edge of the city centre.History
The first Linz central station buildingStation building
A station building, also known as a head house, is the main building of a passenger train station. It is typically used principally to provide services to passengers.A station building is not to be confused with the station itself...
was completed in 1858, to coincide with the arrival of the Empress Elisabeth Railway company's Western Railway from Vienna. It was rebuilt from 1936, in a severe modernist style characterized by a reinforced concrete frame, high ceilings, and elongated windows.
The rebuilt station building was damaged during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and rebuilt again from 1949-1955 in the sober style of that time.. By the end of the twentieth century, it was no longer appropriate to the increasing requirements of contemporary public transport.
In 2002-2004, the rebuilt station building was completely replaced with a new building designed by Wilhelm Holzbauer. This redevelopment also added the Terminal Tower skyscraper as part of a mixed-use complex.
Station building
The present station building is structured in three levels. The main entrance is at ground level, next to the taxi rank, and also provides the connection to the station's bus terminal.The bus terminal is used by Postbuses and some bus and trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
routes operated by Linz Linien. It is also used by the Welser company's regional buses, which connect Linz with the neighbouring communities of Traun
Traun
Traun is a city in the state of Upper Austria, Austria. As of 2001, according to , the population was 23,470 . Traun is home to a large Turkish immigrant community, a significant part of which originates from Sakarya/Akyazi, Turkey. The city is located at latitude 48.21667, longitude...
and Ansfelden
Ansfelden
Ansfelden is a town in Upper Austria, Austria, located 289 metres above sea level, with a population of about 15300. The rivers Traun and Krems run through the municipality...
.
The railway platforms are accessible via the intermediate level of the building. Here, alongside the ÖBB ticket windows, information services, and the ÖBB club lounge, are shops and restaurants.
In the basement, there are stops for all three lines of the Linz tramway network, and an underground parking garage.
Due to its short transfer routes, large size and bright ambience, the building has repeatedly won the Verkehrsclub Österreich's award for the most popular and beautiful railway station in Austria, ahead of the central stations at Klagenfurt, Wiener Neustadt, and Wels.
Platforms
As at 2010, Linz Hauptbahnhof had 13 operating station platforms, of which platforms 21, 1 and 2 were allocated to Linzer Lokalbahn trains.The platforms are of the latest design, to correspond with the requirements of the ÖBB's Bahnhofsoffensive. All are equipped with elevators or escalators. All platforms, except platform 22 which, however, does not face any track, are through platforms.
Platforms 21 and 22 are to serve in the future for the Linz S-Bahn, which is still being planned.
Interchange
Following the Bahnhofsoffensive, some changes were visible in public transport interchange at Linz Hauptbahnhof.Tram station
Until 2004, the Hauptbahnhof was served only by tram line 3. Lines 1 and 2 ran along the Wienerstraße, a short distance away. The Wienerstraße route has now been relocated underground between Goethekreuzung and Herz Jesu Kirche. By that new route, lines 1 and 2 now join line 3 in serving the Hauptbahnhof. The former above ground tram route between Blumauerplatz and Herz Jesu Kirche had been removed by 2009, and the streets were resurfaced. Thus, nothing now remains of the old route.The Hauptbahnhof tram stop is now 86 m (282 ft) long and has space for 2 Cityrunner trams. Both ends of the station are fitted with reversing loops.
Bus terminal
In 2004, the bus terminal was built east of the Hauptbahnhof. The bus station is below the county offices (regional service centre) and is at ground level. In the bus terminal there are three long bus platforms, where the Linz AG Linien, Postbus und Wilhelm Welser Traun buses all stop. The bus terminal is a total of 200 m (656 ft) long and 50 m (164 ft) wide.See also
- History of rail transport in AustriaHistory of rail transport in AustriaThe history of rail transport in Austria began with the Reisszug, a private funicular serving the Fortress of Salzburg. Built at the end of the 15th century and first documented in 1515, it is the oldest known funicular in the world, and possibly the oldest existing railway line.In 1837, following...
- Rail transport in AustriaRail transport in AustriaRail transport in Austria is mainly owned by the national rail company ÖBB. The railway network consists of 6,123 km, its gauge is 1,435 mm and 3,523 km are electrified....
External links
- Linzer Lokalbahn - official site