Train Station of the Year 2011 - presentation in Leipzig on September 19

Leipzig. From today, Leipzig's citizens can officially view the engraved brass plaque telling them that Germany's most customer friendly station is located in their city. On Monday, friends of the railways and prominent politicians joined the German Pro-Rail Alliance in a ceremony to celebrate the fact that Leipzig Hbf, or main station, is the first railway terminus to win the Train Station of the Year award since it began eight years ago. The transport minister from the state of Saxony, Sven Morlok, and the CEO of DB Station & Service, André Zeug, joined the jury members in unveiling the brass plaque in the train station's concourse.

"I am very pleased - with this accolade for Leipzig Hbf, a train station in the state of Saxony has won this award for the very first time," said Saxony's state transport minister Sven Morlok. "People arriving here feel inspired to discover more of Leipzig and the state of Saxony, and people departing will hopefully want to return one day. The station is symbol for Saxony's traditions, its quality of life and economic performance, and it is of course above all one of our most important transport hubs." Leipzig's station manager Sabine Rothenberger (from Deutsche Bahn) and Leipzig's mayor Martin zur Nedden (SPD) were given special certificates in recognition of their joint efforts during the many years that Leipzig Hbf was being modernised.

"Leipzig Hbf is a first class railway terminus," said jury member Karl-Peter Naumann from the passenger organisation Pro Bahn. Although the majority of rail passengers voted for Stuttgart during the nomination phase, the jury arrived at a different conclusion. "When it comes customer friendliness, Stuttgart's main station cannot compete with Leipzig's magnificent building," said Naumann, who went on to praise the "quality space that the station offers to its visitors, giving them a feeling otherwise only found in churches. " Leipzig is a "cathedral with a direct rail connection," said Naumann. Monika Ganseforth from the passenger club VCD also spoke positively about "the incredible amount of space that Leipzig Hbf offers to its passengers." The station is nevertheless well laid-out and barrier free, and even though the station has extensive shopping facilities, travellers and shoppers never get in each other's way. According to Ganseforth, the Old Prussian waiting area is home to "Germany's loveliest station book shop". She went on to praise "the very active railway mission," adding "whether rows of bright shops or assistance for people in need, this excellent station delivers what travellers need."

"In contrast to the situation of just a few years ago, customers today see their trains stations as an experience, an all-in-one attraction," said the managing director of the Pro-Rail Alliance, Dirk Flege. "Whoever misses a train in Leipzig doesn't have to worry about being bored." Flege pointed out that both this year's winning stations are in Eastern Germany. With Leipzig winning the city category and Halberstadt the award for a station in a town, the states of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt are both first time winners of the competition, which is now in its eighth year. Neighbouring Thuringia has already won two awards - Weimar (2005) and Erfurth (2009). "The funding of train stations requires an integrated approach between a city's authorities, the state administration and the national operator Deutsche Bahn," said Flege. "All in all, the position in the East is very good when it comes to train stations."