Train Station of the Year 2011 - Halberstadt wins award

Halberstadt. A brass plaque announces the highest accolade to the town's citizens - the most customer friendly train station in Germany is in Halberstadt in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The recently restored transport hub is quite rightly known as the gateway to the Harz Mountains. On Monday, railway aficionados and transport experts joined the Pro-Rail Alliance in honouring the winners of the Train Station of the Year 2011. Accompanied by Andreas Zeug, the chairman of the station operators DB Station & Service, the jury members unveiled the commemorative brass plaque on Halberstadt station's exterior. The station manager Karin Meyer and Halberstadt's mayor Andreas Henke each received a certificate for their exemplary joint efforts.

Jury member Dieter Harms from the Autoclub Europa (ACE) pointed out that the Harz region's magnificent Wilhelminian-style building has had a difficult past. "After surviving the bombing of the Second World War, the station slumbered through the Cold War under a covering of corrugated iron, leading to it being ridiculed as the astronaut's cage," he said. "Since its reopening in 2010, the station is as resplendent as Sleeping Beauty after she was awoken with a kiss." The jury's verdict was equally elated. "A mighty brick exterior, lovely curves on the inside and an overall free-flowing form: Halberstadt offers everything that a traveller needs," said Harms. Jury member Christian Schultz from the rail passenger organisation DBV praised the successful interconnection of transport modes, as well as the station's forecourt. "It sets the tone for travellers and visitors to the station. The historic reception building , the metal pyramids, the trees and benches all harmonise neatly with each other. The restaurant 'Gleis 6' ('Platform 6') has developed into a lively area that connects the various elements."

Dirk Flege, managing director of the Pro-Rail Alliance, valued above all the overall impression. "The jury was really impressed when it made its incognito visit to Halberstadt," said Flege. "A generous train station has been created that delights travellers with its wonderful atmosphere. The whole ensemble enables, and indeed encourages, the passengers to face each other. The building's spaciousness never seems to be a problem."

With Halberstadt, this year's winner in the small town station category, the state of Saxony-Anhalt is a first-time winner of the Train Station of the Year award. The Pro-Rail Alliance has organised the competition since 2004. This year's winner in the city station category was Leipzig in the state of Saxony. The previous winners were: 2010: Darmstadt and Baden-Baden, 2009: Erfurt and Uelzen, 2008: Karlsruhe and Schwerin, 2007: Berlin Main Station and Landsberg am Lech, 2006: Hamburg Dammtor and Oberstdorf, 2005: Mannheim and Wismar, and 2004: Hannover and Lübben.