Wrocław Główny railway station


Wrocław Główny
Location
City/Town Wrocław
District city centre
Voivodeship Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Country Poland
Address Pilsudskiego Street
Operational information
Category A
Platforms 11
Station building present Yes
History
Opened 1857
Previous name(s) Breslau Hauptbahnhof
Wrocław
Location of station in Poland
Polish State Railways

Wrocław Main Station (Polish Wrocław Główny) is the biggest and most important passenger rail station of the southwestern Polish city of Wrocław. Built in the mid-19th century near the center of the city, until 1945 it was known as Breslau Hauptbahnhof. It also is the biggest rail station of Lower Silesia, located at the junction of several important routes.

Contents

Structure

Main gate is located north of the station, on Pilsudskiego street, with two additional entrances located on both ends of the main hall. Rear gate is placed behind the tracks, to the south, facing Sucha street. The station has five parallel platforms (platforms I through IV with two tracks, platform V with one track). Each platform has two underground exits, which lead to the main hall. Since all platforms and tracks are above the street level, the tunnels are located at the same level, as outside sidewalks.

History

The station was built in 1855 - 1857, as the starting point of the Oberschlesische Eisenbahn (Upper Silesian Railway), as well as the Breslau - Posen - Glogau Railway. It replaced earlier complex of the Oberschlesischer Bahnhof (Upper Silesian Train Station, built 1841-1842). Its designer was Royal Prussian architect Wilhelm Grapow, and in the mid-19th century, it was located near the southern outskirts of the city, as the areas to the south had not been urbanized yet.

The original platform hall was located where now passenger hall is, and it was adjacent to the station complex. After construction was completed, in the mid-19th century, the station had only one platform, but the platform hall was some 200 meters long, and it was regarded as one of the biggest constructions of this kind in Europe. Along side entrances, there were luggage storages, telephone and telegraph. In the station complex, there was a restaurant and three waiting rooms (1st, 2nd, and 3rd class). Also, there was a special room and a separate hallway for VIPs.

In the late 19th century, when the government of the German Empire heavily invested in railroad construction, the station was extended. Also, prices of real estate around the station grew, as the city began to develop southwards. In 1899, construction of five new platforms began, with four of them covered by a large roof. The number of passenger rail tracks within the station grew to 13, and all platforms were elevated. The facade of the main hall was remodeled in the English style. During World War II Polish resistance from the group Zagra-Lin successfully attacked a Nazi Germany's troop transport on the station on 23 April 1943, a commemorative plate honouring their actions was placed after Nazi Germany was defeated and Breslau, together with Silesia, passed to Poland.[1][2][3][4] When Wrocław was given to Poland after World War II, Breslau Hauptbahnhof was renamed to Wrocław Główny.

On 8 January 1967, the popular actor Zbigniew Cybulski died on Platform 3. He was trying to jump into an already-departing train, but instead fell under its wheels. On the 30th anniversary of this event, Andrzej Wajda unveiled a plaque on the platform in memory of Cybulski.

From 2010 the station has been under extensive refurbishment.

Lines stemming from the station

References

  1. ^ Wywiad, sabotaż, dywersja:polski ruch oporu w Berlinie, 1939-1945 Juliusz Pollack page 141 Ludowa Spółdzielnia Wydawnicza, 1991
  2. ^ Jak Polacy żołnierzy w Breslau zabili Gazeta Wrocławska 2010-05-21
  3. ^ Wojskowy przeglad historyczny , Volume 40, Issues 3-4 1995 page 264
  4. ^ Historia Wrocławia: Od twierdzy fryderycjańskiej do twierdzy hitlerowskiej Cezary Buśko, Włodzimierz Suleja, Teresa Kulak, Wydawnictwo Dolnoślaskie, 2001 , page 334

External links