Berlin Westkreuz station

Berlin-Westkreuz
Bf
Sole entrance of Westkreuz station
Location	Am Westkreuz 14055 Berlin Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Berlin, Berlin Germany
Line(s)	Berlin Stadtbahn Ringbahn
Other information
Station code	6723
DS100 code	BWKR
Category	4

Berlin Westkreuz (literally "Berlin West Cross") is a station in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin. It is served by the S-Bahn lines S41, S42, S46, S5, S7 and S75 and so represents a major interchange point on the Berlin S-Bahn network. It lies at the opposite end of the Stadtbahn to Ostkreuz and is one of the four main stations on the Ringbahn (circle line).

History

Westkreuz station was built in the course of the electrification (with third rail) of the "Stadtbahn" cross-city railway, the Ringbahn and the suburban lines connected from East and West to the "Stadtbahn". Before, Ringbahn-trains had to call at Charlottenburg station. The station was opened on 10 December 1928, as a two-level-station under the name Ausstellung (Exhibition, for its closeness to the Messe Berlin fairgrounds), which was changed to its current name in 1932.

In 1980, with the cessation of services on this portion of the Ringbahn, Westkreuz lost its function as an interchange and had only a minimal service on the Stadtbahn. The area surrounding the station is very sparsely populated and this was its major purpose, making it a very poorly frequented station during this period.

However, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, services were gradually reinstated and on 17 December 1993, the Ringbahn was reopened between Westend and Baumschulenweg, restoring the station's significance as an interchange point. In the following years, the station was entirely refurbished and is now one of the most modern on the network.

S7 train en route for Ahrensfelde arriving at the lower level Westkreuz station

Coordinates: 52°30′04″N 13°17′02″E / 52.501°N 13.284°E / 52.501; 13.284