Station code 6723 Category 4 Opened 1928 | DS100 code BWKR Address 14057 Berlin, Germany | |
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Location Am Westkreuz
14055 Berlin
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Berlin, Berlin
Germany Line(s) Berlin Stadtbahn
Ringbahn Similar Ostkreuz, Berlin Messe Nord/ICC, Strausberg Nord station, Berlin Südkreuz, Berlin Jungfernheide station | ||
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.