For almost two centuries, Augsburg has been home to the oldest still-operating station building in Germany. While modern escalators, digital displays and barrier-free access define today’s main station, its origins stretch back to the dawn of the railway age in Bavaria.
Rail travel in the region began in 1834, when the first Bavarian line between Nuremberg and Fürth opened. Soon after, local leaders in Augsburg recognized the railway’s potential.
Mayor Carron du Val, together with bankers and entrepreneurs, launched a railway association in 1835 and pushed for a direct connection to Munich.
From horse-drawn trains to state railway hub
Construction began in 1838, and the first section of the Augsburg line went into service with horse-drawn trains. By 1840, the second Bavarian railway line officially connected Augsburg and Munich.
The city’s first station, located near the Rotes Tor, served as a terminus but lost importance when the royal state railway developed the Ludwig South–North line.
In 1846, the Augsburg Hauptbahnhof opened as a through station, positioning the city as a major railway hub in southern Germany.
While the new station became the primary terminal, the old building near the Rotes Tor was preserved.
A station that witnessed wars and change
The former terminus, still standing in its original form, has had a varied history: During World War I, it was repurposed as a cavalry hall by the military.
Since 1920, it has served as a tram depot for the Stadtwerke Augsburg (swa).
Today, the building is a listed historical monument, making it one of the oldest preserved station halls in Germany—and possibly worldwide.
Cultural heritage meets daily travel
What makes Augsburg remarkable is the coexistence of the old and the new.
The modern Hauptbahnhof, with its daily commuter traffic and intercity links, continues to function as one of Bavaria’s busiest transport hubs, while the historic station hall stands as a reminder of how railway travel transformed the region in the 19th century.
This unique combination underlines Bavaria’s identity as a true “railway land”—past, present, and future.
