2011-12-29

Jena West railway station




Jena West station

Db-schild.svg
Westbahnhof Jena 01.jpg
Operations
Category 3
Type Through station
Platforms in use 2
Daily entry/exit 5,000 per day
DS100 code UJW
Station code 3045
Construction and location
Opened 29 June 1876
Location Jena
State Thuringia
Country Germany
50°55′23″N 11°34′41″E / 50.92306°N 11.57806°E
List of railway stations in Thuringia

Jena West station is to the west of the centre of the city of Jena in the German state of Thuringia at the 22.59 km mark (from Weimar station) of the Weimar–Gera railway between Weimar, Jena-Göschwitz station and Gera Hauptbahnhof. This line is also called the Holzland Railway and it is part of the Mid-German Connection. The station is located in the suburb of Jena-Süd.

The station is 171.64 metres above sea level and was opened on 29 June 1876 simultaneously with the railway. It is classified by Deutsche Bahn as a category 3 station.

History

The original station building was opened with the line in 1876, but the building in its current form was built in 1878 by the Weimar-Gera Railway Company (Weimar-Geraer Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft), apart from two changes described below. In 1908, the open staircase in the middle of the building was replaced by a new central building. In1981, the supervisory building was added on the platform side of the reception building. The station building was renovated in 2000 and attracted some retail outlets (shops selling magazines, flowers and model trains and several snack bars). The deportation of Jews, Sinti and Romani during the Second World War is commemorated by a flower-decked plaque at the track-side entrance of the entrance building. In the second half of 2006 the platforms were repainted, new safety systems were installed and a passage was opened that connects platform track 2 with the Schott glass works.

Since the operation of trains through the difficult terrain between Großschwabhausen and Jena West was difficult, especially in the early years of the Weimar–Gera line, it was necessary to use pusher locomotives to provide assistance. A shed was built at the station with accommodation for two pusher engines. Around 1926 the engine shed was closed down because the power of locomotives had increased significantly. It has since accommodated other activities, including a gymnasium. It is now used as a club and as the home of various cultural activities.

Freight facilities

In 1878 the first siding was established, which was followed by another one in 1889 and by one to Schott & Gen., now Jena Glass Company (JENAer Glas), in 1894. At first the freight had to transferred on a narrow-gauge track to the glass works, but it later converted into a standard gauge track. There was also a brewery connection, on which wagons (mostly carrying coal) were moved up to the terminal and were then transferred to a light railway with 600 mm gauge. This connection existed until the 1970s.

Importance

Station name

The station was called Jena Weimar-Geraer Bahnhof, as distinct from Jena Saalbahnhof () on the Saal line, until 30 June 1924, when its name was changed to its current name at the request of the city of Jena.

Location and connections

The Jena Paradies station is situated about 600 metres to the east and the inner city of Jena is located about 800 metres from the station to the north-east. OVO bus route 102 runs between the two stations, as well as PVG Apolda route 280, which runs less regularly.

Three regional routes are operated by DB Regio Southeast. Together these provise a service of two trains per hour in each direction between Weimar and Göschwitz on weekdays.

References

  • Drescher, Werner (2001) (in German). Die Weimar-Geraer Bahn – Von der Privatbahn zum Teil der Mitte-Deutschland-Verbindung. Freiburg: EK-Verlag. ISBN 3-88255-451-7.
  • Fromm, Günter (in German). Eisenbahnen in Thüringen – Daten und Fakten. Bad Langensalza: Verlag Rockstuhl. ISBN 3-929000-24-5.
  • Fromm, Günter (in German). Thüringer Eisenbahnstreckenlexikon 1846–1992 – Die Königliche Eisenbahn-Direktion und die Reichsbahndirektion Erfurt 1882–1992 & Eisenbahnen in Thüringen – Daten und Fakten 1846–1992. Bad Langensalza: Verlag Rockstuhl. ISBN 3-929000-33-4.

Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jena_West_station&oldid=463472234