Bremerhaven Hauptbahnhof facts for kids
Bremerhaven Hauptbahnhof is the main railway station in the German city of Bremerhaven. The word "Hauptbahnhof" means "central railway station" in German. It's an important hub for trains traveling through the state of Bremen.
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A Look Back at the Station's History
Early Beginnings in Geestemünde
The story of Bremerhaven's main station begins in 1862. That year, a railway line was built connecting the city of Bremen to the town of Geestemünde. At this time, Geestemünde was a separate town and not yet part of Bremerhaven. A station was built in Geestemünde to serve this new line.
Later, in 1896, another railway line was added. This line stretched from Geestemünde all the way to Cuxhaven. This meant more trains and more people using the station in Geestemünde.
Building a New, Bigger Station
Over time, the old station in Geestemünde became too small. It also only had a single track, which made it hard for many trains to use it at once. Because of these problems, a decision was made to build a brand new, larger station.
The new station opened its doors in 1914. It was built in Geestemünde, but in a different spot than the old one. When it first opened, it was called Geestemünde-Bremerhaven.
Changes in Names and Cities
The names of cities and stations often change over time. In 1924, several smaller towns joined together with Bremerhaven. This new, bigger city was given a new name: Wesermünde. Because of this change, the station's name also changed to Wesermünde-Bremerhaven.
The Station During World War II
During World War II, many cities in Germany faced challenges. In 1944, a part of the station was damaged. A bomb dropped from an American plane hit the large hall that covered the railway tracks. This hall was sadly never rebuilt after the war ended.
Becoming Bremerhaven Hauptbahnhof
After the war, in 1947, the city of Wesermünde received yet another name change. It was renamed Bremerhaven, the name we know today. Of course, the station's name changed too! It became Bremerhaven Hauptbahnhof. This name made sense because the station was now right in the middle of the new, larger city.
Modern Updates and Train Traffic
In 1966, an important upgrade happened at the station. Electric cables were installed, allowing electric trains to use the tracks. This was a big step forward for modernizing train travel.
During the 1970s, Bremerhaven Hauptbahnhof saw a lot of activity with soldiers. Trains carrying US Army soldiers often came to Bremerhaven. This was because the US Army had large barracks (military housing) in the city at that time.
