The historical location that became Berlin central station

The original Lehrter Bahnhof (Lehrte Train Station) officially opened in 1871. The station, built in French neo-Renaissance style, was often referred to as the "palace among stations" and it soon became renowned for its quick connections. This photo was taken in 1903.

During World War II, the railway station was severely damaged. The burnt-out ruin was repaired to the extent that rudimentary operations could be resumed for a few years after the war, but the station was dismantled in the late 1950s. This photo shows the main portal being blown up in April 1958.

Long-distance services to the Berlin station had already been officially discontinued in 1951. This photo from 1957 shows the building amid its progressive demolition; the structure's damaged roof has already been removed.

Part of the suburban railway network, the Lehrter Stadtbahn station was spared from demolition and remained in operation. The sign on this photo from 1955 reads "Attention, travelers: Last station before the Eastern Sector." The S-Bahn station served as the final station in Berlin's western sector, in a relatively underpopulated area near the border fortifications with East Berlin.

The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 disrupted the S-Bahn system, dividing it into two separate networks that were nevertheless both under East German management. West Berlin authorities encouraged their citizens to boycott the S-Bahn train to avoid contributing funds to the communist regime and its border fortifications.

After the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, city planners developed a transportation concept for the reunified city. In June 1992, the government decided that the new central station would be built on the site of Lehrter Bahnhof. During the construction of the station in the 1990s and early 2000s, the project was often referred to by the name of the S-Bahn station, as this photo from 2002 shows.

Despite the S-Bahn boycott, Lehrter Stadtbahnhof was renovated in 1987 to mark the 750th anniversary of Berlin, and it became a listed building since it had largely been preserved in its original condition. The heritage site was nevertheless pulled down in 2002 to make way for the excavation for the new central station, Hauptbahnhof.

The construction of Berlin Hauptbahnhof lasted approximately 11 years, taking place from 1996 to 2006. It would become one of Europe's largest interchange stations. Along with long-distance rail traffic, Berlin Hauptbahnhof remains a central hub for the S-Bahn network. More than 300,000 travelers travel through the central station every day.

Here's an aerial view of Berlin, including Lehrter Bahnhof in the center-left side of the picture, in 1930. That was also the year that the S-Bahn was added, bringing about modernization and increased service frequency at the city station.

An aerial view of Berlin Hauptbahnhof in 2022: Since this photo was taken, the sector has seen continued significant transformation. A wave of newly completed corporate headquarters and modern residential spaces have appeared. Forecourts that served as chaotic interchange zones for cars and taxis have been transformed into pedestrian-friendly spaces.