European Railroad Discussion > Inside Berlin and Hamburg central stations

This summer the corona restrictions for leisure travel to Germany were eased a bit, so I made two trips to Germany.
The first one was with the family (well, our daughter got 'Heimweh', so we put her on the train back to the Netherlands), the second trip with only my son.

In the middle of Berlin there is a new big shopping mall, with a train station integrated in it. Or the other way around, I leave some room for discussion here.

1) The shopping mall is on the middle levels:
https://cdn.trainorders.com/attachments/thumbs/1579000/01l_613dcdd73666c.jpg

On the upper level there are three platforms, one with two tracks the S-Bahn local trains and two platforms (one for each direction) for the regional an intercity trains.
2) The platform for eastbound traffic, with a train from Poland arriving on the left and a regional train waiting to leave. Both with Siemens ES 64 U2 Taurus locomotives.
https://cdn.trainorders.com/attachments/thumbs/1579000/01k_613dcdeef3aa5.jpg

3) And the mall has a basement. Roomy and well lit.
https://cdn.trainorders.com/attachments/thumbs/1579000/01m_613dcdfbe5627.jpg

---

---

---

My son and I did also a trip through a bit of Germany. We passed through Hamburg, where we got a Covid-fast-test to be able to stay in a hotel in Eimshorn.
Hamburg is a very busy station with a nice overview over the train tracks.

4) Flixtrain took us from Berlin to Hamburg. Boarding in Berlin was a bit chaotic, we left with about 30 minutes delay, arrived with about 20 minutes delay. Train speed was mostly 200 km/h (about 125 mph). Tickets are cheap, comfort is doable, but not as good as in an ICE. Here is our train leaving Hamburg to get serviced.
https://cdn.trainorders.com/attachments/thumbs/1579000/01_613dd3b5bed8b.jpg

5) In some parts to the north of Hamburg the overhead wires end and some intercity trains change engine in Itzehoe. The diesel locomotives however are being serviced in Hamburg as far as I know. Here you see a pair of private type 218 locomotives heading north. The might also be running to Niebüll to pick up an auto-train to Westerland.
https://cdn.trainorders.com/attachments/thumbs/1579000/01a_613dd3be4d043.jpg

---

---

Thanks for the pictures

Bright and clean.Puts American rail to shame.

Uncle Joe
Seffner,Fl.

petmew Wrote in part:
-------------------------------------------------------

> In the middle of Berlin there is a new big
> shopping mall, with a train station integrated in
> it. Or the other way around, I leave some room for
> discussion here.
>
I think of Berlin Hbf as a magnificent train station. Yes you may walk by a few shops on the way up to the east-west tracks or down to the north-south tracks but once you reach the platforms you can wander all over and feast your eyes on continuous rail activity. A wonderful place to spend a few hours train watching.

This photo (from April 2011) I think captures the essence (and magic) of Berlin Hbf

WP17

 

---

Thanks for these. Both Hamburg and Berlin stations are excellent, particularly the new Berlin. I've missed my annual Germany trip this year, but hope to be back next year - missing my currywurst and beers!! chris uk.

petmew Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 2) The platform for eastbound traffic, with a
> train from Poland arriving on the left and a
> regional train waiting to leave. Both with Siemens
> ES 64 U2 Taurus locomotives.
> https://cdn.trainorders.com/attachments/thumbs/157
> 9000/01k_613dcdeef3aa5.jpg

The PKP Intercity locomotive on the left is a Siemens ES64U4. The spotting feature is the location of the entry door for the driver, only one behind the air intake grills on the red "Taurus" on the right, versus two immediately at the back of each cab on the "Hussar" on the left. The ÖBB (Austrian National Railways) trademarked the name "Taurus" for their Siemens Eurosprinter locomotives, so the PKP (Polish National Railways) had to give them a different name. There are three different models using the same body style

ES64U   15kV AC only ÖBB class 1016
ES64U2  15kV/25kV AC only  ÖBB class 1116, DB class 182 and all other locomotives of this model registered in Germany
ES64U4   all newer Eurosprinter models with the "U" universal body style with any possible combination of the four common electrification systems used in Europe. For example 
                 the ÖBB class 1216 and any German registered with numbers 182.600 and above.

The Eurosprinter models have been superceded by the Vectron models for Siemens locomotive production.

That was a wonderful trip you and your son took. 
Thanks for sharing those amazing pictures !!! :):):)

Both trainstations are truly awesome with their magnificent glass train sheds and beautiful lobbies.
I was there in 2002.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

SOO6617 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> petmew Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 2) The platform for eastbound traffic, with a
> > train from Poland arriving on the left and a
> > regional train waiting to leave. Both with
> Siemens
> > ES 64 U2 Taurus locomotives.
> >
> https://cdn.trainorders.com/attachments/thumbs/157
>
> > 9000/01k_613dcdeef3aa5.jpg
>
> The PKP Intercity locomotive on the left is a
> Siemens ES64U4. The spotting feature is the
> location of the entry door for the driver, only
> one behind the air intake grills on the red
> "Taurus" on the right, versus two immediately at
> the back of each cab on the "Hussar" on the left.
> The ÖBB (Austrian National Railways) trademarked
> the name "Taurus" for their Siemens Eurosprinter
> locomotives, so the PKP (Polish National Railways)
> had to give them a different name. There are three
> different models using the same body style
>
> ES64U   15kV AC only ÖBB class 1016
> ES64U2  15kV/25kV AC only  ÖBB class 1116, DB
> class 182 and all other locomotives of this model
> registered in Germany
> ES64U4   all newer Eurosprinter models with the
> "U" universal body style with any possible
> combination of the four common electrification
> systems used in Europe. For example 
>                  the ÖBB class 1216 and
> any German registered with numbers 182.600 and
> above.
>
> The Eurosprinter models have been superceded by
> the Vectron models for Siemens locomotive
> production.

Thanks for filling the gaps! 

I drive Vectrons and TRAXXs and I'm a bit lost on the software versions.
So I just have a peek in the engine room, start the locomotive and wait (Traxx), and wait, wait, wait (Vectron). ;-)

Jaw-dropping to see REAL railroad transport, and so beautifully interfaced with the public it serves. Ah, what we're missing! Thanks for the views.

That's a great example of train, bus, tram, systems integrated with the "real world"

Nice photos, I've rolled through Hamburg twice, very impressive station -- and very pretty to watch the trains all coming and going from the gallery level.  

Hamburg station in various maps.  

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.5531223,10.0055097,731m/data=!3m1!1e3
https://goo.gl/maps/RDrWdeoXWcmN3LL16
https://goo.gl/maps/uJfv2S3HHqvtupdGA
https://goo.gl/maps/C6iw91AaRAyjMTc7A
https://opentopomap.org/#map=16/53.55258/10.00706
https://en.mapy.cz/zakladni?x=10.0060400&y=53.5531804&z=17
https://www.openrailwaymap.org/?style=standard&lat=53.552996294985626&lon=10.007348656654358&zoom=17
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/15/21 00:21 by gobbl3gook.