New information point opened: Görlitz' train station is being converted for electrification!

New information point opened: Görlitz' train station is being converted for electrification!

Görlitz has a new meeting point for travelers and interested parties: There is now an information point in the train station that informs the public about the ongoing modernization work and construction progress. Martin Walden, the representative of Deutsche Bahn (DB) for Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, opened the new contact point. Also Dr. Stephan Meyer, district administrator of the Görlitz district, and mayor Octavian Ursu came to the opening and were enthusiastic about this initiative.

The new interactive information board offers information in Polish and German and enables travelers to easily find out about the planned measures. The modernization of the station is scheduled to be completed by December 2026, including making the former platform 3/4 barrier-free. The tracks will also be renewed and provided with overhead lines up to the German-Polish border, which will ensure the electrification of train traffic.

First electric trains from 2026

The modernization work marks the beginning of a new era for Görlitz train station. Electric trains will run here again from 2026. This development is particularly significant as construction work to electrify the railway line between the Neisse Viaduct and Görlitz will begin in the summer of 2024. The goal is to bring electric trains to Poland via two tracks. The Polish railway PKP has already installed the overhead line up to the middle of the Neisse Bridge, and now completion is getting closer on the German side, as MDR reports.

At Görlitz train station, tracks 3 and 4 will be electrified so that modern locomotives can cross the border in the future. The entire station will be converted to the Polish direct current system by the end of 2026, with the possibility of switching between different power systems at future separation points. This means that the Görlitz train station will become more important and will represent a central hub for cross-border traffic.

Challenges caused by different platform heights

While the signs are developing positively, there are also critical voices. The Pro Bahn passenger association draws attention to the challenges of barrier-free access. The planned height of the platforms in Görlitz of 55 centimeters is in contrast to the Polish standard of at least 76 centimeters. This could be problematic for travelers with limited mobility, as a height difference of 20 centimeters can only be overcome using a lifting device.

In addition to the important renovation work, the historic platform hall has been modernized since 2023: glass walls are being replaced, the supporting structure is being renewed, and the lighting is being modernized. The staircases will also be renovated in accordance with listed buildings and all platforms will have barrier-free access, including an elevator on platforms 9/10. A truly large project that will be supported with a total of 33.5 million euros until 2029, financed by the federal government, the Free State of Saxony and Deutsche Bahn.

With these comprehensive measures and the connection to electric trains, Görlitz is looking optimistically into the future and is setting new trends for rail transport that will strengthen both the region and the neighboring countries. German railway invites you to experience the progress at the new information point up close and to find out about future possibilities.