Offenbach / Kassel (dpa / lhe) – Barred windows and doors, peeling plaster: many Hessian railway stations are empty and in need of renovation. In the summer, Deutsche Bahn announced that it would stop the sale of the buildings, after a large part had been sold in previous years, to local authorities and, above all, to private investors. In Hesse, the group still owns 41 station buildings, which are now to be developed in collaboration with the municipalities.
A spokesman for the railways cited the railway stations in Niederwalgern (Marburg-Biedenkopf district), Bad Vilbel Süd (Wetterau district) and Dutenhofen (Wetzlar district) as examples. The goal is to create inviting buildings where people enjoy spending time. There were discussions with politicians about funding opportunities.
In the nearby city of Offenbach in Frankfurt, an initiative has been campaigning for five years to revitalize the main station, used only as a platform passage and otherwise empty.
In addition to job offers and sadness, there are many examples of new uses as a living space, restaurants or cultural places, such as in Kassel. There the main station had lost its importance in 1991 with the expansion of Wilhelmshöhe station to an ICE and long-distance train station. The railway has retained the main station, which was completely renovated in 1995 and now serves as a cultural station with arthouse cinemas, galleries, studios, cabaret stages and restaurants.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 221016-99-143932 / 2
