Ever wonder where trains go to rest in Strasbourg? Gare de Strasbourg-Neudorf is not your typical bustling station. It’s a place with a story etched in its tracks.
Gare de Strasbourg-Neudorf stands at the edge of the Neudorf and Meinau districts. This station once connected Strasbourg to Kehl in Germany. Today the Gare de Strasbourg-Neudorf is primarily for freight. It also serves as a garage and maintenance area for passenger trains.
Let’s step back to 1861. The first railway between Strasbourg and Kehl was completed. A station was established between Route de l’Hôpital and Route de Colmar.
At the start of the 20th century the railway shifted south in Neudorf. In 1905 the Neudorf freight station was built in the Heyritz sector. That same year the passenger station was constructed in Neo-Renaissance style. The Imperial Railways of Alsace-Lorraine oversaw its creation.
The Gare de Strasbourg-Neudorf had two distinct stations. There was a passenger station on Rue de la Station with a covered central platform. There was also a goods station configured as a cul-de-sac. It was located on Route de l’Hôpital in Heyritz. This served the industrial zone and the ports. Interestingly the Strasbourg tramway connected to the goods station. It handled significant freight traffic in addition to passengers.
Kaiser Guillaume II himself used the Gare de Strasbourg-Neudorf. He passed through it on his way to the military field of Polygone.
After World War I the station joined the AL network. In 1938 the AL became part of the SNCF.
During the German annexation of Alsace-Lorraine the Deutsche Reichsbahn managed the station during World War II.
In 1952 the passenger platform canopy was removed. By 1962 the site had four signal boxes and a military platform.
The old passenger building fell into disrepair. It was demolished in 1985 along with the passenger platform. The old goods station was also demolished in 1988. This made way for the southern bypass. The site was significantly reconfigured. A new freight hall was rebuilt further south. A new building with offices and a hall was erected. It replaced the old passenger building.
However a piece of history remains. The fountain from the old passenger building was preserved. It was reinstalled at the corner of Rue Frédéric and Rue du Maennelstein.
An unusual passenger service occurred. A regional train transported fans to a football match at the Meinau stadium. This was the last passenger service to Gare de Strasbourg-Neudorf.
In 2006 work was undertaken to maintain the TGV Est trains. As of 2022 five historic suburban cars are stored at Gare de Strasbourg-Neudorf.
Today the Gare de Strasbourg-Neudorf handles freight traffic. The office building and hall are occupied by the Technicentre Est Européen. The site has a maneuvering yard and a loading dock. The TGV maintenance workshop features equipment for train servicing.
While the old passenger and freight station are gone some traces remain. Posts 1 and 4 still stand in the Heyritz and Krimmeri sectors.
The Gare de Strasbourg-Neudorf is more than just a freight station. It is a place where trains find respite. It also stands as a testament to the changing face of Strasbourg.