Bahnhof Möhringen

Gazing at Bahnhof Möhringen, imagine the hustle and bustle of a bygone era. Bahnhof Möhringen, once known as Möhringen Bahnhof and even earlier as Bahnhof Möhringen a.d.F., stands as a testament to Stuttgart’s rich railway history. This isn’t just a stop on the Stadtbahn; it’s a place where the past and present intertwine. Bahnhof Möhringen was once the heart of the Filderbahn-Gesellschaft (FBG) network. Four railway lines converged here, making it a vital hub. The station’s story begins in December 1888. The FBG extended its existing rack railway, opening a meter-gauge steam tram line from Degerloch to Möhringen. This line seamlessly connected with the Möhringen-Hohenheim route. The original Möhringen station stood at the intersection of Vaihinger Straße and Rembrandtstraße. Rembrandtstraße was then called Stuttgarter Straße. With the opening of the Möhringen-Vaihingen line in December 1897, the station moved to its current location. This new station, designed as a Trennungsbahnhof (a station where lines split), replaced the older Durchgangsbahnhof (a station where lines pass through). The new building mimicked the Einheitsbahnhof Typ IIIa, a standard station design of the Royal Württemberg State Railways. It even boasted three-rail tracks to accommodate standard-gauge freight traffic. Bahnhof Möhringen a.d.F. officially became a railway junction on October 1, 1902. The Stuttgart-Möhringen-Neuhausen auf den Fildern line opened on that day. The station was also electrified around this time. In 1921, the Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen (SSB) took over operations of Bahnhof Möhringen, along with the entire FBG infrastructure. The SSB became the outright owner in 1934. After Möhringen’s incorporation into Stuttgart on April 1, 1942, the station was renamed Stuttgart-Möhringen. Freight services ended in 1981. The station transitioned into a light rail facility under the Straßenbahn-Bau- und Betriebsordnung (BOStrab) regulations. Standard-gauge Stadtbahn trial operations began in 1983, transitioning to regular service in 1985. Meter-gauge trams continued passenger service until 1990. Operational runs to and from the SSB depot continued until 2008, marking the final use of the meter-gauge tracks. Today, Bahnhof Möhringen accommodates lines U3, U5, U6, U8, and U12. It has four platform tracks, two outer platforms, and a central platform. It serves as a crucial link in Stuttgart’s modern transportation network, a vibrant reminder of its evolving railway legacy.