Was this station always called Chemnitz Süd? No. Chemnitz Süd station has a rich history. It wasn’t always known by that name. In fact its earliest name was Altchemnitz. This reflects its location in the old part of the city. The name changed to Chemnitz Süd on February 1 1905. It later became Karl-Marx-Stadt Süd during the communist era. The name reverted back to Chemnitz Süd in 1990.
Chemnitz Süd station opened in 1875. This was thanks to the Chemnitz-Aue-Adorfer Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft or CAAE. The CAAE couldn’t build directly into the main Chemnitz station. A separate station was therefore needed in Altchemnitz. Passengers initially had a long walk to reach the main station. This was about 2 kilometers. Freight transport was connected by a link line. Passenger trains eventually connected to Chemnitz’s main station after the CAAE was nationalized in 1876.
The station’s importance grew significantly in 1895. The Stollberg-Chemnitz section of the Zwönitz-Chemnitz Süd railway opened. This is also known as the Würschnitz Valley Railway. This brought increased traffic to Chemnitz Süd. To improve traffic flow level crossings between Chemnitz and Kappel stations were removed. The railway line was altered between 1903 and 1909. Parts were lowered or raised. Old platforms were removed and new ones were built. Passenger trains on the Dresden-Werdau railway then started stopping at Chemnitz Süd. A new entrance building in a Keilbahnhof or wedge design was created.
A separate freight yard Chemnitz Süd Gbf was established in 1920. Rail traffic had increased substantially. Freight infrastructure was again expanded in 1924. This included a new shed with eight slanted terminal tracks. These were called “teeth”. Both passenger and freight areas suffered significant damage during World War II. Allied air raids in 1945 destroyed parts of the station including goods sheds and the old entrance building. The new entrance building and platforms were less damaged.
The two services passenger and freight were recombined in 1960. This was after 40 years of operation. However the station’s importance declined after German reunification. Rolling stock maintenance stopped in 1995. The ticket office closed in 1996. Many railway tracks were closed and removed. Today the entrance building serves as a concert and events venue. It was even up for auction in 2013. Chemnitz Süd station has changed. It once played a vital role in Chemnitz’s transport network. Today it stands as a testament to the city’s industrial past. A reminder of a time when freight transport was crucial.