Perhaps a ghost station whispers forgotten stories? Today we stand at the site of the former S-Bahnhof München Olympiastadion. It is a place steeped in history and now consumed by nature. This station once pulsed with the energy of the 1972 Summer Olympics. It was built to handle the massive influx of visitors. The S-Bahn was intended to supplement the U-Bahn. It ensured efficient transport to the Olympic grounds.
The München Olympiastadion station’s history is quite interesting. Before the Olympics, a railway line to Landshut crossed this area. This line was built in 1858. However, in 1892, the main railway was rerouted. The original tracks lost their importance.
Fast forward to April 28, 1972. The newly constructed München Olympiastadion station saw its first train. It was located near the Olympia Press City. Its first real test came on May 26, 1972. A football match between Germany and the Soviet Union filled the platforms. During the Olympic Games, the S5, S11, and S25 lines stopped here. This helped manage the huge crowds.
After the games, regular service to the München Olympiastadion station ceased. It was used sporadically. However, starting August 8, 1984, the S8 and S11 lines served the station regularly. They came for football games at the Olympic Stadium.
The München Olympiastadion station consisted of two central platforms. It had four tracks. These tracks were over 400 meters long. They could accommodate two long S-Bahn trains or special trains with 15 cars. There was also a fifth bypass track to the west. The special S25 line used during the Olympics comprised 15 “Silberlingen” cars. An electric locomotive of the 140 series powered it.
While two tracks ended here, the other two continued south. In the late 19th century, the Munich-Landshut railway ran here. Later, part of the Mittlerer Ring road, the Landshuter Allee, was built on this route. A connecting track to barracks on Dachauer Straße was added. Even during the station’s operation, a track was built to the Moosach gasworks. Trains accessed this station via the DB’s Nordring. This was usually reserved for freight traffic. During the 1972 Olympics, trains came from both east and west. They came via Johanneskirchen and Allach/Moosach. Later, only the western route was used.
Tragedy struck. Children climbed on parked tank cars. They came into contact with the overhead power lines. Following the 1988 European Football Championship, the station closed. It was shut down on July 8, 1988. The overhead lines were deactivated. They were soon dismantled. The München Olympiastadion station fell into disrepair. It became known as a ghost station.
Between 2003 and 2006, U-Bahn construction severed the tracks. This made way for the U3 extension to the Olympia shopping center. The connecting tracks to the Nordring are no longer continuous.
Until the Transrapid Munich project was cancelled, there were plans to build the tunnel’s end here. The tunnel would have connected the main station to the airport.
In 2011, the city of Munich bought the 6.7-hectare area. The goal is to improve the city’s bike paths. A “High-Line-like” park will stretch over the bridges. It will go towards the park at Oberwiesenfeld. The area will include event spaces. There will be skate parks, lawns, and walking/bike paths. A biotope for protected species is also planned. The green space will be 1.1 kilometers long and 15 to 30 meters wide. First, soil contaminants must be removed.
Today, the München Olympiastadion station is left to itself. It offers diverse flora a place to grow. Plants thrive in the gravel of the former tracks. They also grow in the cracks of the platform pavement. The vegetation is being documented. Common species include hawkweed, oregano, and yarrow. Rarer plants like hyssop and lavender can also be found.
The München Olympiastadion station is now part of Munich’s green belt.