Wrocław Główny is the largest and most importantpassenger train station in the city ofWrocław, in southwesternPoland. Situated at the junction of several important routes, it is the largest railway station in theLower Silesia Voivodeship, as well as in Poland in terms of the number of passengers serviced.
In 2018, the station served over 21.2 million passengers.[1] In 2023, it served 29.4 million passengers, making it the country's busiest railway station.[2]
The main gate is located north of the station, on Piłsudski street (Polish:ulica Piłsudskiego), with two additional entrances located at either end of the main hall. The back gate is located on the far side of the tracks, in the south facing Sucha street. The station has six parallel platforms (platforms I through IV with two tracks, platform V with one track and one short one, platform VI with one track). Each has two subway exits, which lead to the main hall. Since all platforms and tracks are above the street level, the tunnels are located at the same level as outside pavements.
Dobry wieczór we Wrocławiu (Good evening in Wrocław)neon in front of the station (designed in 1960)The interior of the station
The station was built in 1855–1857, as the starting point of theOberschlesische Eisenbahn (Upper Silesian Railway), as well as the line from Breslau toGlogau viaPosen. It replaced the earlier complex of theOberschlesischer Bahnhof (Upper Silesian Railway Station, built 1841–1842). Its designer was the royalPrussian architectWilhelm Grapow, and in the mid-19th century, it was located near the southern outskirts of the city, as the areas to the south had not yet been urbanized.
The original concourse was located where the passenger hall now is and was adjacent to the station yard. When construction finished in the mid-19th century, the station only had one platform, but the platform hall was some 200 meters long, and it was regarded as one of the biggest structures of this kind inEurope. By the entrances were luggage lockers, telephone, and telegraph facilities. In the station complex were a restaurant and three waiting rooms (1st, 2nd, and 3rd class). There was also a special room and a separate hallway for VIPs.
In the late 19th century, when the government of theGerman Empire heavily invested in railway construction, the station was extended. Prices of real estate around the station grew, as the city began to develop southwards. In 1899, the construction of five new platforms began, four of them covered by a large roof. The number of passenger platforms within the station grew to 13 and all were elevated. The façade of the main hall was remodeled in 1899–1904.
DuringWorld War II, Polish resistance from the groupZagra-Lin successfully attacked a Nazi troop transport on the station on 23 April 1943. A commemorative plate honoring their actions was placed after Nazi Germany was defeated and Breslau, together with Silesia, was incorporated into Poland,[3][4][5][6] its German population expelled. After the war, Breslau Central (Breslau Hauptbahnhof) was renamed Wroclaw Central (Wrocław Główny).
On 8 January 1967, the popular Polish actorZbigniew Cybulski died on platform 3.[7] Cybulski was trying to jump into a train that was already departing, but fell instead under its wheels. On the 30th anniversary of this event,Andrzej Wajda unveiled a plaque on the platform in memory of Cybulski.
In 2010–2012 the station was extensively refurbished for theEuro 2012 championships.[8]
Until mid-December 2014 the station was also served byEuroCity "Wawel", which used to run once daily betweenBerlin Hauptbahnhof and Wrocław Główny, formerly even further toKraków Główny. The service has been re-established since 2020, now extending further East toPrzemyśl near theUkrainian border.
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