Gruiten station
Encyclopedia
Gruiten station is one of the two stations of the Bergian
city of Haan
in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia
. It is described in German
as a Berührungsbahnhof (contact station), as the Düsseldorf–Elberfeld
and the Gruiten–Köln-Deutz lines
both pass through the station, but their operations are separate. East of the station, they join to form a common route at Linden junction, which is the actual beginning of the Gruiten–Köln-Deutz line. West of the platforms the lines separate to run to the west and the south.
to be renamed Gruiten station. In 1909 the existing station building was built. As part of the establishment of S-Bahn services on the Düsseldorf–Wuppertal line in 1988, Gruiten station was significantly rebuilt. The platform on track 1 and the ramps for loading limestone
were demolished. This allowed a large park and ride
lot to be built. Tracks 2 and 3 were moved and now serve as the S-Bahn station. Track 4 is used as a platform for overtaking trains on the route to and from Cologne. The normal platform for trains to and from Cologne is served by tracks 5 and 6. Track 7 is used by freight trains.
The station building was thoroughly renovated in the 1990s. Today the building contains a restaurant and the Gruiten municipal library. On the forecourt of the station there is a taxi rank and bus stop, served by buses towards Mettmann
, Haan and Wülfrath
. Deutsche Bahn has decided that the station will eventually be renamed Haan-Gruiten.
Bergisches Land
The Bergisches Land is a low mountain range region within the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, east of Rhine river, south of the Ruhr. The landscape is shaped by woods, meadows, rivers and creeks and contains over 20 artificial lakes...
city of Haan
Haan
Haan is a town in the Bergian district of Mettmann, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.- Geography :Haan is located close to Düsseldorf. In 1975, Gruiten was incorporated into Haan.-International relations:...
in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
. It is described in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as a Berührungsbahnhof (contact station), as the Düsseldorf–Elberfeld
Düsseldorf–Elberfeld railway
The Düsseldorf–Elberfeld railway is a 27 km long main line railway in Germany, originally built by the Düsseldorf-Elberfeld Railway Company, connecting Düsseldorf and Elberfeld via Erkrath, Hochdahl and Vohwinkel...
and the Gruiten–Köln-Deutz lines
Gruiten–Köln-Deutz railway
The Gruiten–Cologne-Deutz railway is a major German railway. It is part of a major axis for long distance and regional rail services between Wuppertal and Cologne, and is served by Intercity Express, InterCity, Regional-Express and regionalbahn trains....
both pass through the station, but their operations are separate. East of the station, they join to form a common route at Linden junction, which is the actual beginning of the Gruiten–Köln-Deutz line. West of the platforms the lines separate to run to the west and the south.
History
The railway station on the Dusseldorf-Elberfeld line was opened on 3 September 1841 under the name of Haan (Gruiten) and for many years it was the only Haan station. The line to Cologne was opened in 1867 and the current Haan station was opened in 1907, allowing the station in the then independent town of GruitenGruiten
Gruiten is a historical, North-Rhine-Westphalian village incorporated by Haan. The village is located near Wuppertal and Düsseldorf....
to be renamed Gruiten station. In 1909 the existing station building was built. As part of the establishment of S-Bahn services on the Düsseldorf–Wuppertal line in 1988, Gruiten station was significantly rebuilt. The platform on track 1 and the ramps for loading limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
were demolished. This allowed a large park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
lot to be built. Tracks 2 and 3 were moved and now serve as the S-Bahn station. Track 4 is used as a platform for overtaking trains on the route to and from Cologne. The normal platform for trains to and from Cologne is served by tracks 5 and 6. Track 7 is used by freight trains.
Current operations
The station is served by Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn lines S 8 every 20 minutes, several S 68 services in the peak hour and every half hour by the Rhein-Wupper-Bahn (RB 48).The station building was thoroughly renovated in the 1990s. Today the building contains a restaurant and the Gruiten municipal library. On the forecourt of the station there is a taxi rank and bus stop, served by buses towards Mettmann
Mettmann
Mettmann is a Rhenish town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Mettmann, Germany's most densely populated rural district...
, Haan and Wülfrath
Wülfrath
Wülfrath is a town in the district of Mettmann , in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:The town is situated on the mountain spurs of the Bergische Land, between the Rhine, Ruhr and Wupper rivers. It is located in the central part of the Berg region, approx...
. Deutsche Bahn has decided that the station will eventually be renamed Haan-Gruiten.