Railway station types in Germany


The railways in Germany use several abbreviations to differentiate between various types of stations, stops, railway facilities and other places of rail service.

Places with a set of points

Bf – Bahnhof, defined as a place where trains may start, terminate, stop, overtake, meet or change directions, and that has at least one set of points. It can be additionally named after its purpose:
  • * Hbf – Hauptbahnhof, the main or central station of a town or city. Also the only abbreviation commonly found on station timetables and signs.
  • * Pbf – Personenbahnhof, usually used to differentiate in places that have several types of stations, but only one passenger station.
  • * Fbf – Fernbahnhof
  • * Gbf – Güterbahnhof
  • * Bbf – Betriebsbahnhof, a station only for operational tasks like train overtakes.
  • * Rbf – Rangierbahnhof
  • * Ubf – Umschlagbahnhof
  • * Werkbf – Werkbahnhof, a station serving a factory or plant.
  • * Postbf – Postbahnhof Bft – Bahnhofsteil, used when a station consists of distinct facilities, for example a Pbf and a Gbf.Abzw – Abzweigstelle Üst – Railroad switch#Crossover Anst – Anschlussstelle, trains using the Anschlussstelle must not be passed by trains running on the main line.Awanst – Ausweichanschlussstelle, an industrial siding outside station limits where trains can run on the main line while another train is shunting at the Ausweichanschlussstelle, in contrast to an Anschlussstelle.Hst – Haltestelle, the term for a Haltepunkt at the same location as an Abzweigstelle, Überleitstelle or Anschlussstelle/''Ausweichanschlussstelle.Ldst – Ladestelle, a simplified freight station used to transship goods, nowadays mostly part of a station or categorized as Awanst''.

Places without a set of points

Hp – Haltepunkt, a passenger stop that does not fit the requirements to be a Bahnhof. Defined as a place where trains can stop, start or terminate, but which has no sets of points in the vicinity.Bk – Block post#German practice, a signal box outside station limits, where there is a long distance between stations and/or junctions/crossovers, with just one signal in each direction, to allow more trains following each other.Dkst – Deckungsstelle, a signal box outside station limits which protects rail operation at danger spots like moveable bridges with its signals.

Other railway facilities

Bush – Bushaltestelle Est – Einsatzstelle BZ – Betriebszentrale/ESTW Gp – Grenzpunkt, border to another railway infrastructure manager.LGr – Landesgrenze, border between German federated states.Schstr – Schutzstrecke, neutral section in an overhead line to separate two electrical supplies.Slst – Schiffslandestelle Strw – Streckenwechsel, change of VzG line.Tank – Tankanlagen Uw – Unterwerk Werk – ''Werk''

Classification of railway facilities

Railway facilities in Germany are divided into three categories:Bahnanlagen der Bahnhöfe : e.g. station buildings, platforms, loading docks, signal boxes, goods shedsBahnanlagen der freien Strecke : Abzw, Anst, Awanst, Bk, Dkst, Hp, Hst, ÜstSonstige Bahnanlagen : e.g. electrical substations, depots, repair shops