For my second review I chose to tell you a bit about the main station of my hometown Innsbruck. I hope you will like it because I gave a lot of efforts to make it as detailed as I could.
Let's start:>
1) A short prehistory of the main station: -------------------------------------------------------
1858 started everything. The first railroad roared through the lower Inn Valley until Innsbruck. At this time the station was far outside the city. The old station area in Wilten was nearly completely destroyed in World War II. Not before the end of war the big main station hall was built in 1955. Old wall frescos by the artist Max Weiler adorned the walls of the hall.
1.b) Informative web sites about the station: ------------------------------------------------------------
www.innsbruck.at is the official web site of our provincial capital. You can learn important things about Innsbruck as well as about old and new projects.
www.ivb.at is the official web site of the public transport services stock corporation that are responsible for the near public transportations.
2) The station in the change of time: --------------------------------------------------
The thought of a complete new construction of the station hall and the Südtiroler Square suddenly occured in 1999. Said, done. After appr. 2 year construction time, dirt and noise the citizen of Innsbruck received a new station. The "fun" devoured about 28 Mio. Euro. I just can dream about that much money. The frescos by Max Weiler were changed into huge wallscrolls. They are the last remains of the old station.
2.a) Sub Level: ---------------------
The new station hall insists of two levels. The lower one leads through subterranean connection ways to the particular platforms. There we find several shops now that are even opened on Saturdays and Sundays until 10 p.m. What shops do we discover? There is a travel credit bank with ATM, some cafès, a post office, a grocery supermarket "M-Preis", as well as a tobacco store and a paper store. Even a creche can be found here which is open only at particular hours. (MO-FR: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.) The biggest space needs the ÖBB travel agency with the counters with individual support. Those, who prefer ticket machines like me, find 4 outside the door of the ÖBB establishment. Even tickets for the city public traffic or the Tyrolean traffic federation can be acquired there. All means of payment as cash till credit cards will be accepted.
2.a) Ground-Floor Level and outside square: ------------------------------------------------------------
The upper hall has a length of 104 Meter and a height about 15 Meter. It now appears due to the many windows much brighter and friendlier thanks to the day light. Up there one has an adorable overview to the events on the platforms, as well as the outside square or the Sub Level. Several seats was not forgotten for comfortable persons. The upper hall offers a tobacco store, a flower store, modern concised travel schedules in monitors, 2 more ticket machines (all indoor); outside there is a bakery, a pharmacy and gastronomy services.
Let us now devote to the Südtiroler Square, the outside square before the station hall. A warm red coloured floor adorns terminal and streets and is a pleasant look. On the side to the hall the local and civic busses stop. Some line areas even lie outside Innsbruck. The stops were modernised and coloured signposts even guides lazy persons as me to the right line.
In the centre the terminal illuminates the square with warm neon light in the night. There the civic bus lines as well as the streetcar line 3 and the tram to Stubai Valley stop. On the other side we find a fast food store "Burger King", another bakery several pubs and the 5-star hotel "Europe". The view northwards is less beautiful. An old venerable clock tower is a conspicuous view. It survived the new constructions undamaged. In the building below the police station is accommodated.
The view southwards is even uglier because there is still a building site. A huge building in raw condition will become a hotel with office establishments. I am curious how it will finally look like and report it here then.
3) Some advices to the station area: -------------------------------------------------
Should you travel to Innsbruck by train, I give you following hints on the way:
a) Never give your cellular phone to anyone even if someone says, it is for an emergency! These are clever tricksters. They only wait for clueless persons to trick them badly! Once you give your phone out of your hands, you can kiss it good-bye!
b) Many so-called poor persons beg on the area for your sympathy or a small donation. Do not give anything! The so-called society of beggars use your good nature only for their own richness!
c) Never let you involve in confliction with tipplers, stiffs, or shady, strange looking persons. Treat them with the police station at the clock tower. Although it is not often, but those persons often have knifes. So, watch out!!!!
4) Western station: --------------------------
I may not forget that Innsbruck has a second station, the Western station. This station will be used more and more for loading activities and for the local train traffic to Mittenwald (Garmisch-Partenkirchen) and the upper land (Landeck). Its meaning fades away more and more due to the new main station. The lounge hall could even need some renewal. The little sidekick of its big brother respites now a shadowy existence.
5) My opinion to the old and new main station: --------------------------------------------------------------
I have always felt that the old hall was too dark and unfriendly. Especially at peak times it was often overfilled and I hate something like this. This is now past thanks to the large space of the new station.
On the one hand I am glad that the shops have opened now even on weekend. On the other hand I feel sorry for the many employees. Okay, they receive (a bit) more wages but there is always remaining a bitter thought in me, when I have to get some milk or a forgotten littleness. It really happens in absolute case of exceptions.
The crime rate has unfortunately increased too due to the new station. You can see it by my hints above of what you have to watch. Please follow them because I want as a citizen of Innsbruck that you keep my town as a beautiful experience in remembrance. Fortunately substantial police activity cares for more security.
Below the square there is a huge underground car park. This is the optimal place to store your cars and use public transports. Be careful here a bit too! Some ways are narrow and confusing down there but it should be improved according to city magistrate soon.
What shall I say more? Personally I find the new station even with its shady side okay and I enjoy the larger space and the improved overview. North- and south side overcast the improved impression though. I hope there will be done something about it soon.
The connection between public transport and local traffic is outstanding. You can reach any sightseeing without problems. Everything is well signposted; a big map in the Sub Level explains everything optimal. No problems!
I hope, I could give you a bit impression and I am looking forward to your assessments, opinions, etc. I recommend you to visit my beautiful hometown once, best in midsummer. As soon as I reach Level Green I will add some pictures here.
