Ansbach station has undergone extensive modernisation since 2020 and has been able to call itself a ‘Zukunftsbahnhof’ since 2024. In October 2026, it was also awarded the coveted title of ‘Station of the Year’ by the Allianz pro Schiene. As Germany’s best station in 2026, Ansbach station offers travellers and visitors a modern, attractive station building and places a strong emphasis on accessibility. Congratulations to Bavaria’s eighth ‘Station of the Year’!
The station building and the adjoining waiting hall have undergone extensive refurbishment.
Golden letters at the entrance welcome travellers and visitors to the modernised station building. Inside, considerable investment has been made in the comfort of station visitors, with pleasant shades of turquoise, wooden seating and attractive lighting features. The 1950s building, designed in the Neo-Renaissance style, was severely damaged during the Second World War, as were the tracks, in air raids. The current building dates from the post-war period and continues to define the entrance to the town. In recent years, it has been comprehensively modernised in several phases and transformed into a "Zukunftsbahnhof". Ansbach station is therefore not only a transfer point and gateway to the rail network, but also a showcase for the town.
That’s what won over the jury
Copy link to this sectionThe nine-member jury from Allianz pro Schiene was impressed not only by the bright and welcoming atmosphere in the station, but also by how well the station is integrated into the town, the modern connections to buses, cars and bicycles, and many other well-thought-out details. For instance, it is possible to drive directly to the station by car or taxi via the side entrances without crossing pedestrians’ paths. Bicycle parking facilities have been significantly expanded in recent years. The jury was particularly impressed by the attractive design of the parking facilities, as well as the service point with a pump and tools, which can be used for minor bicycle repairs. A particular highlight in Ansbach is the green spaces that have been created alongside the covered walkway leading from the station building to the platforms. Seating here provides an additional place for people to linger. At the same time, the green spaces offer a habitat for plants and insects and add a further, welcoming splash of colour to the station.
The jury noted that, during the renovation of the station and its surroundings, the designers had placed great emphasis on an appealing design that went beyond mere functionality. For instance, the turquoise colour scheme, which features on the station’s exterior – on the window front, the side walls and the canopies – is echoed in various places inside the station, for example in the flooring, on the access routes to the platforms and even on the litter bins, which helps to reinforce the welcoming atmosphere.
Suggestions for improvement
Copy link to this sectionThe Allianz pro Schiene jury also identified potential for an even more customer-friendly travel experience in Ansbach. For example, it suggested making the already refurbished underpass between the platforms and the station’s south exit even more welcoming by adding further design elements and splashes of colour. Although the underpass is extremely clean and bright, according to the jury, it comes across as rather austere and sterile. In its assessment of the station, the jury also called for a real-time display inside the station building showing departing buses on the station forecourt. Furthermore, it felt that station-wide Wi-Fi would be helpful.
Since 2004, the Allianz pro Schiene has been awarding the ‘Station of the Year’ title to Germany’s best stations. The focus is on the perspective and needs of passengers. Each year, the nine-member jury visits railway stations across Germany and assesses them according to various criteria. These include the availability of travel information at the station – as well as details of facilities and local attractions. Furthermore, the Station of the Year must be clean and well-maintained, cater to people with different mobility and travel needs, and be connected to local and regional transport networks via other modes of transport. The jury also draws on representative market research data, and the assessment is carried out unannounced using a checklist.
Allianz pro Schiene is a non-profit advocacy organisation dedicated to promoting and improving rail transport. This alliance between civil society and the rail industry brings together more than 200 companies and associations, with a total of more than 2.5 million individual members. Allianz pro Schiene was founded in 2000 and is based in Berlin.