Zvolen passenger railway station (Slovak: Zvolen osobná stanica, abbreviated Zvolen os.st.; Hungary: Zólyom-személyi pályaudvar; Czech: Zvolen osobní nádraží; Polish: Główna stacja kolejowa w Zwoleniu) is the main passenger station serving the city of Zvolen, Zvolen District, located in Banská Bystrica Region, central Slovakia and an important railway junction in Slovakia.
Zvolen osobná stanica | |
|---|---|
| Central station | |
 The station main hall, 2022 | |
| General information | |
| Location | T. G. Masaryka 966 01 Zvolen  ZvolenZvolen District  Banská Bystrica Region Slovakia |
| Coordinates | 48°34′12″N 19°07′12″E / 48.57000°N 19.12000°ECoordinates: 48°34′12″N 19°07′12″E / 48.57000°N 19.12000°E |
| Elevation | 304 m (997 ft) |
| Owned by | Železnice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR) |
| Operated by | Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (ZSSK) |
| Line(s) |
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| Distance | 21.383 km (13.287 mi) from Banská Bystrica |
| Platforms | 4 (+ 1a) |
| Connections |
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| Construction | |
| Architect | Jozef Lacko |
| History | |
| Opened | 1959 |
| Rebuilt | 2020–2022 (renovation) |
| Location | |
  Zvolen osobná stanica Location within Slovakia | |
EtymologyEdit
The station is named osobná stanica (passenger station) to differentiate it from Zvolen nákladná stanica, a large freight terminal a short distance east, which is also served by some local stopping trains.
Zvolen osobná stanica was previously called "Zvolen Hrad station" (prior to 1959) and "Zvolen osobné nádraží" (between 1959 - 1972).
LocationEdit
Zvolen osobná railway station is located southwest from the city centre on the northern bank of the Slatina river and is accessible from T. G. Masaryka street.
There is a bus station across the street, offering access to MHD (city) transport and national transport.
Present dayEdit
Zvolen railway station currently serves as the main railway point to connect the southern route (Bratislava and Košice), but also as a regional point in various directions, such as Šahy, Levice, Banská Bystrica or Vrútky. Trains of all national categories (Os, R, RR, REX) stop at the station. For most national train lines, the station is the terminating or departing station. The REX category has been operating specifically between Zvolen and Banská Bystrica since 2022 to speed up transport between the two cities.
The main station is divided into passenger and cargo parts. There is a mailing station right next to the Zvolen osobná railway station, which is connected to train rails as well.
Other stationsEdit
There are also two smaller stations in Zvolen:
- Zvolen mesto (direction to Banská Bystrica), north of Zvolen osobná railway station, closer to the town centre
- Zvolen nákladná stanica (direction to Košice), east of Zvolen osobná railway station, serves primarily for freight trains
ŽOS ZvolenEdit
The Zvolen railway junction also includes railway workshops, which today function as an independent production and repair company of ŽOS Zvolen rail vehicles.
Armored train HurbanEdit
The replica armored train Hurban is displayed close to the station which was an armored train used during World War II, during the Slovak National uprising.
PlatformsEdit
There are 4 platforms (+ 1a) in the station. Platforms 1 and 1a are accessible from the main station building and from both underpasses, platforms 2–4 are "island" based and are accessible via both underpasses.
Each platform has 1 lift, serving primarily for wheelchair access.
Platform 1a elongates the first platform, which serves for longer trains (usually of categories R or RR).
HistoryEdit
First railsEdit
At the beginning of the 1860s, coal consumption in Hungary began to grow significantly. In May 1861, the St. Stephen's Coal Mining Company was established, which sought to exploit the coal reserves of the Salgotarjan Coalfield. To ensure the transport of the coal extracted from this district, the General Assembly of this company in 1861 decided to build the railway Lučenec – Fiľakovo – Salgótarián – Pázstó – Hatvan – Aszód – Isaszeg – Pest and applied for a concession for this railway. On January 19, 1863, the newly established The Pest-Lučenec-Banská Bystrica Railway and Satoštofan Coal Mining Company was granted a concession, which obliged the association to build a railway in the Pest – Lučenec section until 1866 and to continue the line in the Lučenec – Banská Bystrica section until 1870.
First stationEdit
Because the private company had problems raising capital and financing the construction, in 1868 the company was bought by the state and the line was renamed the Hungarian Northern Railway and the construction of the railway in today's Slovakia was intensified. At the same time, it was decided to build a connection between this line and the Košice-Bohumín railway under construction on the Zvolen – Hronská Dúbrava – Kremnica – Vrútky route. The section Salgótarián – Fiľakovo – Lučenec was put into operation on May 4, 1871, Zvolen was put into operation a month later – June 18, 1871, when the section Lučenec – Zvolen was put into operation. An important traffic junction was destined for the construction of a railway depot, which provided the background for technology. Zvolen became an important railway hub and important industrial centre.
New stationEdit
The current passenger station began construction in 1952 [1] on the site of the original Zvolen – Hrad stop. Work on the new passenger station was completed in 1963, and was put into operation during construction (1959), which significantly relieved the original main railway station in Zvolen, which began to serve primarily for the needs of rail freight, which was also adapted its name on Zvolen – freight station.
ReconstructionEdit
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Reconstruction of the station building to its current form began in 2019 and was completed in 2022. Reconstruction of the station included the modernization of the main passenger railway station in Zvolen, which includes the installation of a camera system and new elevators on each of the platforms, which should ensure barrier-free transfer for immobile passengers throughout the railway station. The reconstruction also included the redesign of the platforms themselves. There was also an reseeding of tracks near the station. The existing Internet connection was also modified, the HaVIS information equipment (voice and visual train information) was expanded and reloaded, and a new electronic security system and electric fire alarm system were built.
At the same time, the city of Zvolen reconstructed the area and park located in front of the passenger station itself from 2020 to 2022, which changed the dispositional connection of the pedestrian infrastructure to the main bus station, but also the platform of public transport. New parking spaces for motor vehicles have also been added, as well as bicycle stands for passengers and visitors to the city. The mineral spring near the station was also reconstructed (by draining mineral waters).
Since 2022, a new modern technical and hygienic train maintenance center has been under construction, which is also to be established in Nové Zámky, Košice and Humenné. It is located near the building of the Main Passenger Railway Station in Zvolen.
ServicesEdit
The station is owned by Železnice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR); passenger train services are operated by Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (ZSSK).
- Ticket sales (national and international)
- Customer Center
- Luggage storage
- Buffet
- Newsstand
- Barrier-free access
- Tactile paving
- Wifi network
- WC
- Cycling station
NearbyEdit
TransportEdit
- Zvolen bus station (national and international transport)
- MHD bus stops (city transport)
- Rail station parking space
SightsEdit
- Zvolen Castle (north of the station)
- Pustý hrad (forested hill in the southern part of Zvolen)
- Armored train Hurban (in the park next to the station)
- Mineral water source (next to the station building)
LinesEdit
Zvolen osobná railway station is a hub for the following Slovakian railway lines:
- Železničná trať Zvolen – Nové Zámky (line number 150)
- Železničná trať Zvolen – Čata (line number 153)
- Železničná trať Zvolen – Košice (line number 160)
- Železničná trať Zvolen – Vrútky (line number 170)
- Železničná trať Zvolen – Diviaky (line number 171)
| Preceding station | ŽSSK | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminus | Regional fast trains | Banská Bystrica toward Žilina | ||
| Žiar nad Hronom toward Bratislava |
Regional fast trains | Zvolen mesto toward Košice via Banská Bystrica | ||
| Detva toward Košice via Lučenec | ||||
| Hronská Dúbrava toward Levice |
Stopping trains | Zvolen mesto toward Banská Bystrica | ||
| Zvolen nákladná stanica toward Lučenec |
GalleryEdit
View from Pustý Hrad
Interior
Ticket office
View of the main entrance
Memorial of Ing. František Višňovský
ZSSK 812
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See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Media related to Zvolen train station at Wikimedia Commons (exterior of the station)- Media related to Zvolen train station, interior at Wikimedia Commons (interior of the station)
