Zielstation

Zielstation is a term used in German-language transport planning and timetable documentation to designate the final stop or destination of a service on its scheduled route. It appears in passenger information displays, journey planners, and published timetables to identify where a train, bus, tram, or other service is intended to end its regular trip. The concept helps travelers understand where to alight and how to arrange connections.

Operationally, the Zielstation is closely related to the terminus, but it is primarily a planning and information concept rather than a fixed operational label. In normal operation a service arrives at its Zielstation and may end there for that trip, with the possibility of continuing later as a different service or being shortened due to operational reasons. If disruptions occur, the published Zielstation can change, and traveler information systems may indicate alternatives.

In timetable data and transport information systems, the Zielstation is usually the last stop listed for the given service variant. In complex networks with multiple routes or service patterns, there may be several Zielstation indicators corresponding to different sections or operating days. The term is used across rail, bus, and tram networks and is often captured in data standards and journey-planning applications to support destination-oriented search and planning.

See also: Endbahnhof, Endstation, Zielbahnhof, Fahrplan, Linienverkehr.