[5][6] It was located on the south-western edge of the historic centre, in the northern part of the emerging city of Bochum-Ehrenfeld, and was well-located near the important heavy industries such as the steel mills of Bochumer Verein and various collieries.

Access to the station for passengers was not ideal and the space was inadequate for the increasing volume of traffic and was constrained by the construction of the rail triangle between the main line and the branch line to Herne-Rottbruch that opened in 1870 as well as the nearby Königsallee arterial road.

The original Bochum Hauptbahnhof was located at Königsallee, a few hundred metres west of the present railway station.

In the Second World War, the station was virtually destroyed in a British bombing raid, along with large parts of the city of Bochum.

A search was made for a place that was centrally located and offered enough space for a tram and bus terminal.

The new station was intended to give visitors an impression of Bochum as a city open for business.

Vocational schools, industry and commerce, the management of public utilities and the main post office are nearby.

A war-time air-raid shelter was discovered under the site, with benches and chairs as well as shoes and clothes that had been forgotten after the last all-clear had been given.

An initial plan envisaged the construction of a glass roof over the entrance hall and a helipad on top of the building.

This was regarded by the city planners and the railway department as too futuristic, and they chose its present form.

The 34,000 cubic metres of enclosed space built on the northern side was far more than required for railway administration.

The elevated glazed structure of the station cafe is supported by columns and protrudes from the main building.

The rather monotonous and massive, but light main building is complemented by the bold sweep of the butterfly-shaped canopy.

This consisted of three elements: In 2004 to 2006, the station building was extensively renovated including the access to its facilities and platforms.