The unusual feature of the route between Magdeburg and Leipzig was that it was the first cross-border railway link (from Prussia through Anhalt-Köthen to Saxony).

As further routes were added the station soon became too small, but could not be expanded because the various railway companies could not agree an overall concept.

Not until 8 October 1890, after the nationalisation of one company and a five-year construction period could the new passenger station be opened.

During the adaption of Riebeckplatz in 1967 for the convenience of car users, the tram stops were moved far from the station under the elevated road bridges on what was then called Thälmannplatz.

In 2002, the station building was extensively renovated, rebuilt and equipped with areas for shops.

Between 2005 and 2011, the southern approach was extensively rebuilt over a length of five kilometres to integrate the new Erfurt–Leipzig/Halle line then under construction.

[4] The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the new Halle train formation facility, which cost €146 million, took place on 26 September 2012.

Among other things, the new and upgraded lines as well as the freight yard were integrated and all platforms of the station were demolished and rebuilt.

The connection to the high-speed lines was intended to take place between 2015 and 2017 and the station itself was to be rebuilt in 2016 and 2017.

[8] At the beginning of December 2013, Deutsche Bahn put out a Europe-wide tender for a package that included, among other things, the dismantling of 28 kilometres of track and 71 sets of points as well as the construction of 22 kilometres of track and 150 sets of points.

[9] Four kilometres of track and 54 new points went into operation on 28 November 2015 as part of a five-day full closure.

Around €850 million was spent on the work, including the freight yard and the new train formation facility.

[19] For cost reasons, the initially plan to place long-distance traffic between Berlin and Erfurt and Magdeburg and Leipzig on a common platform for each direction, including grade-separated approaches and departures, was abandoned.

Halle is linked to the surrounding area with local services on the RB, RE and S-Bahn lines as well as other cities such as Kassel or Eisenach.

The Halle (Saale) marshalling yard on both sides of the tracks to the east next to the passenger station was formerly important, but is largely closed today.