It consists of eight rail tracks and is a central hub for regional and long-distance passenger transport.

This station was unable to cope with the growing traffic, especially after the declaration of the Reichskriegshäfen ("Imperial War Harbours") in Kiel in 1871.

The final completion of the west wing and the platform hall lasted until 1911 because, among other things, the city monastery and a poorhouse on Sophienblatt, had to be demolished.

In 1944, the station and the adjacent magnificent buildings were severely damaged by the Allies in a heavy air raid.

On the eastern side towards the harbour, the Erlebniszentrum (“experience centre”) CAP was rebuilt in 1994/1995 with several restaurants and a large cinema.

In 2010, the CAP had its second renovation, essentially involving changes in its passageway and entrance areas while retaining some local businesses, including a bowling alley and a discotheque.

The redesigned station forecourt and the foyer with shops on the concourse were inaugurated for Kiel Week in June 2004.

Due to financial and technical difficulties, the reconstruction was interrupted several times and only concluded in May 2006[4] with the completion of a new station hall, only the cross-walk at the end of the platforms is still in its original condition although it has been refurbished.

Especially on weekends in the summer months, special trains ran to Schoenberg beach; in some years there was even a fixed timetable.

Since September 2013, daily school trains have operated to the recently completed Kiel Schulen am Langsee station.