It is also the last major station before the junction with the main line to Leipzig from the direction of Nuremberg and Plauen.

The current station was built in about 1848 when the Saxon-Bavarian Railway Company extended its line from Leipzig, which had previously terminated in Reichenbach, to Plauen and Hof, following the completion of the Göltzsch Viaduct (the largest brick bridge in the world) and the Elster Viaduct.

A third pedestrian underpass linked the street of Am Bahnhof ("at station") and Fedor-Flinzer-Straße (street), running under railway tracks 1–3 to the large waiting hall in the main station building.

The platforms of tracks 4 to 6 were completely renovated and provided with new information displays, seating and lifts.

Then tracks 1 and 2 and the associated underpasses and pedestrian and road tunnels were demolished.

On the cleared space a link was built in 2006 between Fedor-Flinzer Straße and Bahnhofstraße, including a roundabout and the station forecourt was provided with parking and redesigned taxi stands.