Being located right in the city centre Leipzig's Central Station is traditionally one of the most important junctions of the German rail network. After its fundamental modernisation between 1995 and 1999 it also comes up to this significant role externally.
With the Hauptbahnhof-Promenaden, Leipzig's Central Station is one of the most modern shopping and service centres in Germany. The centre covers about 30,000 m2 on three levels with about 140 shops. The station also has direct access facilities for cars with two multi-storey car parks – Car park East and West.

With its long-distance connections, its IntercityExpress, Intercity, EuroCity, CityNightLine and DB NachtZug connections, the Station boasts good and rapid links in all directions. Direct IntercityExpress lines ply every hour from Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Erfurt, Munich, Nuremberg and Dresden to Leipzig. There are non-stop Intercity connections from Magdeburg, Hannover, Bremen and Dortmund.

With public metropolitan and suburban commuter railway systems there are direct travel possibilities to all bigger cities in the vicinity (e.g. Dresden, Chemnitz, Zwickau, Plauen, Gera, Halle, Magdeburg, Dessau, Lutherstadt Wittenberg and Cottbus).

A rapid link to Leipzig/Halle Airport has been established with an Airport Express train travelling between Leipzig Central Railway Station in the city centre, Leipzig New Fair exhibition centre and airport in 14 minutes.