The Betriebswerk takes conferences, workshops, company parties, dinners, concerts and weddings in about 300 square meters of hall and foyer, with four glass meeting rooms for breakout sessions. It is a converted railway depot at Am Bahnbetriebswerk 5 in the Bahnstadt district of Heidelberg, and it is run by the same team as the Tankturm next door.
Seminars and company events
The layout suits a conference day with group work. Plenary sessions run in the Saalbau, the former workshop hall of 180 square meters, while the four Glascubes, glass rooms built into the space, take the breakout groups. They measure 45, 43, 22 and 20 square meters, and the venue presents them for meetings, seminars and workshops. The Foyer of 120 square meters links the hall and the courtyard and serves as the meeting point, which works for registration, coffee breaks or an exhibitor area. The Tankturm management team helps with planning and provides the infrastructure, the technical equipment and contacts for music or shows, live or with a DJ.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings are among the events the Betriebswerk hosts, along with art exhibitions and concerts. A reception can start in the Foyer or the courtyard and move into the Saalbau for dinner and dancing. The partner list includes a wedding planner, LaBell Hochzeitsplanung, for couples who want help with the day.
Rooms and capacities
The venue gives sizes rather than guest numbers. The Saalbau measures 180 square meters and is used for buffets, dinners, receptions, conferences and concerts. The Foyer measures 120 square meters and is used for receptions, concerts, trade fairs and markets. The four Glascubes measure 45, 43, 22 and 20 square meters. The Hof is the courtyard, connected to the Foyer and the hall. Ask the team for the capacity of each layout before you plan seating.
Catering
There is no in-house event kitchen. Catering comes from the venue's partners, among them COAR Catering, GVO Catering Kultur, Tisch am Fenster and Gemüsekultur Heidelberg. Next door, the Tankturm runs a lunchtime canteen on weekdays, with home-style dishes based on produce from the Odenwald, the Black Forest, Baden and the Palatinate.
History and setting
The depot opened in 1927, and with 80 locomotives it was the most modern of its time. Together with the Tankturm, it was the working center of rail and freight operations for Heidelberg and the region until the 1970s. The former mechanical workshops were restored in 2018, and the hall keeps its industrial character, now with glass rooms set inside it. The Bahnstadt around it is a newer district built on former railway land.
Getting there
The Betriebswerk is in the Bahnstadt, close to Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof, which has long-distance and regional trains. Frankfurt Airport is the main international airport for the region. The Tankturm publishes a detailed directions sheet, and roadworks on Eppelheimer Strasse can change the route by car, so check it before the event.
