There are many railway stations throughout the world but some of them really standout due to the fact that they are true architectural masterpieces. Here are several of the most beautiful and breathtaking stations on the globe.
Liège-Guillemins Railway Station – This is the main station of the Belgian city of Liège. It is one of the most important transportation hubs in the country and is one of the three Belgian railway stations that serve high-speed trains. According to the latest numbers, approximately 15.000 people use the station on a daily basis which makes Liège-Guillemins the 11th busiest station in the country. It was originally built in 1842 and during the late 19th and early 20th century it was modernised. Then the original station was replaced with a new edifice in 1958 which functioned until 2009 when a third building designed by Santiago Calatrava was opened.
Liège-Guillemins Railway Station – This is the main station of the Belgian city of Liège. It is one of the most important transportation hubs in the country and is one of the three Belgian railway stations that serve high-speed trains. According to the latest numbers, approximately 15.000 people use the station on a daily basis which makes Liège-Guillemins the 11th busiest station in the country. It was originally built in 1842 and during the late 19th and early 20th century it was modernised. Then the original station was replaced with a new edifice in 1958 which functioned until 2009 when a third building designed by Santiago Calatrava was opened.
Istanbul Haydarpaşa Terminal – As the name suggests this railway stations is located in the old Turkish capital. It is the busiest rail terminal in Turkey and one of the busiest in East Europe. The station was established in 1872 while its building was built in 1909 in the Neo-classical style. In 1969 the entire edifice was electrified. Aside of serving the rail network the station also serves several bus routes and ferry services. In 2013 the Turkish transportation authorities decided to cease the station’s rail service until the rehabilitation of the existing line for the new Marmaray commuter rail is completed.
Limoges-Bénédictins Railway Station – Situated in the French city of Limoges in the western parts of the country, this is the main railway station of the city. It was opened on the 16th of June, 1856 and is named Bénédictins because of the Bénédictine Monastery which is located in close proximity. The edifice was designed by renowned French architect Roger Gonthier and its most notable feature is a 60 metres tall clock tower which is composed of two levels. The station serves the Orléand-Montauban Line one of France’s most important railway lines.
Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor – The station’s name means “Zagreb Main Station” and as the name hints it is the primary railway station of the Croatian capital. The station was opened in 1892 and was designed by Hungarian architect Ferenc Pfaff. The building is 186.5 metres long and is decorated with numerous sculptures which were created by Hungarian sculptor Vilim Marschenko. During the late 1980s, Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor was the subject of a major renovation projects which aimed to modernise the edifice and make it safer for its users. Currently the station linked the Croatian capital to the cities of:
- Ljubljana via the M101 Line
- Vinkovci via the M102 Line and M104 Line
- Koprivnica via the M102
- Dugo Selo via the M102 Line
- Rijeka via the M202 Line
Grand Central Terminal – This is arguably the most popular railway station on the North American continent. The current building of the station was built in 1913 by noted American businessman and philanthropist Cornelius Vanderbilt. During the second half of the 1990s the station was the subject of a reconstruction project. The edifice is known throughout the world for its celestial ceiling mural and antique bold-barred ticket windows. But perhaps the most amazing feature of the station is its Whispering Gallery, which carries the sound across the Guastavino-tiled arches that ornate the interior of the building. To date the Grand Central Terminal is the largest train station in the world.
St. Pancras Railway Station – Known as St. Pancras International this railway station is located in one of the most densely populated cities in the Europe, London. Opened in 1868 it is one of the business stations in the United Kingdom as it provides transportation services to approximately 30 million people on a yearly basis. The station’s edifice is recognised as a Grade I building and is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful structures in the English capital. One of the station’s most famed features is “The Meeting Place” a statue created by Paul Day. At the moment it is one of the few railway stations in London and England that serve high speed trains.
Madrid Atocha – This is the largest station in the Spanish capital and is classified as a railway complex as it is formed by the Madrid Puerta de Atocha Railway Station, the Madrid Atocha Cercanias Railway Station and the Atocha Renfe Metro Station. It was opened in 1988 at the same site where once stood Madrid’s first railway station which was largely destroyed by fire in 1892. The station’s second edifice was designed by Alberto de Palacio Elissagne who collaborated with engineers Gustave Eiffel and Henry Saint James. During the 1990s, the building was closed and converted into a concourse which houses numerous cafés, shops and even a night club. The modern terminal that serves the railway and underground lines is based on the designs of esteemed Spanish architect Rafael Moneo.
Kuala Lumpur Railway Station – This fascinating station opened doors 1910 and until 2001 was the main railway station of the city. The structure has a unique architecture which contains elements of the British Colonial, Indo-Saracenic, Mughal and Moorish Revival styles. Even though it lost its status of the most important station in Kuala Lumpur to the newly opened Sentral Railway Station, it is still one of the busiest stations in the country as it provides transportation services to commuters that work in other areas of Malaysia.
Gare de Strasbourg – Opened in 1841 and reopened in 1883, Gare de Strasbourg is one of France’s most stunning railway stations. The original edifice of the station is covered with a modern canopy that was constructed in 2007. This is why many architects described the station as a perfect blend of 19th and 21st century architecture. The station is also one of the busiest in the county as it serves approximately 75.000 people on a daily basis.