The world's first train station was opened in 1826 in Darlington, northern England. A lot has changed since then, both in terms of trains and stops. Tourism Review presents the most beautiful train stations around the world.
The world's first train station was opened in 1826 in Darlington, northern England. A lot has changed since then, both in terms of trains and stops. Tourism Review presents the most beautiful train stations around the world.
Cairo's main station is named after the former Pharaoh Ramses II and was built in 1856 for the route between Cairo and Alexandria. In 2011, the station was completely rebuilt for the last time and fitted with a marble floor. The entrance hall is particularly striking. An inverted pyramid hangs from its ceiling.
Sirkeci station was once the terminus of the famous Orient Express. The station building, built in ornate Orientalist and Art Nouveau architecture, reflects Istanbul's diverse culture. After it was closed in 2013 - a station opened under the former terminal station in the Marmaray tunnel, which connects the European and Asian parts of the city - the above-ground station was converted into a museum. However, since February 29, 2024, light rail service has been running again between Sirkeci and Halkalı.
Atocha station opened in 1851 and is one of the most important hubs in the Spanish capital, Madrid. After its renovation between 1984 and 1992, it consists of two areas. The new area is dedicated to train traffic, while the old part houses offices, a shopping center, and a tropical garden with over 7,000 plants. It is also used as a meeting place and waiting room. The original 19th-century façade was retained during the renovation.
The station, designed by Santiago Calatrava, was completed just in time for the 1998 World Expo in Lisbon. It served as the Expo's entrance and was designed accordingly. The metal and glass pavilion resembles an illuminated forest at night and has an underground shopping center in a former Expo exhibition hall and a police station.
What looks more like a football stadium or a concert hall is a train station. Designed by Spanish engineer and architect Santiago Calatrava, Liège-Guillemins station was completed in 2009 and has a curved glass and steel roof. The station opened in 1842 and is now a stop for Eurostar and ICE trains, making it a hub in Europe's high-speed network.
The name "Union Station" is used by all train stations in the USA and was used jointly by several railway companies. The Los Angeles Union Station was opened in 1939 and is still the most important train station in the city today. It is an integral part of the history of Los Angeles and a spectacular building only built after the heyday of the American railway. The Los Angeles Union Station describes itself as "The Last of the Great Railway Stations". The tiled waiting room and the lush courtyards are worth a visit, even if you don't have to take a train.
Hua Hin railway station is built in the traditional Thai architectural style and considered one of the oldest in the country. It was built during the reign of King Rama in 1911 and has a royal waiting room that still stands to the right of the main building. However, the station was demolished and rebuilt several times and even relocated in 1967. The royal waiting room is now a popular photo opportunity and can be reached by train from Bangkok in three and a half to four hours.