Amazing train stations from around the world – Part four

Last year we asked some of our favourite travel bloggers to contribute to a three part collaboration on Amazing Train Stations from around the world. Little did we know the interest this would bring, so we are adding another two posts to the series. It could be their local train station they commute from each day or an unfamiliar or beautiful station they came across when travelling. Keep reading to find out which ones they were and what it is that makes them amazing.

Paris by Parampara & Parichay of Awara Diaries

When it comes to Paris, nothing is ordinary. Not even their railway station! My recent trip to Paris was from Belgium by train. I got down at the Gare Du Nord station in Paris, or the North Paris station. When I got off, I was astounded by the beauty of this railway station. It wasn’t just the architecture, this Parisian station had a very special vibe to it. A vibe that beautifully represented the French capital. It had the energy of excited travellers, endless trains and even more activities.

I decided to come back specially to explore the station and what I discovered was simply amazing.

Gare Du Nord, Paris is the busiest railway station in all of Europe. It has 36 platforms and most trains to Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and UK leave from this station.

The station also includes a VIP lounge, some restaurants and interesting additions such as a piano for public use and cycles to exercise and charge your electronic devices. With multiple information desks, there was enough to cater the many travellers on a daily basis.

My favorite part of the station, was a corner wall with graffities from 36 artists from around the world depicting different cultures.

Like I said, Gare Du Nord, Paris is no ordinary train station! It’s a true wonderland for people watchers like me!

London by Marie of Our City Travels

One of the most elegant train stations I’ve set foot on is  St. Pancras in London, I remember taking photographs of it every time I passed by since the hotel I was staying at was a few minutes away. The building gives off a different vibe at different times of the day, but is most beautiful at dusk. Its Victorian Gothic architecture surely stands out no matter what time of day. While the area it stands on used to be a slums called Agar Town, it proved to be a magnificent result of engineering, restoration, planning, and rebirth.

St.Pancras is the terminus in London for Eurostar trains travelling to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Lille. It is also the terminus for a number of lines for  East Midlands trains and Thameslink going around England.  The station has a number of noticeable installations, apart from the beautiful interior it has been designed in. One of the more notable display is the Meeting Place,  a 9-metre  bronze statue depicting a couple locked in an embrace, it can be found under the  station’s clock.  The building itself is 243 ft. wide and 600 ft. long (74 x 183 meters), while the trainshed is 100ft high (30m) and could be listed as one of the largest. St. Pancras houses a number of shops and food stores where you can kill time when waiting for your departure.

North Yorkshire by Sarah of ASocialNomad

Goathland Railway Station on the Heritage North Yorkshire Moors Railway is an absolute treasure.   The station is on the line that was closed during the infamous Beeching cuts of 1965.  However, it was reopened in 1973 as part of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.    Goathland has been famously modelled by the toy train company, Hornby, as part of the Skaledale Junction series and is famous from its use in TV and movies.

Goathland station is also Aidensfield station in the UK TV series, Heartbeat, set in the 1960’s.  It’s also more famously known as the Hogwarts Express stop at Hogsmeade in the Harry Potter Films.  You might have even seen it at the end of “Holding Back the Years” from Simply Red’s video.

Serious rail enthusiasts can even stay ON the platform, as the North Yorkshire Moors Railway has self-catering carriages that you can rent!

Kolkata by Natalia of Mytriphack

Howrah is one of the four intercity railway stations serving the city of Kolkata.  Located on the west bank of the Hooghly River, it is linked to Kolkata by famous Howrah Bridge.

Howrah railway station is the oldest and the largest railway complex in India. When I say the largest, it means you have to come 1-2 hours before your train schedule to figure it out!

The first train journey in India started from Howrah in August 1854. Kolkata was a city to set a start of major train network of India, because the Britishers wanted to export cotton through this part of India to Britain.

Today Howrah still retains the status of the main station and has its own charm about it. Though be careful. If you are a foreigner, you wont get budget hotels easily around Howrah station as many stays don’t have a permit to host foreigners there.

Rotterdam by Chantal of Alleen Op Reis

Rotterdam Centraal Station is a true masterpiece of modern architecture.

The previous building was closed in 2007 and demolished the year after.

Most Rotterdammers felt pretty sad about saying goodbye to the old building. At this time, an artist rearranged the letter of the word ‘Centraal Station’ into the word ‘traan laten’ which means to shed a tear in Dutch. However since the opening of the new station in March 2014, tears have been replaced by proud smiles since the new building looks absolutely stunning. The entrance measures approximately 10,000 square meters with a height of 30 meters. The shape is often compared to a shark’s mouth. Fun fact: Solar cells were placed on the roof on a surface area of almost 10,000 m², which makes it the largest solar station roof in Europe.

Stockholm by Donna of Nomad Woman

The Stockholm Metro system is called “the world’s longest art gallery.”

More than 90 of its 100 stations have been decorated by artists with paint, sculpture, and tilework. Stadion Station is one of the most beautiful. It’s cave-like walls and ceiling hewn from the city’s bedrock were given a base coat of sky blue, marbleized with lines of darker blue and yellow. And then the artists, Åke Pallarp and Enno Hallek, added rainbows. Everywhere. The station delivers riders to the nearby Olympic Stadium, so the artists used the colors of the Olympic logo rings to create the rainbows. Also, when the station was built in 1973, it was the first “cave” station, and the artists were eager to soften that image by bringing in the blue of the sky. The result is a very happy place. It’s hard not to smile when looking at the rainbows of Stadion Station. And here’s a delightful rainbow coincidence: the city’s annual Pride celebration takes place nearby.

The Hague by Karen of Wanderlustingk

If you’re into train stations, be sure to visit Den Haag HS.  This train station is the oldest train station in the Hague—and it was opened in 1843 right when the train had been extended to the Hague. It’s cool to note that there’s even a royal waiting room that dates back to 1893 although it’s no longer in use.  (Spotting the royal family on the train is a big deal!)  The style of architecture is neo-Renaissance, which stands in stark comparison to the other train station in the Hague (Den Haag Centraal).

Be sure to admire the stunning glass ceilings as well as the iron holding it up! The building is a Rijksmonument, a protected building by the Dutch government.  Before catching your train to/from the Hague, be sure to stop for a moment to take in your surroundings as the elaborate ornaments along the exterior make it stand out.

Kyoto by Sylvia of Wapiti Travel

Probably the best option to get around Japan is by using the train.  But even if you’re not planning on using the train it’s still worthwhile to check out the train stations in the major cities of Osaka and Kyoto.  Both stations are architectural gems and have some hidden spots that you should check out but might miss if you just rush out the station upon arrival.

Kyoto’s train station has a very futuristic design.  One of the eye-catchers is the vaulted ceiling with 4000 plates of glass.  In Kyoto’s train station you have to mount the flight of escalators all the way to the top to witness the beauty of the building but also to treat yourself to one of the best views Kyoto has to offer. There’s a view point at either end of the station and the Skywalk to connect them.

Georgia by Stephanie of History Fangirl

Post-Soviet tourism is big in Georgia. Places like Stalin’s printing press and the tables of communist kitch at the Dry Bridge Market are big hits with travelers, but for the intrepid USSR tourist, a trip out to Gori is a must. The hometown of Joseph Stalin, most who go head there with the purpose of visiting the Stalin museum and seeing the house where he was born, but for an extra bit of intrigue, head to the Gori train station. It’s the world’s only remaining station with a statue of Joseph Stalin on display.

A train from Gori to Mtskheta costs about seven Georgian Lari (or less than four euros), making the train a practical way to get between the two popular day trip locations from Tbilisi. To get to the train station, head to the edge of Gori by the river. It’s walkable from the Stalin Museum, although I suggest a stop at the Gori War Museum on the way.

London by Kirralee of Escape With Kids

Although Paddington Station is a terribly busy central London station with endless trains coming and going from all over the country, there is one very special and much loved feature that makes this station a destination for many. Paddington Bear.

On platform 1 you will find a delightful bronze statue of Paddington Bear himself. The little bear is sitting on his suitcase, just as he arrived from Darkest Peru, looking a little lost and confused in the moments before the kind Brown family made his acquaintance. Michael Bond’s character has found a cherished place in the hearts of generations of children and we were thrilled to visit him.

Designed by Brunel and dating from 1838, Paddington Station is home to the Heathrow Express, as well as trains to Windsor, Bath, Wales and more.

Chicago by Roxanna of Gypsy With Day Job

Chicago’s Union Station is the most stunning that I have seen.  The station was designed by architect Daniel Burnham, who is often quoted for making the statement:  “make no small plans, they have no magic to stir men’s blood.”  Indeed, Burnham’s designs often seemed to epitomize that belief, and Union Station is no exception.  The very feeling in the oldest parts of the station are those of grandeur and big dreams.

The most notable room in Union Station is known as the Great Hall, which is elegant and full of history.  It is a room that sparks the imagination. Many film producers have used the Great Hall in their movies, including the most memorable scene in the Untouchables where Elliot Ness must protect the accountant of Al Capone.  It is hard to say how the real event took place, but it makes a remarkable scene taking place on the beautiful stairway of the Great Hall in Union Station. Currently the stairway and the skylight of the Great Hall are being renovated, so they can inspire generations to come.

Stockholm by Erin of Oregon Girl Around the World

Step down below the streets in the Swedish capital of Stockholm and you can experience some of the world’s longest art gallery. Spanning nearly 110 kilometers, the Stockholm metro system has become an inspired display of murals, mosaics and art installations since the 1950’s. 90 out of the 100 stations display various art, but the most beautiful is maybe Stockholm’s Central Station. Here you can hop on the subway system and make it all over town or take a regional train to explore more of this lovely country. With a helpful visitor’s center and a modern food court offering some of Stockholm’s best dishes, the central train station is the perfect place to begin your trip. Don’t miss the iconic blue and white floral murals painted on the cave-like train tunnels or the soothing tones of shiny mosaic tiles in the tubes of T-Centralen. Even underground, Stockholm is a stunner.

Budapest

A station we found amazing was the main international and inter-city railway terminal in Budapest, Keleti Train Station. Budapest is full of graceful architecture and Keleti Station, which is Hungary’s busiest transport hub, was the first and last building we saw in our time in Budapest. We were in awe of just how beautiful this incredible train station was.  A monument to a bygone era of steam trains, the station has a classic façade and an impressive hall with imposing dimensions of 18 metre ceilings, gilded stucco pillars and decorated with frescoes. The main terminal features a grandiose steel frame and ornate glazing with statues, which with its due east orientation, when the sun rises receives a spectacular illumination. Keleti train station was heritage listed in 1988.

Which of these train stations have you been to?  Did you take time to see the features detailed in the above posts or where you busy rushing to your next exciting destination?

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