Major transport nodes should be not only convenient and safe but also effective — because it’s the first thing you see when entering the country by rail. Impression of the city begins to take shape here. We have selected ten most beautiful train stations that easily can be included in the list of the main attractions of the country.
1. Central station new York (Grand Central Terminal), new York, USA
From the oldest and largest in the world station of new York city with 44 platforms and 67 tracks. Duplex station: 41, the path was placed on the first level and 26 on the second. The building was built more than a hundred years ago in 1913, and it was also a station. Grand Central Terminal is executed in an eclectic Beaux arts-style, distinctive features of symmetry, the use of ornate decorations in the decor, figural sculptures and inserting in gold.
In the building there are several popular cafes and restaurants, mostly like the oyster bar. And there’s a cinema, so if the train is delayed or you arrived at the station too early, you can pass the time watching a movie.
2. The St. Pancras Station (St. Pancras International), London, UK
Photo: Stockinasia / Alamy Stock Photo
The station, like many others on this list, middle-aged: it was opened in 1868 and is opposite the British library in Central London. Here is a five-star hotel St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel (incredibly beautiful), this is the main station building. It is built of red brick in the Gothic revival style and is considered one of the most striking examples of this architectural direction.
Photo: Gideon / flickr.com
St. Pancras International not only offers amazing looks, and is an important transportation hub. Hence, for example, flights to Paris and Brussels on the Eurostar train under the English channel.
To travel by train!
3. Antwerp Central station (Antwerpen Centraal), Antwerp, Belgium
From photographs it seems that the mansion of some ancient Ducal family and a Royal family. The station opened in 1905, but the trains from here went another since 1898, when it was built debabelizer is part of the station with platforms and a canopy over them.
Beautiful building with difficulty resisted the passage of time: it literally started to fall apart in the mid-twentieth century. Demolition was avoided due to the status of a monument of architecture, which was assigned to the station in 1975. Launched in 1998, the restoration was only completed eleven years later. The station got another plan: instead of one level three. During reconstruction Antwerpen Centraal built a new aisle to the platform, but castle-like building still stands on the site.
4. Station Sao Bento (Estacao de Sao Bento), Porto, Portugal
Photo: Alvaro German Vilela / Shutterstock.com
To the station of San Bento was here before the convent of Sao Bento de Ave-Maria. After a fire in 1783 it was restored, but gradually the place was abandoned. In that period, actively developing a network of railroads, and in 1900 work began on the conversion of the monastery into the station.
Photo: Anastasia Petrova / Shutterstock.com
The building was built in neoclassical style. Inside are many works of George pray, one of the best artists of his time, who painted Portuguese tiles Azulejos. Among the subjects decorating the walls of the station — historical episodes and scenes of battles. In short, there is something to see while waiting for the train.
5. The station is Strasbourg (Gare de Strasbourg), Strasbourg, France
Photo: Alexandre Prévot / flickr.com
From the outside the station looks very modern and unusual — it’s all glass semi-circular building. The dome is relatively recent. Prior to that, the station looked to match the construction of the time — it was opened in 1883, but the construction continued for another five years.
Photo: Marja van Bochove / flickr.com
For renovation, which was completed in late 2007, it took about 150 million euros. The building was equipped with all that one can: Underfloor heating, modern system of electric interlocking, which allows you to monitor the dense traffic and to prevent disruptions in train traffic, the different security systems.
6. Station Kanazawa (Kanazawa Station), Kanazawa, Japan
The railway station in Kanazawa interesting combination of traditional Japanese architecture with modern styles. The entrance is like a huge chetyrnadtsatiletnyuyu arch made of wooden columns and handmade. It begins with the glass roof, which contrasts sharply with the actual columns.
Photo: かがみ～ / flickr.com
Inside Kanazawa Station has a lot of greenery: there are trees and bushes. There is even a fountain. Once inside, you will not notice how fast time flies waiting for a train. And the building, despite a bold blend of styles, looks harmoniously.
7. Station Chhatrapati Shivaji (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus), Mumbai, India
The station is named not at the place where it is situated, and on behalf of sivaji, the national hero of India, who in the 17th century revolted against the then ruling Muslims. Until 1996, however, the station was named Victoria Terminus in honor of Queen Victoria.
Photo: © Filedimage / Dreamstime.com
And Antwerpen Centraal, very similar to the Palace. The decoration of the station reinforces the impression: staircase with balustrade, hardwood insert with notched carving, copper railing. This is one of the most busiest stations of India, it caters to not only train local routes, but also trains of distant following.
8. Railway station southern Cross (Southern Cross Station), Melbourne, Australia
Photo: Jes / flickr.com
The main train station of Melbourne began its history in 1859, when it opened under the name of Spencer Street Station. The station has undergone a major reconstruction in 1960, and then it was altered again in 2000, expanding and bringing to the modern mind. Thirteen years later we have added two new platforms, all of them became sixteen.
Outside the station stands an unusual shape of the roof. It is curved and wavy. Looks original and recognizable — a building with nothing to confuse.
9. The station Puerta de Atocha (Madrid Puerta de Atocha), Madrid, Spain
Photo: rarrarorro / Shutterstock.com
The name comes from the city gate of Atocha, which was demolished in the mid 19th century. The station has three platform, where trains to major tourist cities like Valencia, Seville, Barcelona.
Photo: Yulia Podolinskaya / Shutterstock.com
The building looks monumental, but inside happy travellers with an abundance of greenery. There is a winter garden with palm trees and a pond inhabited by turtles.
10. Haydarpasa Train Station (Haydarpasa Gari), Istanbul, Turkey
Photo: STEPHEN J MASON PHOTOGRAPHY / flickr.com
The station is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, from here trains to the suburbs of the capital and around the East of Turkey. It was built on an artificial Peninsula that goes directly to the sea. From the station you can catch the ferry to cross the Bosphorus.
Photo: Nérostrateur / wikimedia.org
Haydarpaşa is an important transportation hub, so it is usually crowded. The building first opened in 1908, and the station has existed since the seventies of the 19th century. In architecture a distinctly European features and this is no accident, because the building was designed by architects from Germany.
Most importantly — remember that the impressive station does not mean that the route from it will equally spectacular places. The beginning of the most scenic routes often become frankly clumsy station. Of the 10 most beautiful railway routes in the world you can learn by reading this article.