Eye-catching train stations
Terminals boast spectacular architecture, unique ambience and special features
Train stations are often some of the most scenic architecture in their cities. Cheapflights.ca, an online travel site, has compiled a list of the Top 10 eye-catching train stations. Of course, the list features New York City’s Grand Central Station.
But it highlights five more stations worth the trip: Madrid Atocha Railway Station, Spain: Madrid’s largest train station is home to a beautiful tropical garden, which makes waiting for your train much less of a chore. The station’s concourse is lined with enough lush greenery to make you feel as though you’ve stumbled upon a mini rainforest, not a railway station. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai: India’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus not only sees three million passengers every day, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Formerly known as Victoria Terminus Station, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus was designed by the British architect F.W. Stevens and took more than 10 years to build. The real beauty of the building is in its melding of cultures; British architects worked with Indian craftsmen to include Indian architectural traditions in the design. Kanazawa Station, Japan: This railway station in Kanazawa received a major facelift in 2005, when the entrance was transformed into a feat of ultra-modern architecture. The station’s entrance features a giant glass dome called “Motenashi (Welcome) Dome,” which resembles a huge, ethereal umbrella. In addition to the dome, there’s also a wooden gate designed to symbolize a traditional Japanese instrument called tsuzumi (hand drums). Sao Bento Railway Station, Porto, Portugal: The train station in Porto stands out thanks to its tiling. The walls are covered with more than 20,000 azulejo tin-glazed ceramic tiles. These create a breathtaking floor-to-ceiling display. The tile work was done by artist Jorge Colaco and took 11 years, from 1905 to 1916, to complete. Gare du Nord, Paris: Europe’s busiest railway station is one of the most beautiful. The central station, built in neoclassical style, serves about 180 million passengers every year. The station’s facade, adorned with 23 statues, captures your attention immediately. The statues represent the destinations originally served by the station when it first opened. Nine larger statues represent eight international destinations and there’s also one that represents Paris. Fourteen smaller statues represent the 14 French cities and towns the station originally serviced. Soaring windows inside allow an amazing amount of natural light to shine through.
The remaining four train stations to round out the list of memorable stations are: Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Malaysia; Milano Centrale, Milan; St. Pancras, London, and Antwerp Central Station, in Belgium. Star staff