Sidings for sore eyes
in a multi-layered subculture existing here, and systems of operation – “up” trains and “down” trains – that take some time to comprehend.
FINAL DESTINATION? Take the Konkan Railway south to the beach resorts of Goa. The route runs through massive mountain ranges, and 76 workers were killed while making the tunnels and laying track.
4 BERLIN HAUPTBAHNHOF, GERMANY
A gleaming confection of girder and glass that is barely a decade old, Berlin’s main station is a symbol of the city’s reunification. It’s a mix of atrium, escalators and shopping centre, part above and part below ground, with a cross-hatching of tracks on different levels going in different directions. A selection of vantage points allow you to peer right down through to the bottom layer, marvelling at the audacity of the design and the intricacy of the track-tangle. FINAL DESTINATION? Both high-speed ICEs and suburban trains rumble through Hauptbahnhof on the same elevated section of track, so ignore the posh trains and meander across the city at rooftop level in one of the retro U-bahns.
5 MILAN CENTRAL, ITALY
This vast, monumental station was built by Benito Mussolini and its heavy stonework was intended to convey the power and the flair of the fascist regime. Its façade looks like a palace, and its entrance hallways are giant spaces showcasing the Art Deco detailing. It opened in 1931, a particular show of magnificence at a time when Italy was emerging from a prolonged economic crisis. FINAL DESTINATION? From here trains head west into France and south to Rome, but the most eye-catching route is east to Venice, galloping across the fruitful plains of the Veneto, through Shakespearean cities such as Verona and Padua, and finally crossing the lagoon on a causeway into Venice itself.
6 LIèGE-GUILLEMINS, BELGIUM
This preying mantis of a station perches on the rim of the town’s ancient centre, and is a particularly audacious bit of town planning. Cool, light and airy and designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, its giant wings are carved out of glass, ready to go airborne any minute. On chilly days it is a bit too airy, and passengers would rather wait in one of the bars in the pedestrianised heart of Liège nearby. FINAL DESTINATION? Liège is on the Thalys high-speed route from Brussels to Cologne. The latter station sits right under the blackened spires of Cologne’s famous cathedral.
7 SHINJUKU STATION, TOKYO, JAPAN
It’s not beautiful, but you can’t fail to be impressed by the world’s busiest transport hub, used by a staggering 3.5million people every day. Don’t come during rush hour. Out on the platforms, it’s all calm and orderly, queuing in lines for trains that leave bang on time. Outside, you’ll get swept along by the crowds. Japanese railway stations are malls, and this one has tentacles in all directions, so you need to research exactly which exit (of the 200) you need. The Shinjuku neighbourhood is an extravaganza of neon, particularly after dark.
FINAL DESTINATION? Bullet trains tend to be a bit sterile, so for a better, up close and personal cross-section of Japanese society, take the Yamanote loop line which runs around Tokyo.
8 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
Malaysia is not a nation that prioritises train travel, so its station in KL, built by the railway-loving British back in 1910, is a shadow of its former self. Its roofline is dotted
with elevated pavilions that echo palace architecture in India. These days, it’s mainly used by commuters. Final destination? The international express that links Singapore with Bangkok passes through every evening, but for an adventure set off for the Thai border via the east coast line, aka the jungle railway.
9 istanbul Haydarpasa, turkey
Standing proud on the banks of the Bosphorus, the strait that separates Europe from Asia, Haydarpasa’s magic is partly to do to its location, as there can be few major terminals which are best approached by sea. The station has extra charisma for all the destinations it once offered, for example Baghdad and Damascus. Its galleried entrance halls have frescos and stained glass, but the platforms themselves are a bit of an anti-climax – regular services are currently suspended pending track works.
Final destination? A high-speed service to Ankara is pencilled in; meanwhile it is still worth decamping off a Bosphorus ferry into its hallowed hallways.