It's probably no surprise that there are some incredibly beautiful railway stations around the world. Most travellers will have seen at least one of them, whether they've been to their home city or not, while they're all considered landmarks in the countries they're situated in. That's why we've put together this list of the top 10 most famous railway stations around the world, so you can decide which ones you want to check out!
1) King’s Cross – London
King’s Cross station is, without a doubt, one of London’s biggest and busiest transportation hubs. It connects travelers to London’s international airport and boasts shopping, dining and a movie theater. It also serves as a terminal for both Eurostar trains to France and Belgium and domestic connections throughout England.
2) Lausanne
By far, one of Europe’s most underrated cities is Lausanne, Switzerland. Not only does it have a spectacular train station (Lausanne-Flon), but it’s also home to many cultural landmarks like museums and festivals that celebrate all things art. Oh, and did we mention that Lake Geneva borders Switzerland? We don’t think any city in America can boast about something like that!
3) Shinjuku – Tokyo
As one of Tokyo’s three main central stations, Shinjuku Station is used by approximately 1.5 million passengers every day and is one of Japan’s most well-known and busiest stations. This railway station provides services to over 200 different cities including Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Sapporo and even Seoul in South Korea.
4) Singapore Central
Of all metro stations in Singapore, none is as well-known as Tanjong Pagar MRT Station, more commonly known as Central. This station is one of three interchanges on Singapore’s Circle Line (the other two being Clarke Quay and Bayfront), and offers access to no less than 20 trains.
5) Beijing West
Beijing West Station is a major railway station in Beijing. It is one of only 3 Beijing train stations served by more than one railroad (the others being Beijing South and Beijing North). This station is located in Fengtai District, on the west side of 4th Ring Road, and was opened on December 30, 2000 to relieve Beijing Station from overcrowding. A new building for long-distance passengers will be completed by late 2010. The nearby subway station is Xidan Station.
6) Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Mumbai is home to one of India’s most famous railway stations, Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Not only does it handle more than 55% of Mumbai’s passenger traffic, but it has some pretty stunning architecture and architecture that has served as a model for many buildings in India today. Its location next to Fort Victoria adds even more splendor to an already magnificent structure.
7) Grand Central Terminal – New York City
Grand Central Terminal, or just Grand Central, is a commuter rail terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Built by and named for New York Central Railroad in 1903, it has become one of the best-known landmarks of New York City. Its platforms, all ground, serve 41 tracks on six levels.
8) Hong Kong Station – Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Station is located in Central, on Hong Kong Island. Built in 1864, it was an important transfer point during colonial times and remained a terminus until 1972 when its South Station Wing was destroyed by a fire. The current building dates back to 1994 and houses both Kowloon and Hong Kong high-speed rail services as well as conventional rail services. It remains an important station for people traveling to or from Hong Kong island.
9) Shanghai South Station
With a history that spans more than 100 years, Shanghai South Station is one of the world’s most famous railway stations. As of today, it is still going through expansion and renovation. The station sits at an intersection between several lines in Zhabei District; nine different railways run through it. It is a hub for transportation in and out of Shanghai and sees tens of thousands of people passing through its gates every day.
10) Amsterdam Centraal
Amsterdam Centraal is one of several railway stations in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The station opened in 1883 as a through station, becoming a terminus in 1956. The station's renovation started in 2004, and was completed on 13 September 2009 when regular services at Amsterdam Centraal were resumed.
You must be logged in to post a comment.