They say ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ but I think most people will agree that these ten railway stations are simply beautiful. But what makes them beautiful? Sometimes it’s their new cutting-edge design and other times it is the historical importance and the way they are built. If your train pulls into any of these nations you will be pretty happy…
Eigerwand Station – Jungfrau, Switzerland
A tunnel station carved into the Eiger in the majestic Bernese Alps, Eigerwand Station is the fourth-highest in Switzerland and delivers dramatic glacier views while overlooking the charming village of Grindelwald below. Be sure to hop off and snap some stunning photos from the panoramic window during your journey along the Jungfrau Railway. Embark on this trip of a lifetime for yourself on our Switzerland’s Lakes and Mountains journey.
Grand Central Terminal, New York
This railway station is situated in Midtown Manhattan in New York City and is considered one of the most famous railway stations in the United States of America. Grand Central Terminal or GCT is named the most beautiful railway station in the world. Though it was officially named Grand Central Terminal it is popularly known as Grand Central Station.
GCT has 44 platforms divided into two separate levels. Reed and Stem designed the overall railway station and the Beaux- Arts style details were added by Warren and Wetmore. Its famous iconic clock was designed by Henry Edward Bedford. Whenever you get a chance to be in New York City don’t forget to see it in person.
São Bento Railway Station, Portugal
Architect José Marques da Silva turned to 19th-century Paris for inspiration when he designed the stone façade and mansard roof of Porto, Portugal station, which opened in 1916 in Portugal’s second-largest city. São Bento Railway Station, Porto, Portugal The station’s centrepiece was created by the painter and native son Jorge Colaço, who covered the atrium walls with scenes from Portugal’s history. Although Colaço often worked on canvas, the technique used here enlisted 20,000 tin-glazed ceramic tiles. It took the artist 11 years to complete the murals.
Southern Cross Station, Australia
While locals are more likely to regard Southern Cross as an inevitable time-suck to be navigated by train on the way to Flinders St., tourists and design junkies from all over the world admire the station for its innovative and beautiful design. While the station in this spot dates back to 1859, the undulating, sand dune-shaped roof designed by Grimshaw Architects was completed in 2006 and covers an entire city block of over 60,000 square meters. The roof was designed to allow for cooling through natural ventilation and to allow fumes and exhaust from trains to leave the station.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai (India)
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or CST, which was earlier known as the Victoria Terminus, is a beautiful railway station in Mumbai, India. CST is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as its building is a beautiful blend of Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival and traditional Mughal style.
Frederick William Stevens is the name of the designer whose mind was behind this beautiful infrastructure called Victoria Terminus/The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. It was named “Victoria Terminus” in the year 1887, during the Golden Jubilee honour of Queen Victoria. In the year 1996, its name was changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji, in the honor of the great Maratha Emperor, and since then it is known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Its building is huge but the railway station has a lot of hustle and bustle due to the heavy crowd.
Napoli Afragola, Naples
Appearing less a train station as much as some sort of bio-mechanical creature slithering across the high-speed rail line that links Naples and Salerno, Afragola manages to catch the eye even against the ominous backdrop of Mount Vesuvius, one of Europe’s most active volcanoes. The station is laid out in such a way that, should the earth start to wobble, parts of its structure can move independently of each other and all (hopefully) survive intact.
Kanazawa Station, Japan
When Kanazawa’s circa 1898 station was upgraded in 2005, the initial reactions were mixed. The addition of the ultramodern glass-and-steel dome and giant drum-shaped wood gate struck many as ill-fitting. But visitors continue to flock to the Ishikawa, Japan station’s dramatic add-ons, and the new structures’ allure competes handily with the historic town’s other attractions, including a geisha district and former samurai quarters.
Liege – Guillemins, Belgium
The Liege – Guillemins Railway Station, which was opened in 2009 is a must-see during your Belgium trip as it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world. It is the main railway station of the city of Liège. Liege – Guillemins station has five platforms and ten tracks.
15,000 people use it every day which makes it the eleventh busiest station in Belgium. One of the most renowned and talented architects Santiago Calatrava designed this magnificent railway station. The monumental arch is 105 feet tall. It is made of steel, white concrete and glass. The ultra-modern design makes it one of the most beautiful railway stations around the world.
St. Pancras International, London
Located on Euston Road in the London Borough of Camden, St Pancras railway station which is also known as London St Pancras is a central London railway terminus and Grade I listed building. It is often called the “Cathedral of the Railways”. The station has very attractive Victorian architecture.
Let us tell you a special thing about St. Pancras International its arched train shed has the largest single-span roof in the whole world. It is the busiest station in London with 15 platforms. The station also has a shopping centre, a London Underground Stop and a bus stand. St. Pancras International surely deserves to be on this list of the World’s most beautiful railway stations.
Dunedin Station, New Zealand
George Troup designed the Dunedin Railway Station located in Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island. It is the city’s fourth station with two platforms. Because of this beautiful railway station, its architect earned the nickname of “Gingerbread George”.
This railway station has a beautiful revived Flemish renaissance style. The station was opened in 1906. The station is used for more than the railway purpose. The upper floor has New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame and the Otago Art Society. our list of five beautiful railway stations of the world ends here with Dunedin Station, read on to know more here.
Have you been to any of these ten stations? Which one would you like to visit? If you have why not tell us about it in the comments below.
