Backpackers old and new have always travelled across Europe and the world by train. As relatively characterless and antiseptic high-speed trains gradually take over the travelling landscape, it shouldn’t be forgotten that there is a wonderful architectural heritage in our train stations (and some pretty rubbish ones as well, but we’ll ignore them).

St Pancras, London

Not so much a train station as a temple to train travel. A triumph of neo-Gothic Victorian architecture, it was almost demolished in the 1960s (thank you John Betjeman) but re-furbished and re-opened in 2008 when it became the London destination for Eurostar. A destination station if ever there was one. Like many a modern station, it has become a shopping centre, but that doesn’t distract from the stunning architecture. And it does have a champagne bar, so it’s not all bad…

Strasbourg

Strangely enough, with one or two exceptions (Marseille St. Charles or the Parisian stations), the French don’t give their stations names like St. Pancras or Estatio de Francia in Barcelona. The boringly named Gare de Strasbourg is also something of an architectural marvel as befits a station located at one of Europe’s rail and political crossroads. Renovated in 2007, a new glass cocoon was added creating an interesting contrast to the 1883-designed original station.

Berlin Hauptbahnhof

Europe’s largest station with no buffers, it is also Europe’s largest two-level station. Located on the site of the original Lehrter Bahnhof station, every day more than 1100 long-distance, regional and rapid transit trains run through the 14 platforms. Another glass and steel temple (and no shortage of shops), it’s the sign of a confident, reunited nation and a statement. It somehow represents what Berlin was, a collision of two worlds, and what those worlds have become, the triumph of commercialism.

Milano Centrale

The cornerstone was laid by King Victor Emmanuel III as early as 1903, but real building work didn’t start for another 10 years and was hampered by the onset of the First World War. Influenced by Mussolini, it is often seen as representing the power of the fascist regime. It has no definite architectural style except imposing, the current station sees 600 trains a day running through its 24 platforms carrying something in excess of 320,000 people right across Italy and beyond. TGVs now run directly to Paris.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai

Indian Railways is a force of nature in itself. The world’s second largest railway company, it has 7,000 stations, employs 1.6 million people and almost 64,000 meters of track. CST, as it is known for short, is the former Bombay Victoria station and it could be said it dwarfs its not inconsiderable little sister in London. Victorian neo-Gothic in style, it is a superb example of nineteenth century railway architecture and the confidence of that age. If you can’t get to see the real one, it features a lot in the film Slumdog Millionnaire.

Grand Central Station, New York

Actually, the name is Grand Central Terminal, but popular culture knows it as a station, not a terminus. Whatever you call it, it’s the world’s largest with 44 platforms and 67 tracks on two levels. Its focal point is an enormous concourse that is usually filled with crowds. The ticket offices remain although they haven’t really been used since the introduction of ticket machines.  It also gives you “68 shops and 35 places to eat and a ride home” as the web site says. Train stations have definitely changed since my day!

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Great stations for backpackers to admire | World First Travel Insurance Blog