A railway station is where travellers transfer from and to trains. It’s a place that’s essential for business, commuter and leisure travel. People arrive on foot, in cars, taxis, buses, trams and coaches, with luggage from a small bag to trunks as large as steamer trunks.
The best stations are both welcoming, comfortable and efficient in how they operate and layout. They’re a shop window for the service and should be designed with a clear aesthetic and architecture that is simple to maintain.
There’s something very special about a well-designed station. It’s a place where the experience of rail travel comes to life, and the best ones have a sense of magic. Some are simply grand – like the colossal dome of Budapest Central Station, which has won global accolades for its opulent splendour. Its soaring towers, dazzling array of fenestration and the opulent marble interior make it a true cathedral for trains.
Some are simply awe-inspiring, such as the elegant and streamlined Helsinki Central Station, which manages to be both sleek and expressive. It’s built on the edge of a busy urban district, but its sleek lines, bold details and green copper cladding ensure it sits comfortably in the cityscape. The design, by Eliel Saarinen (father of Eero), is a blend of art nouveau and deco with something new and daring. It is a station for the future, as much as it is a monument to the past.
Other stations are bold experiments in colour and form. Los Angeles’s main rail terminal is a bubbly exercise in glitz, with its unique orange arch and palm trees swaying outside. It’s not only a train station, but a transport hub for the entire region.
Most stations are dual-purpose, serving both passenger and freight trains, though there are some which specialise in either. The capacity of a station may be governed by the type of services operated, with a mix of local and commuter services, long-distance and intercity trains, or even two separate types of train (eg HSZ and TGV).
The design of a railway station must take into account its function and the requirements of all users, whether passengers or staff. It must be accessible, with safe boarding and exits, and offer simple free-flowing circulatory areas that allow easy movement within the station and between different facilities. It must also be safe to enter and leave at night and during disruptions such as snow or ice.
Most railway stations are located in the heart of cities and must fit into their urban contexts. This can be challenging, especially when they’re undergoing major upgrades to improve services and increase capacity. However, the iconic St Pancras in London proves it is possible to be a show-stopping, grand, beautiful and functional railway station. Its lavish renovation would have made John Betjeman proud, with its champagne bar and art by Tracey Emin that fuses cool with class. It’s a station to be admired, and one of the great symbols of Europe’s glorious rail legacy.
