Favourite non-UK station

[Jamesrob637]

Agree with a lot of the great posts so far: Grand Central, Madrid, Antwerp, Liege, etc. And as a Swiss resident, agree with many of the ones here too.

I don’t think anyone’s mentioned Venezia Santa Lucia yet?

For anyone who’s not been, it’s an « otherworldly » experience - leaving behind an industrial area, trundling over the lagoon with views of the Dolomites in the far distance, into a very nice 1950s station - and then the perennial delight of stepping outside and discovering the canal outside, where the street should be...

Quite literally where the streets have no name. But the canals do!

 

[duesselmartin]

Agree with a lot of the great posts so far: Grand Central, Madrid, Antwerp, Liege, etc. And as a Swiss resident, agree with many of the ones here too.

I don’t think anyone’s mentioned Venezia Santa Lucia yet?

For anyone who’s not been, it’s an « otherworldly » experience - leaving behind an industrial area, trundling over the lagoon with views of the Dolomites in the far distance, into a very nice 1950s station - and then the perennial delight of stepping outside and discovering the canal outside, where the street should be...

I Like VSL due to childhood memories. The station itself is not amazing but aus you day the sorounding.

A charming IC station in Italy is Alassio.

Martin

 

[Romsey]

Krimml at the end of the narrow gauge line from Zell am See.
It feels like a model railway layout but at 12 inches to the foot - loco shed, stock stabing sidings and the line stops at an earth bank.
OK there's the bus up to Krimml falls ( go early before the tourists or it gets too hot) but the walk back along the valley is superb for photography.

 

[Neptune]

Budapest Keleti as it is a wonderful old building and is in a fantastic location in Europe’s finest and most beautiful city (in my opinion). I’ve been a couple of times but in 2018 for my wedding anniversary our hotel was just over the road so was easy for the excellent Metro system. We also took a day trip to Vienna on RailJet from there and ate at the excellent restaurant within.

I also like both main terminals in Dublin and Gare St Lazare in Paris.

 

[duesselmartin]

Last time I was at Keleti was in 2000. Still had an eastern European feel.
What I don't like in Dublin are the barriers. Continental Europe has better access from an enthuiasts point of view, although I do understand the advantage of barriers.

 

[Neptune]

Last time I was at Keleti was in 2000. Still had an eastern European feel.

It still does as do the other terminals in Budapest. One reason I like them so much. There’s also the excellent pre-announcement jingles which are even heard on the narrow gauge Children’s railway.

 

[Isambard]

Grand Central concourse is amazing. Los Angeles, pictured, is delightful too.

 

[d9009alycidon]

Couple that have not had a mention yet are Oslo Central, not architecturally brilliant but wonderfully placed with the train coming straight in from the airport, a quick 5 mins walk up through the concourse and out the side entrance across the bridge to my hotel, plenty of connections across the city as well. For nice architecture I would nominate Roma Termini with its sweeping roof and also Lyon-Saint-Exupéry-TGV which has a stunning laminated wood arch Google Photographs.

 

[Ianno87]

Agree with a lot of the great posts so far: Grand Central, Madrid, Antwerp, Liege, etc. And as a Swiss resident, agree with many of the ones here too.

I don’t think anyone’s mentioned Venezia Santa Lucia yet?

For anyone who’s not been, it’s an « otherworldly » experience - leaving behind an industrial area, trundling over the lagoon with views of the Dolomites in the far distance, into a very nice 1950s station - and then the perennial delight of stepping outside and discovering the canal outside, where the street should be...

Similar feeling going over the causeway between Malaysia and Singapore. But the arrival at Woodlands Checkpoint is much less glamorous...

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I've only ever stood on the platform there to have a cigarette at about 3am when doing the overnight train (which only called there due to being on diversion anyway) but Bordeaux St Jean is quite attractive at night with its big dramatic overall roof. Having not had experience of the other aspects (and given the reputation of SNCF) I'm not overly confident about listing it among my all-time favourites however!

 

[Richard Scott]

I've only ever stood on the platform there to have a cigarette at about 3am when doing the overnight train (which only called there due to being on diversion anyway) but Bordeaux St Jean is quite attractive at night with its big dramatic overall roof. Having not had experience of the other aspects (and given the reputation of SNCF) I'm not overly confident about listing it among my all-time favourites however!

Was undergoing a rebuild last time I went in 2016. Agree it was quite a pleasant station, also had decent facilities and when I first went in 2011 lots of loco hauled trains with 7200, 9300 and 67400 being common. Not been since all those went!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Budapest Keleti as it is a wonderful old building and is in a fantastic location in Europe’s finest and most beautiful city (in my opinion). I’ve been a couple of times but in 2018 for my wedding anniversary our hotel was just over the road so was easy for the excellent Metro system. We also took a day trip to Vienna on RailJet from there and ate at the excellent restaurant within.

Plus the statues of British giants Joseph Watt and George Stephenson on the facade.
I thought the interiors of the new M4 metro line, which starts at Keleti, were outstanding too.

Austria's large stations have been nicely modernised (as well as the new Vienna Hbf, there's Salzburg, Innsbruck and Graz which all have new user-friendly concourses.
Rotterdam Centraal is another one with a good shopping centre in the basement, also with a large bright atrium on the front.
SNCF seems to gave decided to put multi-storey car-parks above some stations which ruins the ambience (eg Cannes, St Raphael, Montpellier).

 

[alex397]

Agree with a lot of the great posts so far: Grand Central, Madrid, Antwerp, Liege, etc. And as a Swiss resident, agree with many of the ones here too.

I don’t think anyone’s mentioned Venezia Santa Lucia yet?

For anyone who’s not been, it’s an « otherworldly » experience - leaving behind an industrial area, trundling over the lagoon with views of the Dolomites in the far distance, into a very nice 1950s station - and then the perennial delight of stepping outside and discovering the canal outside, where the street should be...

I agree with your description of 'otherworldly'. I visited on a day trip from Bologna (incidentally a fantastic place to stay if you want to say access to other cities in Italy), and the experience going slowly over the lagoon and into the station was incredible. I went one February, and there was a light mist which really added to the atmosphere. As you say, stepping outside of the station right into the heart of Venice with the sights smells and sounds of the canal was better than I expected. I dont normally enjoy really touristy places but it was certainly worth it (although was relatively quiet in Feb).

Although the station is a modernist building from 1952, contrasting with surrounding buildings, I actually thought it suited the place, and has aged well.

Quite a list of destinations from the station too, including many high speed services. One service which must be very scenic for most of the journey is the Venice to Munich via Innsbruck service (indeed I've travelled on that myself between Innsbruck and Bolzano/Bozen over the Brenner Pass).

 

[59CosG95]

I agree with your description of 'otherworldly'. I visited on a day trip from Bologna (incidentally a fantastic place to stay if you want to say access to other cities in Italy), and the experience going slowly over the lagoon and into the station was incredible. I went one February, and there was a light mist which really added to the atmosphere. As you say, stepping outside of the station right into the heart of Venice with the sights smells and sounds of the canal was better than I expected. I dont normally enjoy really touristy places but it was certainly worth it (although was relatively quiet in Feb).

Although the station is a modernist building from 1952, contrasting with surrounding buildings, I actually thought it suited the place, and has aged well.

Quite a list of destinations from the station too, including many high speed services. One service which must be very scenic for most of the journey is the Venice to Munich via Innsbruck service (indeed I've travelled on that myself between Innsbruck and Bolzano/Bozen over the Brenner Pass).

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Innsbruck Hbf yet either. I remember being awestruck when I stepped off the Nightjet 3 and a half years ago at this view!

Even though it was pretty dreich weather when I arrived, the sheer spectacle of the mountains bowled me over. No need for an ornate trainshed here! (Plus, the traction is excellent)
St. Jodok, on the Brennerbahn, is another favourite purely for the view.

For architecture though, Liege-Guillemins and Salzburg Hbf are probably my favourite modern stations, with Praha hl.n. & Koeln Hbf among my favourite 'trad' ones.

 

[duesselmartin]

Its been 20 years since I have been in Innsbruck, back then along with Wien West it would have topped the list of the worst.

 

[raetiamann]

The Austrians have done quotes a job in renovating stations in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck. I have however missed the playing of Mozart music at Salzburg Hbf; it somehow suited the old station.

 

[SouthEastBuses]

Do metro stations also count?

If so, my fav non UK station is Toledo on Naples Metro Line 1 (Italy).
This is followed by (speaking of other metro stations) Garibaldi and Univerista' (also on Naples Metro Line 1), and Radhuset, T-Centralen and Kungstradgarden stations on Stockholm Metro's Blue Lines T10 and T11 (Sweden).

For actual railway stations, I like Naples Afragola AV station (Italy), and Berlin Hauptbahnhof station (Germany).

 

[SouthEastBuses]

If you head out east a bit to the Abacus Tierpark hotel, you might be lucky enough to get a view of a U-bahn depot from your room.

View attachment 87287

Also, while talking about Berlin U-bahn stations, I'll give a shout out to Wittenbergplatz, both for its original features and its strangely familiar branding.

View attachment 87288

View attachment 87289

My favourite Berlin U-Bahn station is Heidelberger Platz on line U3. I also do like some stations on the U7, such as Hermannplatz. And I also thought Markisches Museum on the U2 was good too. Not to mention the splendid views on the U1 line! (and a short U2 section too between Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Park and Nollendorfplatz).

Railway stations wise, I think Potsdamer Platz station is also quite interesting.

 

[Austriantrain]

The Austrians have done quotes a job in renovating stations in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck.

And Graz and Linz. There is no bad mainline station in Austria anymore; however, Salzburg is by far the best.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

It still does as do the other terminals in Budapest. One reason I like them so much. There’s also the excellent pre-announcement jingles which are even heard on the narrow gauge Children’s railway.

I have this jingle as my phone ring tone. It's been there 2.5 years, but no one has recognised what it is yet!

Keleti is a great station, the low floor platforms complete the atmosphere. I remember going there to get a train to the Airport in December 2007 on a very snowy, cold day. Felt like it was a snowing from inside the station roof as well as outside it!

 

[43096]

I have this jingle as my phone ring tone. It's been there 2.5 years, but no one has recognised what it is yet!

Keleti is a great station, the low floor platforms complete the atmosphere. I remember going there to get a train to the Airport in December 2007 on a very snowy, cold day. Felt like it was a snowing from inside the station roof as well as outside it!

This one?
Budapest Keleti jingle - YouTube

MAV have (at least) two jingles they use; the other one really gets into your head!

 

[raetiamann]

Now that reminds me of the jingle played by CD at Brno.

 

[Neptune]

This one?
Budapest Keleti jingle - YouTube

MAV have (at least) two jingles they use; the other one really gets into your head!

I think that’s the one for international trains. The other one is the one used on the children’s railway.

 

[43096]

I think that’s the one for international trains. The other one is the one used on the children’s railway.

The one at the start of this? Children's Railway Budapest - A train arrives & departs at the station Szépjuhászné - YouTube

That's the other one I was referring to. I always associate that with trains round Lake Balaton, with the jingle followed by a list of stations prefixed "Balaton". Balaton this, Balaton that, Balaton the other... stop talking Balatons!

 

[Neptune]

The one at the start of this? Children's Railway Budapest - A train arrives & departs at the station Szépjuhászné - YouTube

That's the other one I was referring to. I always associate that with trains round Lake Balaton, with the jingle followed by a list of stations prefixed "Balaton". Balaton this, Balaton that, Balaton the other... stop talking Balatons!

That’s the one

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Yes, that's the one.

 

[jedimasterc]

Sydney Central

Central and Flinders Street in Melbourne even though Flinders street does need some TLC to it's platform awnings. I would add Circular Quay and Milson's point in Sydney purely for the views.

 

[Ianno87]

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Innsbruck Hbf yet either. I remember being awestruck when I stepped off the Nightjet 3 and a half years ago at this view!
View attachment 88349
Even though it was pretty dreich weather when I arrived, the sheer spectacle of the mountains bowled me over. No need for an ornate trainshed here! (Plus, the traction is excellent)

It looke fantastic to look down on from the top of the mountains!

 

[raetiamann]

Central and Flinders Street in Melbourne even though Flinders street does need some TLC to it's platform awnings. I would add Circular Quay and Milson's point in Sydney purely for the views.View attachment 88463

I used to work out of our office on the 16th floor of the building over the road from Circular Quay station & wharf. It had magnificent views of the harbour, bridge and opera house. When visitors came we had to shut the blinds for the duration of the meeting, otherwise the temptation to get lost in the view was too great.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jan 2021 ==

Not sure how it showed that as jedimasterc there?

 

[nlogax]

I'm surprised no-one's mentioned Innsbruck Hbf yet either. I remember being awestruck when I stepped off the Nightjet 3 and a half years ago at this view!

Lovely pictures, the last time I used Innsbruck Hbf (round trip from Seefeld) I just remember being damned cold!