| 1. St Pancras, London |
The newly renovated St Pancras station has been designed with romance in mind as Europe’s destination station, a brandstory concept. Couples are encouraged to wait for their train at the longest champagne bar in Europe so they can sip bubbly and admire the passing locomotives through a glass partition. There is also a giant statue of lovers embracing, as might a reunited pair from across the Channel.
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| 2. Gare du Nord, Paris |
While many think of the Gare du Nord as a dirty and excessively busy thoroughfare, it is impossible not to be impressed by this central Parisians station. The Gare du Nord has more than a few stories to tell as it has been open since 1861. Today there is a blend of old and new architecture and many dazzling entrances to the station. Gare du Nord has direct Eurostar trains to St Pancras connecting two of the most refined cities in the world in a matter of hours.
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| 3. Central Station, New York |
Grand Central Station, as it is known, has more rail platforms than anywhere else in the world. The station has a beautiful design which has drawn many film directors to it and the terminus is split over two levels. The iconic clock which hangs over the main concourse is the centrepiece for the station and much of the decoration is embellished with gold. It contains some excellent delis and restaurants too, the most famous of which is the Oyster Bar.
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| 4. Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, India |
So beautiful is the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai that it has been inscribed into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The station carries an old world colonial air about it as it was designed by an English architect named Frederick William Stevens and is enhanced by the site of various tropical plants and vegetation. Unsurprisingly Chatrapati Shivaji is one of the nosiest in the world given how densely populated India is. It has also gained worldwide notoriety after becoming the site of the 2008 Mumbai attacks when terrorists threw grenades and fired assault weapons.
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| 5. Kuala Lumpur railway station, Malaysia |
Kuala Lumpur has an old train station which was built in 1920 and its attractive turrets were painted in a practical white colour. The architecture is a representation of quite how cosmopolitan Malaysia is, as it blends both Western and Eastern styles. While the station interior has been upgraded and renovated many times the steel girders above the platform have stood the test of time.
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| 6. Kanazawa Station, Japan |
Kanazawa station in Japan is the biggest station on the Ishikawa Prefecture. It blends old and new seamlessly, from the large wooden Japanese gate at the station entrance to the thousands of glass panels inside. In that way it is almost a microcosm of Japan itself, which is a country with a great history that has gone roaring into the future with all sorts of technological innovations. The gate is perfect for impressive photos with all the steel girders behind and it is known as the Tsuzumi, which means big drum.
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| 7. Atocha Station, Spain |
While Madrid Barajas is one of the biggest airports in Europe, Madrid Atocha is the largest train station in Madrid. It serves a number of trains and high speed services across the country and is a pleasure to spend time in. That is because Atocha station carries all of the customary Spanish flair for architecture. The nicest touch is having what looks like a lush tropical jungle right in the middle of the concourse – and the plaza garden even contains a few turtles.
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| 8. Cóndor station, Bolivia |
Cóndor station in Bolivia is the second highest train station in the world after the Tanggula railway station in Tibet. Travelling by train in Bolivia is a total pleasure despite this being one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere and nothing can compare to the majesty of gliding through the Andes. Chewing cocoa leaves is recommended for altitude sickness and seems to enhance the experience.
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| 9. Chicago Union Station, USA |
Chicago is one of the most underrated cities in the world and Chicago Union station is just one of many examples of its fantastic architecture. The station will probably stick in most people’s minds for that wonderful scene in The Untouchables movie where the vigilantes shoot mafia members as a baby’s stroller falls down the steps in slow motion.
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| 10. Maputo Station, Mozambique |
What could be cooler than a train station in a stunning African country which hosts a jazz lounge on weekends? Maputo train station is a real icon in this country and the perfect example of the terminus becoming a destination in itself. Visitors are encouraged to see this architectural marvel which was designed by Gustave Eiffel, who also created the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
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