A train station for a city all over the world acts as a landmark. There are certain stations that are often considered the major attractions of the city as well as the country. Although more people prefer planes to travel, the need for trains has not lessened. Their improvements from time to time make them still reliable. And another thing that makes them a more desirable and acceptable medium of travel is the low cost.

During the 19th century, when the popularity of trains was very high, many cities built beautiful and elegant stations in different architectural styles. The different forms of architecture used in these stations prove that every city wanted to make the stations beautiful and astonishing.

So, let’s take a look at some of the most beautiful works of architecture in the form of railway stations all around the world. These stations should be on the bucket list of everyone dreaming of traveling to each and every country of the world. Following are the Top 15 Most Beautiful Railway Stations in the World as of 2024.

1. World Trade Center Transportation Hub

The World Trade Center Transportation Hub is one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. The station was opened in 1971 in Manhattan, New York City, and in 2016, it was named “World Trade Center Transportation Hub”. The restoration of the station was highly anticipated because of the architect Santiago Calatrava. The main highlight of the newly restored station was the Oculus, a structure of glass and steel. In 2016, the Oculus station house was opened and it was built with an estimated cost of 4 billion dollars.

The station acts as a connector of various modes of transportation like subways, PATH trains, Battery Park City Ferry Terminal, etc. The main hall of the station is breathtaking as its floors are fitted with white marble. Moreover, there is a 355-foot retractable skylight. The Oculus is also known as the Westfield World Trade Center Mall. Read Also: Top 10 Tallest Buildings in the US.

2. Kuala Lumpur Railway Station

Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is such a beautiful example of the amalgamation of two different styles. Indo-Saracenic is the architectural style of the building and it was designed by famous British architect Arthur Benison Hubback. This station is located in Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The beautiful Kuala Lumpur Railway Station was built in 1886 and rebuilt to its current form in 1917. The structure of the station has minarets, dome-capped pavilions, and articulated archways and its beautiful design and cream color make it one of the most attractive rail stations in the world. The station has turned into a hub in recent times. However, its appeal to tourists is still the same.

3. Kanazawa Station

The Kanazawa Station is located in Ishikawa, Japan. The station was first opened in 1898, however, after upgradation of the station in 2005 is what made it so beautiful. When the station was first opened after its upgradation in 2005, there were mixed emotions as many did not like the glass and steel dome structure in the main structure and the drum-shaped wooden gate of it.

It is a blend of modern and traditional engineering that makes it beautiful and appealing at the same time. However, with time, the outlook changed as many tourists started to visit the station when they came to visit other historical structures of Ishikawa like the geisha district and the samurai quarters. This station is not only popular for traveling points of view but also for shopping, eating, and spending quality time as it contains several shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. Read Also: Facilities Required at Railway Stations.

4. Liège-Guillemins Railway Station

Liège-Guillemins railway station is not just a station but a symbol of modern architecture. Liège-Guillemins Railway Station is a stunning modern station that is the main station of Liege, Belgium. The old station was opened in 1882, and in 2009, it was rebuilt. The Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava is the one who designed the station and glass, steel, and white concrete are the main components of the facade. The facade was designed to connect two parts of the station which was previously divided by a railroad track.

The architect’s preference for using white concrete gives the station a plastic look and the ribbed vaults flow in a seamless way. This creates a wave-like pattern that the passengers using the station like very much. There are five platforms in the station. Moreover, it is among one of the four stations connected to high-speed rail.

5. Milano Centrale

Milano Centrale is the second biggest railway station in Italy and the main station of Milan city of Italy. The station was opened in 1931, and the architect behind the design of the station was Ulisse Stacchini. The inspiration behind Milano Centrale was the Union Station of Washington DC.

However, when Mussolini came into power, he decided to extend the Beaux Art design and added elements from Art Nouveau and Art Deco. These additions to the station resulted in beautiful marble floors along with many beautiful sculptures. Moreover, the five-train shed of iron and glass canopies takes its beauty to the next level.

6. Hungerburg Station

Hungerburg Station is a modern-looking railway station in Hungerburg, Austria. The station is a funicular and it was first opened in 1906. In 2007, after 2 years of being closed for restoration, it was opened. Zara Hadid is the architect who became popular after she designed the Bergisel Ski-jump Tower, designed the Hungerburg Station. The design was for a 1.1 mile four station which was earlier used for trams. In each station, there are glass structures made in such a way that they feel like ice floes and snowdrifts. Read Also: Purpose of Providing Railway Station.

7. Sirkeci Railway Station

Sirkeci Railway Station is located in Istanbul which is considered by many as the gateway to Europe. This beautiful and mind-blowing station is a combination of the French Art Nouveau and the Ottoman. This combination of the two styles gave it a unique touch. First, the station was opened in 1872 and began rebuilding in 1890. It was one of the most modern railway stations in the world at that time. Sirkeci Railway Station had about 300 gas lanterns and the beautiful tile stove was imported from Austria. The station is located in Sirkeci, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey, and the things that increase the beauty are bricks across the facade and a tower clock.

8. Antwerpen-Centraal Station

Antwerpen-Centraal Station is not only a beautiful station from the outside but from inside, it’s just breathtaking. The station is located in Antwerp, Belgium, and was opened in 1905. The most beautiful part of the station is the waiting hall in which more than 20 types of marble and other stones are used to give it a lavish touch. Moreover, what makes it even more beautiful are the windows. The windows are arched through which the skylight fills the hall.

The upper platform of the station also has a beautiful magnificent vaulted iron and glass roof. In 1998, major reconstruction work began, and in 2007, the major portion of the construction work was completed. The restoration of the station is the reason behind the station getting its beauty back after many turrets and pediments were reconstructed. Although the construction of tunnels has been done below the structure of the station for passing of high-speed rail, it does not affect on the beautiful structure of the station.

9. Haydarpaşa Railway Station

Haydarpaşa Railway Station is a beautiful station located in Istanbul, Turkey. The station was opened in 1872, however, since a fire incident in 2010, it has been closed. The architectural style of the station building is German Neoclassical. The station is built on reclaimed land from the Bosphorus Strait; this is why it is surrounded by water on three sides which makes it even more beautiful.

In 1908, the station was reconstructed, and behind the design were two German architects Otto Ritter and Helmut Conu. The Haydarpaşa Railway Station has a ceiling or coffered barrel vault and the windows are very generous. Although the station has been closed since 2010, still people come to see the beautiful exterior of the station.

10. Southern Cross Station, Melbourne

Southern Cross Station is the main station of Melbourne. The station comprises an entire block. The structure of the station feels breathtaking, mainly the roof of the station is so beautiful and is supported by the Y-shaped columns. Before the restoration of the station in 2005, it was known as Spencer Street Station.

The Southern Cross Station is the main station of Melbourne, it was opened in 1859, and, it has undergone restoration a couple of times in 1960 and 2005. The current magnificent design of the station was designed by Grimshaw Architects. It contains 16 platforms and 22 tracks.

11. Union Station, Los Angeles

The Union Station of Los Angeles is the largest station in California state. The station was opened in 1939, it is also the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. It serves about 3 million passengers every month.

The station is built in Art Deco and Moderne styles and it was designed by the architectural firm “John and Donald Parkinson”. The station is a very beautiful and magnificent structure and its interior is even more beautiful. In the waiting rooms of the Union Station, there are patio lines. The station was built by Robert E. McKee Inc. In 1980, this station was recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

12. Metro Station Komsomolskaya

Metro Station Komsomolskaya is a metro station in the Russian capital of Moscow. The construction of the station was completed in 1952 and Russian President Joseph Stalin looked after its construction. The station is owned by Moskovsky Metropoliten. It was considered as a baroque which meant a palace for people.

On the platform, there are 68 octagonal-shaped pillars riveted with marvels rising from the granite floor to provide a large open space. The ceiling of the station is nicely designed with yellow color and to complement, it glittering mosaic panels of smalt and other precious stones are fitted. Moreover, there are murals that pay tribute to the Russian military triumph.

13. Gare du Nord

The magnificent Gare du Nord is one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world. The station was opened in 1864 and is located in Paris, the capital city of France. This beautiful railway station is considered one of the oldest but still among the busiest railway stations in the world.

On the facade of Gare du Nord, there are 23 statues of females adding more value to the station and each statue personifies a destination that is served by this station. Gare du Nord is not only the busiest rail station in France but also in Europe. It serves about 210 million passengers every year.

The interior of the station is as beautiful as the exterior and what makes it even more magnificent is the natural light. To get as much natural light as possible, the station has soaring windows and the roof of the train sheds are of glass and cast iron. This beautiful Engineering is an example of the art of Paris.

14. Rotterdam Centraal Station

The main station of the Rotterdam is the Rotterdam Central Station. The station is located in Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands. More than 120,000 passengers use this station daily to reach their destinations. The old station opened in 1957, but to accommodate more and more passengers and for the introduction of high-speed trains, a new terminal was needed. Therefore, a bunch of architectural firms were appointed to design a new one.

The new station was opened in March 2014, the main attraction of the station is the entrance which has a boomerang-like canopy. The interior of the station is warm and shiny with transparent roofs supported by beams and columns. However, the most interesting thing about the Rotterdam Central Station is that on the roof, about 130,000 solar cells are placed which makes it the largest rooftop solar project.

15. Washington Union Station

The Union Station of Washington is another most beautiful station in the united states. Washington Union Station was opened in 1907 and is the major transportation hub in Washington DC. The station was designed by the architectural firm “D. H. Burnham & Company” and was designed based on Classical and Beaux-Arts architectural styles. The station contains 18 platforms and 22 tracks.

Before the station was opened, there were two stations in Washington but the opening of the Union Station brought them together. The interior of the station is inspired by classical designs like the Roman Arch of Constantine. Moreover, the roof of the station has a beautiful coffered plaster ceiling. The white marble floor makes this station more attractive, you can’t imagine how beautiful it is without a visit.

Read Also:

Top 10 Busiest Railway Stations in the US

Top 10 Longest Bridges in the World

World’s Top 10 Countries Having Largest Railway Network

World’s Top 10 Countries Having Largest Railway Network as of 2024

The railway is a mode of transportation that is used for both passenger transportation as well as goods transportation. The countries with the largest railway network are among the most developed or developing countries. Railways has been the backbone of many countries for their growth.

The first time the wagon was used with the lap of the horses who pulled them. But in 1802, the first steam engine was made. In 1825, the first steam engine was used to carry passengers.

Over the years, we have seen how railways spread all over the world and with every passing year reached new landmarks. We will take a look at 10 countries that have the largest railway networks as of 2024, and know about them in more detail.

1. United States of America

The United States of America is the country with the world’s largest spread railway network. The total length of the USA’s railway network is 257,560 km. However, a majority of the network is used in America for freight transportation. The freight network has even tracks internationally as well.

The passenger service is mainly restricted to the major cities, with few intercity routes to connect the major cities of the USA. Throughout the country at present standard gauge is used.

If we take a look at the history of the USA, we will find that the first railroads were built in the 1820s and 1830. The location of the first railroad was New England and the Mid-Atlantic region. The first organization which was started was Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Its growth was very prominent in the years which followed.

The first intercontinental railroad was built after the American Civil War and was used to connect California with the rest of the nation. World War I was a massive boost for the railway and was responsible for massive growth. However, with the great depression, railways were very badly affected.

World War II helped in its growth again but after that due to increasing demand for the airline and the automotive industry started its decline again. This came as a huge blow as many private companies went bankrupt which led to the creation of Amtrak in 1971. Amtrak was given the responsibility to look after the intercity public transport.

After many rule relaxations of the government, many companies were bought and combined to make a new entity. Freight has however stayed as the major contributor to the railway of the USA. The railway of the US is both nationalized as well as owned by private companies.

Besides Amtrak, BNSF Railway, Canadian National Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, CSX Transportation are some of the popular railroad companies in the United States at the present time. Read Also: Top 10 Busiest Railway Stations in the US

2. China

The second-largest railway network in the world is in China. According to the latest surveys, the total length of the railway tracks is more than 150,000 km. Moreover, the length of the High-Speed Rail track is 40000 km which is the longest in the whole world.

The operations of the railways are controlled by a state-run company known as China State Railway Group Company, Ltd., formed in 2013 after the Ministry of Railway was dissolved. The company comes under the Ministry of Finance directly.

According to the statistics of 2019, about 3.660 billion passengers were delivered. Meanwhile, a total of 4.389 billion tonnes of freight was delivered as well. China has witnessed a five-times increase in freight services from 1980 to 2013. Moreover, during the same period, the passenger turnover increased by seven times.

These numbers themselves show how important and busy the railway of China is. About 68.35 percent of the total length of the railway is electrified in China. With the success of the railway, China is planning for expansion and has set a target of 274,000 kilometers by the year 2050.

3. Russia

The largest country in the world is Russia. So, seeing Russia third on the list is not a big surprise. Although Russia is a country having the third-largest railway network, a major part of the country is not connected to railways due to the population density and the extreme climate.

This is the reason that Russia has been described as the economic wonder of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. The size is the reason that we can see that long-distance travel is very common. However, the majority of long-distance travel is under the JSC Russian Railway which has a 98.6 percent market share as of 2017.

Although the size of Russia is bigger than the USA and China, the density of railway tracks is still smaller than both the above-mentioned countries. Freight transportation is also small and about one-third of the freight consists of coal and coke. Meanwhile, ferrous metals make up only 10 percent of the freight. The total length of the railway network in Russia is around 85,600 km.

In Russia, the main means of transportation of goods are railways because of the extreme weather and terrain. The Russian railway is freight dominant and passenger service is not very huge because of its population as well.

The Ministry of the Means of Communication was the main governing body that looked after the smooth running till 2003. After 2003, the responsibility of the railway was taken by the Joint Stock Company Russian Railways.

Russia has International tracks connecting it to many neighboring countries. The countries like Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Finland, Poland, China, and North Korea. The railway of Russia is fully nationalized with 51.17 percent of the railways being electrified.

4. India

India is fourth on the list of the largest railway network in the world. Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, is also located in this country. In India, the railway is one of the major means of transportation for both passengers as well as freight. The railway of India is operated by the Indian Railway, an organization under the Ministry of Railways.

Through Indian Railways, an average of 22.15 million people and 3.32 metric tons of freight were transported on a daily basis from 2019 to 2020. In India, private organizations only have service of the freight trains. Meanwhile, the passenger trains are under public organization.

In 2020, the government tried to privatize the passenger sector as well. Indian railway is on the eighth spot in the list of largest employers. Over the year the management and the running of the railway were done perfectly by the government of India.

This proper management had led to the improvement of the railway massively. Indian Railway has set a target to fully electrify the tracks by 2023. The project like new trains which would be capable of running at 200 km/hr speed in the old tracks as well as Indian high-speed rail projects that will see speeds above 300 km/hr.

Indian Railway has also been an important part of developing the railway of the neighboring countries of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka as well. India the proposal for the railway was first made in Madras in 1832.

However, the first train in India ran in 1837. But the first passenger train of India ran from Bombay to Thane on 16th April 1853. Two Indian stations are on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with one being the Chhatrapati Sivaji Maharaja Terminal and the Mountain Railways of the hills.

India has a total route length of 70,225 kilometers with a total track length of 126,366 km, and about 71 percent of the tracks are electrified. Indian railway has 7,325 stations and around 40% of routes are double or multi-tracked. Read Also: Top 10 Super Fast & High-Speed Trains in India

5. Canada

Canada ranks fifth on the list of countries with the longest railway network. The total length of the railway is 49,422 kilometers. The first railroad company in Canada was the Champlain and Saint Lawrence Railroad which was started in 1836. The railway of Canada is mainly used for freight purposes. The majority of the railway is used for the transportation of goods only.

The railway of Canada is fully privatized. Two major companies look after the freight, Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP). As passenger transportation is not so popular, only one company by the federal crown corporation Via Rail provides the service of nationwide passenger movement.

The three major cities of Canada have proper railways for passengers. The service for passengers in the Montreal area is controlled by Exo. Meanwhile in the region of Toronto passengers commute under Go Transit. In the regions of Vancouver, West Coast Express controls the commute of the passengers mainly. There are many metro and small rails as well in Canada.

The railway is also used for tourism as the Rocky Mountaineer and Royal Canadian Pacific provide luxury tours of the Canadian Rockies and the mountain regions of British Columbia and Alberta.

Some of the main companies that work to serve the people of Canada are Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Railway, Hudson Bay Railway Co., Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway, RailLink Canada, etc. In Canada, less than a single percent of the railroad is electrified.

6. Germany

Germany is sixth on the list of countries with the largest railway network. It is a member of the International Union of Railway and has a country code of 80. Germany is ranked fourth in the EU rail system in the performance index for the intensity of use, quality of service, and safety.

The total length of the German railway is 40,682 km. The length of the electrified tracks is 55.38 percent. Deutsche Bahn is the company that looks after the railway of Germany. Deutsche Bahn is a state-owned private company.

In recent years, it’s seen that many such companies have offered their service in state-subsidized for local regions as well as for long-distance services as well. The Deutsche Bahn had about 67 percent of the regional market in 2016 and about 68.7 percent in the freight market.

According to the records, 452 railway operators were registered in 2016. Out of the 452 operators, 124 had regional passenger operators, with 20 being long-distance operators and the rest 163 being freight operators. Deutsche Bahn has four types of long-distance operations in the form of Inter-city Express, Eurocity, Intercity, and Euro night.

Some of the other operators who have long-distance series are Thalys, Transdev, Cisalpino, and Flixtrain. Some of the operators that do the regional services are Regional-Express, RegionalBahn, S-Bahn, U-Bahn and tram and light rail services.

7. Argentina

In the continent of South America, Argentina is the country with the largest railway network. It is also the seventh-largest railway network in the world. The railway of Argentina was very much prosperous in the mid-20^th century.

According to records, the total length of the railway was about 47000 kilometers after the 2nd World War. However, after that, due to the construction of highways, the importance of the railway decreased. Moreover, with the breakup of the Ferrocarriles Argentinos, things became even worse.

After that, the privatization of the railway was also done. However, in 2012, the government of the country started to nationalize the railways after the mismanagement of the private companies and since then the railway of Argentina has started to grow.

The railways of Argentina have faced many difficulties over the years as the railway was privatized two times in the past and they are again nationalized as the private companies failed to run it properly.

The government has over the years started to pour more and more money into the railways. The railway is also used in tourism in the cities of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Mendoza, Misiones, Patagonia, Rosario, Salta and Tierra del Fuego.

Many countries are also connected to Argentina by railway. If we look at the list, we will find the counties of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay all are connected by railways. At present, the total length of the railway is 36,966 kilometers, but a very small part of it is electrified now.

8. Australia

Australia comes in the eighth spot on the list of countries having the largest railway network. The railway network of Australia is a very important part of the country’s transport system. The majority of the railway is under the government of Australia with some private operators as well.

The policies are made and the funds for the policies are provided by the federal government of the country. The main problem that railways faced over the years is the use of different gauges by different colonies in the past. This has made the joining the railways very much difficult.

Electrification in Australia started in 1919, but it is also a problem because the main standards were not used. The diesel engine was first introduced in 1950. The freight of Australia is also very good as the country is full of natural resources.

Long-distance passenger trains are also operated in Australia. The total length of the railways in Australia is 33,270 kilometers with about 11 percent of the entire length of the track being electrified.

9. Brazil

Brazil is in the ninth spot on the list of the largest railway networks in the world. The current length of the railways of Brazil is 30,122 kilometers and more than 30 percent of the tracks are electrified. It is the second largest in the South American continent after Argentina.

The railway was started in the 19th century in Brazil. Many companies owned the railway back then but in 1957, the whole railway of the country was nationalized.

The nationalized railway was under Rede Ferroviária Federal, Sociedade Anônima(RFFSA). However, from 1999 to 2007, the RFFSA was dissolved and at present, both private and public institutions look after the railways of Brazil.

Despite such a large network of railways, passenger transportation in Brazil is not very good. As the private companies were unable to popularize the passengers which led to the halt of many passenger trains.

Currently, almost all the railway is used for freight transportation. Although there are many plans, it still looks like that is going to be very tough to implement all of those works. Brazil is also connected with other countries like Argentina, Bolivia, and Uruguay through the railways.

10. France

At the tenth spot on the list of the countries with the largest railway network, we have France. The railway of France is mainly used for passenger services. It should also be noted that what attracts the passengers more is the high-speed rail.

SNFC is the state-owned organization that looks after the railway of France. In France, the railway was first started in 1827, in Saint -Ettienne to Andrézieux. According to records, France has the fifth most-used passenger network in the world and ranked second in Europe.

France is also a member of the International Union of Railways and its country code is 87. In the case of freight, only 9 percent of the freight is transported by the railway. Although the urban railway of France is developed still it’s growing.

There are metros in six major cities in France. The six cities are Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Paris, Rennes and Toulouse. The length of the railway network in France is about 29,273 kilometers. Moreover, 53.59 percent of the railway track is electrified.

Top 10 Busiest Railway Stations in the US

The United States is the country with the largest railway network in the whole world. Although once the passenger service was the strength of the railways but now freight is the major user of the United States railway network.

However, commuter trains mainly work in major cities and with few intercity trains, the stations of the United States are very busy as well. In the following, we are going to take a look at the list of the top 10 busiest railway stations in the United States as of 2023.

1. Pennsylvania Station

The Pennsylvania Station is the busiest station in the United States. The station is also known as Penn Station. The station is located below the Madison Square Garden in the block which is bordered by the Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Read Also: Permanent Way in Railway.

Penn Station is also the busiest station in the whole of the Western Hemisphere. There are 21 tracks with 11 platforms. Amtrak owns the station. Amtrak is also responsible for the operations of the passenger rail line in the Northeast Corridor and intercity trains.

The Pennsylvania Station is in the center of the northeast corridor connecting New York with Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. with all the other stations in between. Meanwhile, the commuter rail service is operated by Long Island Rail Road(LIRR) and NJ Transit(NJT).

The station was built and owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad so, it was named after it. The construction of the station was completed in 1910. The average annual entry and exits in the station are 107.416 million. This makes the station the topper of being the busiest station in the United States.

2. Grand Central Terminal

The second busiest station in the US or USA is the Grand Central Terminal. It is also known as Grand Central. The station is located at 89 East 42nd Street, Manhattan, New York City. It is at present, owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The station is used as a commuter station. Grand Central is among the most famous railway stations in the world. What makes Grand Central so popular is its architecture due to which the station has been included in the list of National Historic Landmarks.

The Beaux-Arts design is what has made Grand Central Station among the 10 most visited tourist attractions. The annual count of visitors who come to see the station is 21.6 million as of 2018. The station is quite frequently seen in television shows and movies also.

The Grand Central Terminal was opened in 1913. The station was named by New York Central Railroad which was also the builder of the station. There are a total of 44 platforms in the station and annually about 66.952 million passengers come and go from the station as per the 2018 report. However, as of 2022, it is assumed that the number of passengers has exceeded 95 million annually.

3. Jamaica station

The Jamaica station is the third busiest station in the United States. The station is located on Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, Queens, New York. The Jamaica station is owned by the Long Island Rail Road and is one of the main railway stations under LIRR.

The station is used for commuter travel mainly. The station has six platforms with 10 tracks. There is a concourse above the station which is connected to the John F. Kennedy International Airport. The station works as a great center for people as it is connected to almost every part of New York.

The first Jamaica station was built by the LIRR in 1836, whereas the second one was built completely new in an adjacent area by the Southside Railroad of Long Island.

However, the current station was built-in 1912-13 at its current location in place of the previous two. Kenneth M. Murchison was the one who designed the current station. The annual attendance of the Jamaica Station is 59.803 million. Read Also: Busiest Ports in the USA.

4. Chicago Union Station

Chicago Union Station is the fourth busiest station in the United States. It is a commuter rail terminal which is located in the westside neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Chicago Union Station acts as the flagship station of Amtrak in the Midwest of the United States.

The station serves both long-distance trains as well as trains for the downtown for the commuters of the city. There are 30 platforms with 24 tracks in the station. The station replaced an earlier station and was opened in 1925. Chicago Union Station is the most important station of Amtrak outside of the Northeastern zone.

The station has for a long time been the face of the architectural achievement of Chicago. D. H. Burnham & Company and his successors were the architect of the station and it was designed in Beaux-Arts. Chicago Union Station has about 40 million people come and go from here annually.

5. Ogilvie Transportation Center

The Ogilvie Transportation Center comes in the fifth spot in regards to being the busiest station in the US. It is also known as Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center. The station is located on West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois.

The station is owned by Union Pacific Railroad and Metra. The station was opened in 1911-12 as Chicago and Northwestern terminal. The design of the new station was done by Frost and Granger in a Renaissance style.

During those days, the station was the starting point of the trains with the destination of Milwaukee, Minneapolis -St Paul, Madison, and many other intercity commuters.

According to the data, there were about 38 departures every day of intercity trains in 1939. Now, the Ogilvie Transportation Center has 8 platforms with 16 tracks. The station receives 31.905 million people every year. This station is also counted as the sixth busiest rail station in North America.

6. South Station

The Governor Michael S. Dukakis Transportation Center is the official name of South Station. The South Station is the largest railroad station in Greater Boston and is located on Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts.

The station was built in 1899 to replace the downtown terminals of several other railroads. At present, it is not only a railway station but also an intercity bus hub. The station is owned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

The present name of the station is named after former Massachusetts governor Michael S. Dukakis since 2014. In Boston, when the railroads were being laid, there were four stopped and each stopped had its own terminal.

The four terminals were New York and New England Railroad, Old Colony Railroad, Boston and Albany Railroad, and Boston and Providence Railroad. Although many were brought, the problem of separate terminals was not solved.

To solve the problem of four terminals the Boston Terminal Company was established in the year 1897. The main work of the Boston Terminal Company was to get a single terminal for the four. The South Station has a total of 13 platforms. The number of people using this station annually is about 28.875 million. Read Also: Top 10 Highest Bridges in the USA.

7. Newark Pennsylvania Station

The seventh busiest railway station of the United States is the Newark Pennsylvania Station. The station is located in Raymond Plaza West, Newark, New Jersey. It is also the fourth busiest railway station in the New York area.

The station is owned by New Jersey Transit Corporation. It is not only a busy railway station but also a busy bus hub as well. This makes this station even busier.

The Newark Pennsylvania Station was opened in 1935. The architect of the station was the renowned architect firm of that time McKim, Mead & White. Art Deco and Neo-Classical is the art that was used in this station.

The station was renovated in 2007 majorly with almost each and everything improved from what was there. There are 6 platforms in the station. About 17.811 million people annually use this station to reach their destination.

8. Hoboken Terminal

Hoboken Terminal comes in the eighth position on the list of the busiest railway in the United States. The station is used as a commuter station. It is located in Hoboken, Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.

It serves as one of the most important transit hubs of New York. It is not a rail station but also provides private bus and ferry services that make the station even busier.

The station was built-in 1907. The Hoboken Terminal was designed by architect Kenneth MacKenzie Murchison. The site of the station was used for ferries for a long time. It connected Manhattan to the mainland USA.

NJ Transit bought the station from Conrail in 1983. There are a total of 10 platforms in the station of Hoboken terminal. The station receives 14.950 million passengers every year according to surveys.

9. Washington Union Station

The ninth busiest railway station of the United States is located in Washington, D.C. The name of the station is Washington Union Station. The operation of the station started in 1907.

The station connects the cities of Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. This is what makes this line the ninth busiest railway line in the United States. The station is not only a transport hub but also a shopping and tourist destination.

Before the Union station came into existence, two different railway companies used two stations. But in the year 1901, both companies agreed to build a new station which was to be known as the Union Station. The Union Station was designed by Daniel Burnham and was constructed in Classical and Beaux-Art.

The station is owned jointly by the United States Department of Transportation looking after the main building and the parking. Meanwhile, Amtrak is responsible for the tracks and platforms. There are a total of 18 platforms in the station with the annual entrance and exit being 13.665 million.

10. 30th Street Station

The 30th Street Station is also known as the William H. Gray III 30^th Street Station is the tenth busiest station in the USA. The station is used as an intermodal transit station. The 30th Street Station is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The station was opened in 1933 and it is currently owned by Amtrak. The station was constructed in classical revival style and was designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White. The station consists of a total of 9 platforms. Nearly 12.270 million people use this station every year.

11. Los Angeles Union Station

The Los Angeles Union Station is the eleventh busiest railway station in the US. It is also the busiest railway in the Western United States. The station was opened in 1939 in the place of La Grande Station and Central Station. It is located in North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, California, United States.

The station is owned by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The structure of the building was built by Robert E. McKee Inc. and designed by Parkinson, John & Donald B. in Art Deco and Modern style. There are 9 platforms in this station. The Los Angeles Union Station sees an entrance and exit of about 10.999 million people.

Read Also:

Objects of Railway Signalling

World’s Most Beautiful Railway Stations