Yes, they don't build train stations like these in the United States.

I will be in Dublin at the end of June and I will check that one out.

Though i haven't been there since the rehab was just finished i'd probably say Dresden hauptbahnhof - featuring a smashing new glass roof desinged by some world-famous architecture - believe the same one that did the Reichstag's new top in Berlin.

As for ugliest you can't get much more dismal that Brussels-Midi (Zuid) at least the platforms themselves - peeling paint and ugly

I don't understand the first post -- the Monaco train station is underground.

In a modern style, I think that Avignon TGV is remarkable.

In Paris, my vote goes to Gare du Nord, now that they have completely redone and pedestrianized the plaza in front of the station. You can really admire all of the statues on the facade representing the great cities of the North.

Antwerp indeed wins handily. Paris Nord, as noted by kerouac, is close in beauty, as well as St Pancras.

Limoges (though it must be quite unknown here) is wonderfully Art Déco, and Brussels Central too.

True -- Limoges is remarkable. And also with excellent clock towers are Metz and Luxembourg.

Tours, France intown station, not the blah thing at St-Pierre-des-Corps in the suburbs the real main station for Tours, but in-town Tours station is a gem.

Classical iron train shed outside but real beauty is inside with giant murals depicting many Cheateaux of the Loire.

I guess that means Wally wasn't considering the "surroundings" after all...thanks for pointing that out, Kerouac.

So many stations and so hard to choose.

>Yes, they don't build train stations like these in the United States. <

They used to.

((I))

I agree with Ira and fortunately some of them have been preserved.

PalenQ: glad you mentioned Dresden Hbf. It's not yet totally finished, but it's close and you can see the beauty. Yes, it's the same architect like the the one who did the Reichstag's new top - Sir Norman Foster. The amazing thing is that the glass/steel dome in Dresden is from 1892-95.

I am surprised the Hauptbahnhof in Leipzig didn't get a nomination.

Troon, Scotland.

Ingo - i was in Leipzig train station in January and yes it is a classical grand dame train shed and used to be the largest in Europe i believe until supplanted by the new Berlin Hauptbahnhof i believe.

Actually there was a big snowstorm when i was in Leipzig station and wanting to return to Berlin and was more worried by which trains were running - many were several hours late to get back to my base so couldn't dwell on this amazing train shed.

"they don't build train stations like these in the United States."

Nor, with the exception of Berlin, in Europe.

For pure Age of Steam opulence, I think Gare de Lyon edges out Gare d'Orsay by a nose (Orsay was the world's first electrified urban station, so it didn't stink).

Funny, when I saw the question at first I thought I would have a tough time choosing one. But the more I think about it, out of the dozens I've been through the only station that really stands out in my mind is Koln. I remember this station so vividly, even though we only made a quick change here, while I can't remember a single detail of others I've been through several times. Weird.

In the US, I'd have to go with Grand Central Terminal.

<"they don't build train stations like these in the United States."

Nor, with the exception of Berlin, in Europe.>

Berlin is not an exception: it mirrors most totally new stations built in europe recently - though it's the only central station to have been erected i guess in Europe in over a century it reflects stations like:

Satolas Airport, Lyon,
Lucerne, Switzerland
all new TGV stations on the TGV-Est line due to open

Schiphol airport train station
Frankfurt airport train stations
CDG airport train station

Madrid Chamartin

Startford UK 'International'
Milton Keynes UK
Wembley Central tube station UK
St Pancras (behind the sham front facade)
Ebbsfleet International UK

all these are rather similar to Berlin's new station so it's hardly unique in Europe but follows a prototype that it's taken to the hilt

Super-Brussels Midi? Am I missing something here, after some 18 years of using this train station-I think beautiful is not a word I'd use to describe this station in any way!

>> Brussels Midi? Am I missing something here, after some 18 years of using this train station-I think beautiful is not a word I'd use to describe this station in any way! <<


Didn't I write "Brussels Central" ? :-)

Okay, let me repeat, using Brussels Central-am I missing something here?